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.