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Generally, when talking about an activity in English, we use either the -ing form of the verb or the to + verb form:
Dieting is useful. / To diet is useful.
I love going on holiday. / I love to go on holiday.
Learn how to use infinitive verbs in French
Now look at these examples:
Faire un régime est utile.Dieting is useful.
J'adore aller en vacances.I love going on holiday.
J'aime lire des romans.I like to read novels / I like reading novels.
Je déteste manger des épinards.I hate to eat spinach / I hate eating spinach.
In French, you will always use the infinitive in those cases.
Case of reflexive infinitives
Je déteste me lever tôt.I hate getting up early.
Vous aimez bien vous promener.You like going for a walk.
Basile adore se coucher tard.Basile loves going to bed late.
When the infinitive is a reflexive verb, the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) matches the subject of the sentence (i.e. the person referred to).
See also Conjugate reflexive verbs in the near future in French using aller + infinitive (Le Futur Proche)
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Examples and resources
(Proverbe agricole)Sparing the wine when the barrel is at its end is getting to it a bit late.
(Farmer's proverb)
Se faire les yeux doux par écran interposé, si ça marchait, ça se saurait !Put down that phone!
Making doe eyes with a screen in-between, if that worked, we would know!
