Choosing Between À And De Before French Verbs Follows Clear Rules
Author
Connecting two verbs in French requires knowing the correct preposition.
You’ll either use à, de, or no preposition at all before the second verb.
The choice depends entirely on the first verb in the sentence.
While you do have to memorize these combinations, they often follow recognizable patterns.
I’ll break down exactly how to group and remember these verbs so you can structure your sentences correctly.
Table of Contents:
Verbs followed directly by an infinitive (no preposition)
Many common verbs connect directly to the next verb without any linking word.
These typically include verbs of motion, preference, and necessity.
Whenever you use modal verbs like wanting or being able to do something, you’ll skip the preposition.
| French Verb | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Aimer | To like / to love |
| Aller | To go |
| Détester | To hate |
| Devoir | To have to / must |
| Pouvoir | To be able to / can |
| Savoir | To know how to |
| Vouloir | To want |
Here are a few examples showing how the first verb connects straight to the infinitive.
Je veux manger.
Elle va étudier.
Nous savons nager.
When to use à before a French verb
The preposition à generally points toward a goal, destination, or progression.
You’ll frequently see à used with verbs that express starting, continuing, or learning.
It shows a forward movement toward an action.
| French Verb | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Aider à | To help to |
| Apprendre à | To learn to |
| Arriver à | To manage to / succeed in |
| Commencer à | To start to |
| Continuer à | To continue to |
| Hésiter à | To hesitate to |
| Réussir à | To succeed in |
Notice how the preposition à bridges the gap between the action and the goal.
J’apprends à parler français.
Il aide son frère à faire les devoirs.
Ils commencent à comprendre.
When to use de before a French verb
The preposition de often indicates separation, stopping, or a mental state.
Verbs expressing finishing, refusing, or commanding almost always take de.
It often links an action back to a specific decision or thought process.
| French Verb | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Arrêter de | To stop |
| Choisir de | To choose to |
| Décider de | To decide to |
| Essayer de | To try to |
| Oublier de | To forget to |
| Refuser de | To refuse to |
| Rêver de | To dream of |
Here’s how you use de to connect these verbs in a sentence.
Il a décidé de partir tôt.
Arrête de parler !
J’ai oublié d’acheter du lait.
Verbs that change meaning with à or de
A few specific French verbs can take either à or de depending on the context.
The meaning of the verb shifts slightly based on the preposition you choose.
The verb venir is a perfect example of this rule.
When you use venir de, it translates to having just done something (the recent past).
When you use venir à, it means that you happen to do something by chance.
Je viens d’arriver.
Si je viens à le voir, je lui dirai.
Another great example is the verb manquer.
Manquer à means to fail in a duty or obligation.
Manquer de means to completely forget to do something or to narrowly escape something.
Il a manqué à sa promesse.
Elle a manqué de tomber.
