Using the French Passive Infinitive

Even though the French infinitive translates as to verb, the French infinitive sometimes needs to be preceded by a preposition. This phenomenon can be divided into two categories: verbs that must be followed by a preposition (see lesson) and the passive infinitive, which you will learn about in this lesson.The passive infinitive occurs when a sentence is written in such a way that the infinitive has a passive, rather than active, meaning. This construction requires the preposition à  . Compare these two sentences:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Je veux dire quelque chose.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jai quelque chose à   dire.The first sentence, I want to say something, is active - this want is an active state of mind. The second sentence, I have something to say, is passive: the speaker is using this construction to emphasize the something to say, rather than the action of actually saying it. It might help to literally translate it as I have something to be said.The passive infinitive occurs most commonly with indef inite words, including negative indefinites. This is not a definitive list, but it should give you a good idea about when and how to use the passive infinitive. Indefinite Pronouns   Ã‚  Ã‚  Je cherche quelque chose à   lire.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Im looking for something to read.  Ã‚  Ã‚  En voici un autre à   corriger.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Heres another one to correct.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aimes-tu les films  ? En voici plusieurs à   voir.  Ã‚  Do you like movies? Here are several to watch. Negative Pronouns   Ã‚  Ã‚  Il ny a rien à   manger.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Theres nothing to eat.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Elle nen a pas une seule à   partager.  Ã‚  Ã‚  She doesnt have a single one to share. Indefinite Adjectives   Ã‚  Ã‚  Je cherche une autre voiture à   louer.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Im looking for another car to rent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Il regarde chaque peinture à   vendre.  Ã‚  Ã‚  He looks at each painting to be sold.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Il y a maintes choses à   faire demain.  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many things to do tomorrow. Negative Adjectives   Ã‚  Ã‚  Je nai aucun argent à   te prà ªter.  Ã‚  Ã‚  I dont have any money to loan you.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Il ny a pas un seul ordinateur à   utiliser.  Ã‚  Ã‚  There isnt a single computer to use.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Il na nulle sagesse à   communiquer.  Ã‚  Ã‚  He has no wisdom to impart. Indefinite Article or Number   Ã‚  Ã‚  Il me reste une maison à   vendre.  Ã‚  Ã‚  I have one house left to sell.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Elle a trouvà © un chien à   adopter.  Ã‚  Ã‚  She found a dog to adopt.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jai achetà © quatre tartes à   partager avec le groupe.  Ã‚  Ã‚  I bought four pies to share with the group. Presentatives   Ã‚  Ã‚  Cest difficile à   dire.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Its hard to say.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Il y a beaucoup de choses à   faire à   Paris.  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are a lot of things to do in Paris.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Voici les và ªtements à   laver.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Here are the clothes to wash.Note that sometimes cest and il est must be followed by de rather than à   - learn more. Sentence Fragments The passive infinitive may also be used in fragments:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ãƒâ‚¬ vendre  Ã‚  Ã‚  For sale  Ã‚  Ã‚  Maison à   louer  Ã‚  Ã‚  House for rent