switch to infinitive

mo a.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

switch to infinitive

I can follow that most of the text is in the (futur d'anticipation). 

However, I am wondering why the text switched to using  the infinitive (entendre), in the last sentence? and why not use the Gerondif -en entendant. like at the beginning of the fourth sentence. 

Asked 8 months ago
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Mo, 

the links below discuss the use of the French infinitive, including in the situation in the sentence you refer to - a verb used as a noun as subject ( or object ) of another verb. 

It is a situation in which in English we could use the present participle, but that is not the case in French. 

Have also included links to discussion of the present participle and gérondif, neither of which is appropriate to use in this sentence.

Another important difference in the 4th sentence of the text is that simultaneous action is being described. 

 

 https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/revision/glossary/verbal/infinitif-infinitive

 

 https://www.thoughtco.com/french-infinitive-linfinitif-1368866 

 https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/revision/glossary/verbal/infinitif-infinitive

 https://www.thoughtco.com/french-present-participle-1368923

mo a.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thank you Maarten for this clear explanation 🙏

switch to infinitive

I can follow that most of the text is in the (futur d'anticipation). 

However, I am wondering why the text switched to using  the infinitive (entendre), in the last sentence? and why not use the Gerondif -en entendant. like at the beginning of the fourth sentence. 

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