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Verbs followed by a direct infinitive

When you want to connect two verbs in English, you usually place the word "to" between them. For example, you say "I want to learn" or "She likes to read". Because of this, English speakers learning French often feel tempted to insert a small preposition like à or de between verbs to translate the English "to".

However, many of the most common French verbs are followed immediately by an infinitive, with absolutely no preposition in between. If you use verbs of preference, verbs expressing ability, desire or obligation, or verbs expressing hopes and intentions, you must link the two verbs directly.

Word list
adorerA1 to love adorer faire = to love to do aimerA1 to like aimer faire = to like to do allerA1 to go aller faire = to go and do courirA1 to run courir faire = to run and do partirA1 to leave partir faire = to go off to do pouvoirA1 can pouvoir faire = to be able to do venirA1 to come venir faire = to come to do vouloirA1 to want vouloir faire = to want to do allerA2 to be going to aller faire = to be going to do croireA2 to believe croire faire = to think/believe one is doing descendreA2 to go down descendre faire = to go down to do détesterA2 to hate détester faire = to hate to do devoirA2 must devoir faire = to have to do espérerA2 to hope espérer faire = to hope to do monterA2 to go up monter faire = to go up to do penserA2 to think penser faire = to plan/intend to do préférerA2 to prefer préférer faire = to prefer to do rentrerA2 to return rentrer faire = to go home to do retournerA2 to return retourner faire = to go back to do savoirA2 to know how savoir faire = to know how to do avouerB1 to admit avouer faire = to admit to doing imaginerB1 to imagine imaginer faire = to picture oneself doing paraîtreB1 to appear paraître faire = to seem to do semblerB1 to appear sembler faire = to seem to do affirmerB2 to state affirmer faire = to claim to do avouerB2 to confess avouer avoir fait = to confess to doing compterB2 to intend compter faire = to intend to do déclarerB2 to state déclarer faire = to declare oneself désirerB2 to desire désirer faire = to wish to do haïrB2 to hate haïr faire = to hate doing nierB2 to deny nier avoir fait = to deny doing oserB2 to dare oser faire = to dare to do prétendreB2 to pretend prétendre faire = to claim to do souhaiterB2 to desire souhaiter faire = to wish to do reconnaîtreC1 to acknowledge reconnaître avoir fait = to admit doing
How the construction works

In French, the infinitive form of a verb (like manger, finir, or prendre) already includes the meaning of "to". Manger translates to "to eat". Therefore, you do not need an extra word for "to" when you pair it with certain conjugated verbs.

To say "I want to eat", you take the conjugated form of vouloir (I want) and place the infinitive manger (to eat) right after it.

Je veux manger une pomme.
(I want to eat an apple.)
Nous allons travailler demain.
(We are going to work tomorrow.)
Abilities, desires and obligation

The core verbs expressing ability, desire or obligation in French always take a direct infinitive. These include vouloir (to want), pouvoir (to be able to), and devoir (must or to have to). Similarly, savoir connects directly to an infinitive when expressing that you know how to do something.

Il ne peut pas venir aujourd'hui.
(He cannot come today.)
Vous devez partir maintenant.
(You have to leave now.)
Elle sait parler espagnol.
(She knows how to speak Spanish.)
Preferences, hopes, and intentions

Verbs that express your tastes and preferences also skip the preposition. This includes aimer (to like), adorer (to love), détester (to hate), and préférer (to prefer). Just attach the activity you like or dislike directly to the verb.

J'aime lire le soir.
(I like to read in the evening.)
Ils préfèrent rester à la maison.
(They prefer to stay at home.)

You follow the exact same pattern when talking about your hopes, wishes, and plans using verbs like espérer (to hope), souhaiter (to wish), compter (to plan or intend), and oser (to dare).

J'espère te voir bientôt.
(I hope to see you soon.)
Je compte voyager en France cet été.
(I intend to travel to France this summer.)
Il n'ose pas demander.
(He does not dare to ask.)
Summary

When using verbs expressing ability, desire or obligation (like vouloir and pouvoir), verbs of preference (like aimer), or verbs of intention, resist the urge to add à or de. The French infinitive already means "to do" the action, so you can connect the two verbs directly.