verbs: regimen

French Verb Classification and Construction

In French, the way a verb is constructed depends on how it interacts with other parts of the sentence. Understanding these structures is key to mastering French syntax.

1. Intransitive Verbs (Verbes employés seuls)

These verbs have a complete meaning on their own and do not require a direct or indirect object. They describe an action or state inherent to the subject.

• Common examples: rire (to laugh), dormir (to sleep), mourir (to die).
• Verbs of movement: Many verbs of movement fall into this category, though they often take a place complement.
  Example: Elle dort. (She is sleeping.)
  Example: Il arrive à la gare. (He is arriving at the station.)

2. Verbs Followed by an Attribute (Verbes d'état)

These verbs act like a link between the subject and a quality or identity (the attribut du sujet). The most common is être (to be), but there are others.

• State verbs: paraître (to appear), sembler (to seem), devenir (to become), avoir l’air (to look like).
  Example: Elle semble fatiguée. (She seems tired.)
• Verbs with Object Attributes: Some verbs like croire (to believe), trouver (to find), or rendre (to make) take a Direct Object followed by an attribute.
  Example: Je trouve ce film intéressant. (I find this movie interesting.)

3. Transitive Verbs (Verbes suivis de compléments)

These verbs require one or more complements to complete their meaning.

• Direct Object (COD): Follows the verb directly without a preposition.
  Example: Elle lit un poème. (She is reading a poem.)
• Indirect Object (COI): Introduced by prepositions like à or de.
  Example: Il téléphone à sa mère. (He is calling his mother.)

4. Verbs Followed by an Infinitive

Many verbs are completed by another verb in the infinitive form.

• Directly: aimer, pouvoir, vouloir, savoir.
  Example: Je veux sortir. (I want to go out.)
• With a preposition: commencer à, essayer de.
  Example: Il essaie de comprendre. (He is trying to understand.)

5. Complex Patterns (Double Complements)

Some verbs follow specific patterns involving two elements:

• Verb + COD + COI: offrir un cadeau à quelqu’un (to give a gift to someone).
• Verb + COI + de + Infinitive: demander à quelqu’un de faire quelque chose (to ask someone to do something).
• Verb + COD + à/de + Infinitive: autoriser quelqu’un à faire (to authorize someone to do), empêcher quelqu’un de faire (to prevent someone from doing).

6. Verbs Followed by a Subordinate Clause

The verb can be followed by a full clause starting with que or an indirect question.

• Complétive: Elle aime qu’on lui offre des fleurs. (She likes people giving her flowers.)
• Interrogative: Il demande si tout est prêt. (He asks if everything is ready.)