à + verb or de/d' + verb

N. C.C1Kwiziq community member

à + verb or de/d' + verb

This isn't covered in fully in the lessons, but I would like to know: how do we know when to use à + verb as opposed to de + verb? Some lessons cover de + verb, for example to say 'before running' I can say 'avant de courir'. But I'm not sure about the other case, à + verb. Any answers? I haven't had much luck searching the web for this, so any help would be much appreciated.

This is the one specific to this exercise:

"qui consiste à appliquer de la peinture sur de l'eau". Why not "qui consiste d'appliquer ...?"

Here are other cases I've found on this website:

nous avons commencé à le faire il y a quelques années

quand tu auras fini de ranger ta chambre, tu m'aideras à faire la vaisselle.

on est toujours pressé d'oublier les moments délicats

le temps que je finisse de manger, ... j'aurai fini de vérifier ... le temps que ça lui prend de se préparer

Asked 4 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Nignuoy, 

I am working on lists of verbs which are followed by 'à' and 'de' and another verb in the infinitive which hopefully will be on the system in the near future so look out for them...

There is no specific reason why you use one or the other so it is just a case of learning them or getting used to what sounds normal.

There are a few which can take either like commencer but not many...

N. C.C1Kwiziq community member

Hey Cécile, good to know. I look forward to it! Thanks :)

Brian E.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Hi Cécile, did the “verb + à, verb + de, verb + either” list get created? Could you link to it please?

CécileKwiziq team member

Hi Brian, 

Yes, there are several -

Here are a few :

https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/learn/theme/3975140

https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/learn/theme/3744352

https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/learn/theme/3907147

https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/learn/theme/3603304

https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/learn/theme/3975230

 

There are also a few 'fill-in-the-blanks' exercises that I can point you towards if you are interested in testing yourself.

Hope this helps!

N. C. asked:View original

à + verb or de/d' + verb

This isn't covered in fully in the lessons, but I would like to know: how do we know when to use à + verb as opposed to de + verb? Some lessons cover de + verb, for example to say 'before running' I can say 'avant de courir'. But I'm not sure about the other case, à + verb. Any answers? I haven't had much luck searching the web for this, so any help would be much appreciated.

This is the one specific to this exercise:

"qui consiste à appliquer de la peinture sur de l'eau". Why not "qui consiste d'appliquer ...?"

Here are other cases I've found on this website:

nous avons commencé à le faire il y a quelques années

quand tu auras fini de ranger ta chambre, tu m'aideras à faire la vaisselle.

on est toujours pressé d'oublier les moments délicats

le temps que je finisse de manger, ... j'aurai fini de vérifier ... le temps que ça lui prend de se préparer

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Clever stuff happening!