Apprendre à versus apprendre

Question

I'm not understanding why, in French, when someone is learning something, it is stated as "apprendre à" and not just "apprendre".

For instance: She learns to dance. - Elle apprend à danser.

Given that the unconjugated verb danser literally means "to dance", why do we need to insert à (to) again?

Tangentially, does the verb apprendre ALWAYS take the preposition à? If not, can you give me an example where it wouldn't (and maybe explain why it wouldn't in that situation)?

Thanks!

Accepted Answer

Melinda, 
Some French verbs require a following preposition either before a noun, a verb infinitive, or in both situations. Mostly à or de ( some verbs use either, with or without a change in meaning ), but some verbs require other prepositions. There is no specific rhyme or reason to which verbs require a preposition - it needs to be ‘ learnt/acquired’ as you go ( Trying to learn lists without context is relatively futile, in my view ). 
‘Apprendre qqc (Noun) - learn something 
 ‘ Apprendre qqc (Noun) à qqn ‘ - teach someone something ( or inform/tell someone of/about something )
‘Apprendre à faire qqc (verb infinitive) - learn (how) to do something.
French and English verbs are used differently - the need for a preposition following the verb is determined by the verb ‘being followed’ ( apprendre in this example) , and not by the infinitive (danser in this example).
Although an English infinitive includes a preposition, the French infinitive does not. Don’t confuse the ‘English translation’ as being exactly the same as ‘ the meaning of something French in French’, or an indicator of the same pattern of use - they are not quite the same thing, sometimes considerably different ! 
This is a large area of learning in French - too big to cover comprensively in a QandA response. Some links below to start with and then to follow other links as suits you best presently. If you have follow up questions, will try to help if I can.
 https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/revision/glossary/verbal/infinitif-infinitive
 https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/verbs-with-a/
 https://www.wordreference.com/fren/apprendre