One of the biggest challenges for French learners is knowing which preposition to use after a verb. Should you say commencer à faire, arrêter de faire, or hésiter à faire? Unlike English, where patterns are often different, many French verbs require a specific preposition before another verb. In this article ; we focus on French verbs that are followed by the prepositions à or de before another verb in the infinitive form not before nouns. Note that this list is not exhaustive, but if you have an A2+, B1+, or B2 level, it will already be very useful.

In this guide, you will explore :

the difference between verbs followed by à and those followed by de;
the most common French verb + preposition combinations;
two practical example sentences for each verb to help you remember them naturally;
two practice exercises at the end of the article

1-Simple Rules: When to Use À and De Before an Infinitive Verb

In French, many verbs are followed by a preposition (à or de) before another verb in the infinitive form (for example: to learn to speak, to try to understand).

Although there is no single universal rule that explains every case, there are some simple patterns that can help learners choose correctly.

Verbs followed by À + infinitive

Verbs followed by à + infinitive often express:

learning or becoming able to do something (learn to, manage to);
starting or continuing an action (begin to, continue to);
helping, encouraging, or guiding someone to do something;
effort, intention, or progress toward an action.

Examples:

apprendre à parler → to learn to speak
commencer à travailler → to start working
réussir à comprendre → to manage to understand

👉 In short, à often introduces an action that is being developed, learned, or achieved.

Verbs followed by De + infinitive

Verbs followed by de + infinitive often express:

stopping or finishing an action (stop doing, finish doing);
trying, refusing, or deciding something;
forgetting, avoiding, or remembering actions;
emotions, promises, or intentions related to an action.

Examples:

arrêter de fumer → to stop smoking
essayer de comprendre → to try to understand
oublier de fermer → to forget to close

2-Common French Verbs Followed by À

Apprendre à (to learn to)

Mon fils apprend à nager cet été.
My son is learning to swim this summer.
Il n'est jamais trop tard pour apprendre à parler français.
It's never too late to learn to speak French.

Aider à (to help to)

Cette application aide à organiser son travail.
This app helps to organise your work.
Les parents aident leurs enfants à faire leurs devoirs.
Parents help their children do their homework.

Arriver à (to manage to)

J'arrive enfin à comprendre cette règle de grammaire.
I'm finally managing to understand this grammar rule.
Elle est arrivée à résoudre le problème toute seule.
She managed to solve the problem on her own.

Chercher à (to try to)

Il cherche à améliorer son français.
He is trying to improve his French.
Nous cherchons à trouver une solution.
We are trying to find a solution.

Commencer à (to begin to)

Les enfants commencent à lire très tôt.
Children begin to read at an early age.
Il commence à pleuvoir.
It's starting to rain.

Continuer à (to continue to)

Elle continue à travailler malgré la fatigue.
She continues to work despite being tired.
Continue à pratiquer tous les jours !
Keep practising every day!

Hésiter à (to hesitate to)

N'hésitez pas à poser des questions.
Don't hesitate to ask questions.
Il hésite à changer de travail.
He is hesitating to change jobs.

Penser à (to think about doing)

Pense à fermer la porte.
Remember to close the door.
Je pense à partir plus tôt demain.
I'm thinking about leaving earlier tomorrow.

Réussir à (to succeed in)

Elle a réussi à convaincre son équipe.
She succeeded in convincing her team.
As-tu réussi à finir le livre ?
Did you manage to finish the book?

Se mettre à (to start doing)

Il s'est mis à rire.
He started laughing.
Nous nous mettons à travailler dès neuf heures.
We start working at nine o'clock.

Encourager à (to encourage someone to)

Les parents encouragent leurs enfants à lire tous les jours.
Parents encourage their children to read every day.
Notre professeur nous encourage à parler français en classe.
Our teacher encourages us to speak French in class.

