Hey, did you know that infinitives can be used as objects after some verbs of perception? In this article we´ll be talking just about that, infinitives as objects. We´ll also talk about word order in such sentences according to whether the infinitive has a subject, an object and whether these are expressed by a noun or a pronoun.
Verbs of Perception
The construction we’re going to talk about is based on verbs of perception. So, what are the verbs of perception? Well, these are verbs that are used to say what our senses do. Here belong the following verbs:
| voir | to see |
| entendre | to hear |
| regarder | to watch |
| écouter | to listen to |
| apercevoir | to notice |
| sentir | to feel |
Infinitives with a Subject and No Object
There are three possible situations as far as infinitives as objects are concerned:
1) the infinitive has a subject but no object
2) the infinitive has an object but no subject
3) the infinitive has both a subject and an object
Let’s start with the first case. An infinitive has a subject if the noun or pronoun accompanying it is the performer of the action expressed by the infinitive. Now, if the subject is a noun, it follows the verb of perception – either before or after the infinitive. If it’s a pronoun, it precedes the verb of perception. Have a look at some examples:
| Je vois la fille danser. | I see the girl dancing. |
| Je vois danser la fille. | I see the girl dancing. |
| Je la vois danser. | I see her dancing. |
| J’entends les enfants chanter. | I hear the children singing. |
| J’entends chanter les enfants. | I hear the children singing. |
| Je les entends chanter. | I hear them singing. |
| Je sens le vent souffler. | I feel the wind blowing. |
| Je sens souffler le vent. | I feel the wind blowing. |
| Je le sens souffler. | I feel it blowing. |
Infinitives with an Object and No Subject
The second case is an infinitive with an object but no subject. We know that the noun or pronoun that accompanies the infinitive is an object if it is the one upon which the action expressed by the infinitive is performed.
If the subject is a noun, it follows both the verb of perception and the infinitive. If it’s a pronoun, it precedes the verb of perception. Have a look at some examples:
| Je regarde peindre les murs. | I’m watching the walls being painted. |
| Je les regarde peindre. | I’m watching them being painted. |
| J’écoute chanter la chanson. | I’m listening to the song being sung. |
| Je l’écoute chanter. | I’m listening to it being sung. |
| Je vois manger la pomme. | I see the apple being eaten. |
| Je la vois manger. | I see it being eaten. |
Infinitives with a Subject and an Object Expressed by Nouns
Our last case is an infinitive with both a subject and an object. Here things get a little more complicated. The general rule is that the subject is always earlier in the sentence than the object. In the easiest case both the subject and the object are expressed by nouns. Then the subject is before the infinitive and the object is after it. Have a look:
J’entends les enfants chanter.
J’entends chanter les enfants.
I hear the children singing.
J’entends chanter la chanson.
I hear the song being sung.
J’entends les enfants chanter la chanson.
I hear the children singing the song.
Infinitives with a Subject Expressed by a Pronoun and an Object Expressed by a Noun
If the subject is expressed by a pronoun, it precedes the verb of perception. Have a look:
Je les entends chanter.
I hear them singing.
J’entends chanter la chanson.
I hear the song being sung.
Je les entends chanter la chanson.
I hear them singing the song.
Infinitives with a Subject Expressed by a Noun and an Object Expressed by a Pronoun
If the object is expressed by a pronoun, it precedes the infinitive. Have a look:
J’entends les enfants chanter.
I hear the children singing.
Je l’entends chanter.
I hear it being sung.
J’entends les enfants la chanter.
I hear the children singing it.
Infinitives with a Subject and an Object both Expressed by Pronouns
Finally, we can have both the subject and the object expressed by pronouns. In such a case, the subject comes before the verb of perception and the object after it. Have a look:
Je les entends chanter.
I hear them singing.
Je l’entends chanter.
I hear it being sung.
Je les entends la chanter.
I hear them singing it.
INFO
Please subscribe to my mailing list and newsletter. I have a present for all subscribers – my free 61-page part 1 of Français Intensif – French for Absolute Beginners e-book that will get you started with French if you are a beginner.