15.8.2.5 Verbs connecting the infinitive without any preposition


modal verbs  
devoir Il doit le faire.
  = must He must do it.
  Il devrait le faire.
    He should do it.
pouvoir Il peut le faire.
  = can He can do it.
savoir = to know Il sait le faire.
    He knows how to do it.
vouloir Il veut le faire.
  = wollen Er will es machen.

* All Roman languages make a differentiation that English only does in critical cases; whether someone is physically able to do something or whether someone learned how to do something.

Examples
Il sait écrire. = He can write. => He knows how to write.
Il peut dormir.= He can sleep.
It would not be sensible to say: He knows how to sleep.
Bien sûr qu' il a un permis de conduire, mais après cinq verres de vin rouge il ne peut plus conduire. =
Surely he has a drivers license but after five glasses of read wine he cannot (is not able anymore) to drive.

Verb Example
admettre =
to admit
Il admet ne pas avoir envie de le faire. He admits not to feel like doing it.
affirmer =
to affirm
Il affirme ne pas avoir été là à ce
moment la.
He affirms that he was not there at this hour.
assurer =
to assure
Il assure de pouvoir le faire. He assures to be able to do it.
avouer =
to admit
Il avoue avoir menti. He admits to have song .
confirmer =
to confirm
Il confirme avoir reçu mon message. He confirms to have got the message.
croire =
to believe
Il ne croit pas être capable de pouvoir le faire dans le délai prévu. He does not believe to be able to do it in the time given.
dire =
to say
Il dit n' avoir pas envie de le faire. He says that he does not feel like it.
nier =
to negate
Il nie avoir fait sa connaissance. He negates to have known him.
penser =
to think
Il pense avoir résolu le problème. He thinks to have solved the problem.
présumer =
to presume
Il présume avoir fait une faute. He assumes to have made a mistake.
prouver =
to rpove
Il a prouvé l' avoir fait(e). He proves that he has done it.
reconnaître =
to admit
Il reconnaît avoir commis une faute. He admits to have made a mistake.
soutenir =
to claim
Il soutient avoir été battu à plusieurs reprises.
He claims to have been beaten several times.
supposer =
to suppose
Il suppose pouvoir venir à trois heures. He supposes to be able to be here at three.
raconter =
to tell
Il raconte avoir été en Espagne, mais ce n' est pas vrai. He tells that he had been in Spain, but it is not true.
se rappeler =
to remember
Il se rappelle l' avoir vu(e). He remembers to have seen her.
adorer =
to adore
Il adore manger des glaces. He adores to eat icecream.
aimer =
to like
Il aime se promener. He likes to go for a walk.
compter =
to expect
Il compte finir en deux mois. He expects to be finished in two months.
désirer =
to desire
Il désire s' acheter une nouvelle voiture. He desires to buy a new car.
détester =
to detest
Je déteste remplir des formulaires. I hate to fill in forms.
entendre =
to understand
J' ai entendu dire, qu' il ne le fera pas. I have heard him say that he will not do it.
préferer =
to prefer
Il préfère ne pas y aller. He prefers not to go there.
souhaiter =
to wish
Il souhaite pouvoir partir le plutôt possible. He wishes to depart as soon as possible.





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