S'habituer à (to get used to)

Il est difficile de s'habituer à se lever tôt.
It's difficult to get used to waking up early.
Elle s'habitue peu à peu à vivre dans une grande ville.
She is gradually getting used to living in a big city.

Grammar tip: S'habituer à is a reflexive verb and is always followed by à + infinitive or à + noun.

Je m'habitue à travailler de chez moi. (I'm getting used to working from home.)
Ils se sont habitués au froid. (They got used to the cold.)

3-Common French Verbs Followed by De

Accepter de (to agree to)

Il accepte de nous aider demain.
He agrees to help us tomorrow.
Elle a accepté de participer au projet.
She agreed to take part in the project.

Arrêter de (to stop)

J’ai arrêté de fumer l’année dernière.
I stopped smoking last year.
Arrête de parler pendant le film !
Stop talking during the movie!

Essayer de (to try to)

Nous essayons de comprendre la leçon.
We are trying to understand the lesson.
Elle essaie de rester calme.
She is trying to stay calm.

Oublier de (to forget to)

J’ai oublié de fermer la fenêtre.
I forgot to close the window.
N’oublie pas de répondre au message.
Don’t forget to reply to the message.

Promettre de (to promise to)

Il promet de venir à la réunion.
He promises to come to the meeting.
Elle a promis de m’appeler demain.
She promised to call me tomorrow.

Refuser de (to refuse to)

Il refuse de changer d’avis.
He refuses to change his mind.
Elle a refusé de signer le document.
She refused to sign the document.

Décider de (to decide to)

Nous avons décidé de partir tôt.
We decided to leave early.
Il décide de changer de travail.
He decides to change jobs.

Regretter de (to regret)

Je regrette de ne pas avoir étudié plus.
I regret not having studied more.
Elle regrette de partir si tôt.
She regrets leaving so early.

Risquer de (to risk)

Tu risques de perdre ton travail.
You risk losing your job.
Il risque de ne pas arriver à l’heure.
He risks not arriving on time.

Continuer de (to continue to)

Elle continue de travailler malgré la fatigue.
She continues to work despite being tired.
Nous continuons de progresser chaque semaine.
We continue to make progress every week.

Éviter de (to avoid)

Il essaie d’éviter de faire des erreurs.
He tries to avoid making mistakes.
Évite de parler trop vite.
Avoid speaking too fast.

Finir de (to finish)

J’ai fini de lire le livre.
I finished reading the book.
Elle finit de préparer le dîner.
She is finishing preparing dinner.

Mériter de (to deserve to)

Tu mérites de réussir.
You deserve to succeed.
Il ne mérite pas de recevoir ce traitement.
He does not deserve to receive this treatment.

Proposer de (to suggest / to offer to)

Il propose de nous aider demain.
He suggests helping us tomorrow.
Elle a proposé de conduire.
She offered to drive.

Rêver de (to dream of)

Elle rêve de voyager autour du monde.
She dreams of travelling around the world.
Je rêve de vivre à Paris.
I dream of living in Paris.

Se dépêcher de (to hurry to)

Il se dépêche de finir ses devoirs.
He is hurrying to finish his homework.
Nous nous dépêchons de partir avant la pluie.
We hurry to leave before the rain.

Empêcher de (to prevent from)

La pluie nous empêche de sortir.
The rain prevents us from going out.
Il essaie de m’empêcher de parler.
He is trying to stop me from speaking.

Suggérer de (to suggest to)

Elle suggère de commencer plus tôt.
She suggests starting earlier.
Je suggère de prendre le train.
I suggest taking the train.

S’excuser de (to apologise for)

Il s’excuse d’être en retard
He apologises for being late.
Je m’excuse de ne pas avoir répondu.
I apologise for not replying.

4 French Verbs That Are Followed Directly by an Infinitive (No Preposition)

In French, not all verbs require a preposition before another verb in the infinitive form. Some very common verbs are followed directly by an infinitive, without using à or de.

