How to Use the French Past Infinitive

The French past infinitive, also known as the perfect infinitive, is a versatile verb form that allows you to express actions that occurred before another event.

While it may seem complex at first, understanding this concept will significantly enhance your French language skills.

Forming the Past Infinitive

The past infinitive consists of two parts:

1. The auxiliary verb (avoir or être) in its infinitive form
2. The past participle of the main verb

For example:

• avoir mangé (to have eaten)
• être allé(e) (to have gone)

When to Use the Past Infinitive

Expressing Completed Actions

Use the past infinitive to talk about an action that happened before the main verb in the sentence.

Examples:

• Je suis content d'avoir fini mes devoirs. (I'm happy to have finished my homework.)
• Elle regrette d'être partie tôt. (She regrets having left early.)

Hypothetical Situations

The past infinitive can also express actions that didn't happen or haven't happened yet.

Examples:

• J'aurais aimé avoir visité Paris. (I would have liked to have visited Paris.)
• Nous espérons avoir trouvé une solution avant demain. (We hope to have found a solution before tomorrow.)

Different Subjects in Past Infinitive Constructions

When the subject of the past infinitive differs from the main clause, use an object pronoun to clarify.

Examples:

• Je vous remercie d'être venu à la réunion. (I thank you for having come to the meeting.)
• Elle est fâchée de nous avoir vus ensemble. (She's angry at having seen us together.)

Common Expressions with Past Infinitive

Certain phrases frequently use the past infinitive:

• Merci d'avoir + past participle (Thank you for having...)
• Après avoir + past participle (After having...)
• Avant d'avoir + past participle (Before having...)

Example:

• Merci d'avoir patiemment attendu. (Thank you for having waited patiently.)

Word Order in Past Infinitive Constructions

Negation

Place negative words before the auxiliary verb:

• Je regrette de ne pas avoir étudié. (I regret not having studied.)

Pronouns

Object and adverbial pronouns come before the auxiliary verb:

• Après l'y avoir déposé, je suis rentré. (After having dropped it off there, I went home.)

Practice Exercises

To solidify your understanding, try these exercises:

1. Transform: "Je suis content que j'ai fini" to past infinitive.
2. Express regret: "I regret not having learned French earlier."
3. Use different subjects: "They thanked us for coming to the party."

Answers:

1. Je suis content d'avoir fini.
2. Je regrette de ne pas avoir appris le français plus tôt.
3. Ils nous ont remerciés d'être venus à la fête.