What level is Verbs of Perception linked with Infinitives?

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French Conjugation

Verbs of Perception linked with Infinitives

Structuring direct observation statements using verbs like voir, entendre, or écouter combined with action infinitives.

Level B1 Category Conjugation

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Lesson Summary

Structuring direct observation statements using verbs like voir, entendre, or écouter combined with action infinitives.

Conjugation

Perceiving an Action

The verbs voir (to see), regarder (to watch), entendre (to hear), écouter (to listen), sentir (to feel), and apercevoir (to notice) belong to the class of perception verbs. When followed by an infinitive, they express the perception of an action in progress. The infinitive replaces the English present participle.

Structure and Examples

Verb	Example	Meaning
voir + infinitive	Je vois le robot travailler.	I see the robot working.
regarder + infinitive	Nous regardons les données se charger.	We watch the data loading.
entendre + infinitive	Tu entends l'imprimante fonctionner ?	Do you hear the printer working?
écouter + infinitive	Il écoute le collègue parler.	He listens to the colleague speaking.

Position of Object Pronouns

When the object of the perception verb is a pronoun, that pronoun is placed before the conjugated perception verb, not before the infinitive.

- Je vois l'ingénieur travailler. → Je le vois travailler.
- J'entends les machines fonctionner. → Je les entends fonctionner.
- Nous écoutons le présentateur expliquer le projet. → Nous l'écoutons expliquer le projet.

For the placement of object pronouns, see direct object pronouns: singular, plural, and indirect object pronouns.

Other Verbs of Perception

The same structure applies to sentir and apercevoir:
- Je sens l'air devenir plus frais. (I feel the air becoming cooler.)
- Elle a aperçu quelqu'un entrer. (She noticed someone entering.)

Examples

J'entends l'algorithme traiter les données en temps réel.
Entends + infinitive traiter.
Le technicien regarde le logiciel s'installer sur tous les ordinateurs.
Regarde + pronominal infinitive s'installer.

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Verbs of Perception linked with InfinitivesStructuring direct observation statements using verbs like voir, entendre, or écouter combined with action infinitives.Describe perceived actions as they occur, using a perception verb followed directly by an infinitive and placing any object pronoun before the conjugated verb.ConjugationB1conjugationLearn French ConjugationFrench ConjugationPerceiving an ActionThe verbs voir (to see), regarder (to watch), entendre (to hear), écouter (to listen), sentir (to feel), and apercevoir (to notice) belong to the class of perception verbs. When followed by an infinitive, they express the perception of an action in progress. The infinitive replaces the English present participle.