1) The infinitive proposition is used after some verbs such as want and like

Want/like +noun  or  pronoun  + to -infinitif

I want her to come

Je veux qu’elle vienne

(Not  I want that she comes!)

I would like Jane to work better !

J’aimerais que Jane travaille mieux

(Not  I would like that Jane works better)

Notice:

« Je veux que… »   is never translated into  « I want that… »

2) The infinitive proposition is also used after verbs such as : ask, expect, hate, need, order, prefer , wait for

I expect her to phone me                             Je m’attends à ce qu’elle m’appelle

I need someone to help me                         J’ai besoin que quelqu’un m’aide

I am waiting for Mike to come back           J’attends que Mike revienne

 Notice:

Note that « expect » is often translated into « supposer, penser, prévoir… »

I expect her to understand                          Je suppose qu’elle comprendra

 Note that “I can’t wait for..to…  “ often means  “Vivement que….”

I can’t wait for the holidays                         vivement les vacances

I can’t wait to see him again                       vivement que je le revoie

Exercise :     Put the sentences in order, finding an infinitive proposition.

Intermediate
English exercise "Infinitive proposition" created by lucile83 (11-01-2006) with The test builder
Click here to see the current stats of this English test

Click on the words to build sentences.

1. with I us. come you to want
2. to him. Betty phone would He like
3. don't be I want angry. Jim to
4. her. would to like someone She listen to
5. to Wendy two call at o'clock. expecting I me am
6. We dinner. us invite to Smith to Mrs expect
7. a you to me you book.§He wants a lend me to He book. lend wants
8. play boys football. told me wanted He he the to
9. needs someone She her. help to
10. hate I people to rude. be