To conjugate or not to conjugate!

Many students struggle to know when to conjugate a verb (e.g. je mange) and when to leave it alone (as the infinitive e.g. manger).

My advice is simple – you must conjugate the verb unless you can provide a concrete reason as to why you can leave it as the infinitive.

Some examples where you can use an infinitive (the full verb)

• After “pour” when it means “in order to”

  e.g. Elle l’a fait pour aider tes parents

• After the modals verbs vouloir, pouvoir and devoir

  e.g. Nous pouvons explorer la région

• After the prepositions “à” and “de”

  e.g. J’encourage ma sœur à s’y rendre

• After using the verbs préférer, adorer, aimer and détester

  e.g. Pourquoui détestez-vous faire du vélo?

• After using verbs of the senses like sentir, voir and entendre

  e.g. On les a vus partir