This is often the case with verbs expressing likes, dislikes, wishes, abilities, or perception, such as aimer, adorer, détester, espérer, or modal-like verbs such as pouvoir and vouloir.

Unlike English, where verbs are often followed by “to” (for example: I want to go, I like to read), French does not always use a preposition equivalent to “to” in these structures. In many cases, the second verb simply follows directly in the infinitive form.

For example:

J’aime voyager. → I like to travel.
Elle espère réussir. → She hopes to succeed.
Nous voulons apprendre le français. → We want to learn French.

👉 In these cases, the first verb directly introduces the infinitive without any preposition.

Common verbs followed directly by an infinitive:

aimer
adorer
détester
espérer
préférer
vouloir
pouvoir
savoir
devoir

These verbs are very frequent in everyday French and are essential for expressing opinions, desires, and abilities naturally.

💡 Tip: If the verb expresses a feeling, preference, wish, or ability, it is often followed directly by an infinitive without using à or de.

5- Exercises

A-Choose between À or De

Complete each sentence with the correct preposition: à or de.
All verbs are followed by an infinitive verb.

Elle commence ___ travailler tôt tous les jours.
J’essaie ___ comprendre la règle.
Il décide ___ changer de travail.
Nous aidons les enfants ___ faire leurs devoirs.
Ils oublient ___ fermer la fenêtre.
Elle réussit ___ résoudre le problème.
Je rêve ___ vivre à Paris.
Il continue ___ travailler malgré la fatigue.
N’hésite pas ___ poser des questions.
Nous essayons ___ trouver une solution.
Elle refuse ___ signer le document.
Il apprend ___ parler français.
J’évite ___ faire des erreurs.
Ils encouragent leurs élèves ___ parler français.
Elle s’habitue ___ vivre dans une grande ville.
Il promet ___ venir demain.
Nous finissons ___ manger.
Elle regrette ___ partir si tôt.
Il se dépêche ___ finir ses devoirs.
Nous proposons ___ partir plus tôt.
Elle suggère ___ commencer demain.
La pluie nous empêche ___ sortir.
Tu mérites ___ réussir.
Il s’excuse ___ être en retard.
Ils évitent ___ parler trop vite.

Answers

à
de
de
à
de
à
de
de
à
de
de
à
de
à
à
de
de
de
de
de
de
de
de
de
de

B- Translate into French using À or De

Translate the following sentences into French.
1- Use the correct structure: verb + à / de + infinitive or no preposition + infinitive

Sentences

I try to understand the rule.
She wants to travel to France.
We forget to close the door.
He likes to read books.
They stop smoking.
I dream of living in Paris.
She can finish the exercise.
He manages to finish the exercise.
We avoid making mistakes.
She refuses to answer the question.
They promise to come tomorrow.
I learn to speak French.
He suggests starting earlier.
We prefer to stay at home.
She regrets leaving so early.
I encourage students to speak French.
She hopes to succeed.
He helps his children to learn French.
We continue to work every day.
They decide to leave early.

Answers

J’essaie de comprendre la règle.
Elle veut voyager en France.
Nous oublions de fermer la porte.
Elle aime lire des livres.
Ils arrêtent de fumer.
Je rêve de vivre à Paris.
Il peut finir l’exercice.
Il réussit à finir l’exercice.
Nous évitons de faire des erreurs.
Elle refuse de répondre à la question.
Ils promettent de venir demain.
J’apprends à parler français.
Il suggère de commencer plus tôt.
Nous préférons rester à la maison.
Elle regrette de partir si tôt.
J’encourage les élèves à parler français.
Elle espère réussir.
Il aide ses enfants à apprendre le français.
Nous continuons de travailler tous les jours.
Ils décident de partir tôt.

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French Verbs Followed by À or De + Infinitive: Complete Guide with Examples and Practice

In this guide, you will explore :

the difference between verbs followed by à and those followed by de;

the most common French verb + preposition combinations;

two practical example sentences for each verb to help you remember them naturally;

two practice exercises at the end of the article