A LIST OF ACTIVE VERBS WHICH REQUIRE À BEFORE

THEIR COMPLEMENT INDIRECT.

RULE III.-When the verb être is joined to the past participle of an active verb, and any complement follows, it is generally composed of the preposition de, and its complement.-EXAMPLES:

Il est estimé de tous les gens de | He is esteemed by all men of probity.

bien. Elle est chérie de tous ses parens. She is beloved by all her relations.

Observe, that the preposition par, by, is generally used in speaking of physical actions.-EXAMPLES:

Il a été tué par des voleurs de | He was killed by highwaymen. grand chemin.

La ville fut pillée par les soldats. The city was pillaged by the soldiers.

Par is required after verbs expressing the actions of the mind, when an adverbial phrase or an adverb, has been previously used. -EXAMPLE:

Je m'attends que mon ouvrage | sur la vraie manière d'enseigner les langues, sera critiqué avec acharnement PAR les maitres qui sont servilement attachés aux vieilles routines, qu'ils ont la bonté de regarder comme autant de méthodes d'instruction.

I am prepared to see my work, on the true manner of teaching languages, unmercifully criticised By teachers, who are servilely attached to old systems, which they complacently regard as so many methods of instruction.

A LIST OF STATIONARY OR NEUTER VERBS WHICH SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY 4, AND ITS COMPLEMENT.

A LIST OF SUCH REFLECTIVE VERBS AS REQUIRE THE PREPOSITION 4, AND ITS COMPLEMENT.

OBSERVATION.-With regard to the remainder of reflective verbs (which form a more numerous class than the above) when they have a complement, they require the preposition de and its complement.-EXAMPLES:

Croyez-vous qu'il se repente de | Do you believe that he repents of sa faute ?

Il se prévaut de vos bontés.

Il ne s'aperçoit pas du tour qu'on lui joue.

Vous ressouvenez-vous de cette anecdote?

his fault?

He takes advantage of your kind

ness.

He does not perceive the trick which is played him.

Do you remember this anecdote?

OBSERVATION.-When the verb jouer is intended to signify to play on a musical instrument, it is necessary it should be followed by the preposition de; but, when it is intended to signify to play at some game, it requires the preposition d.-EXAMPLES:

Ma sœur joue de la guitare, de la | My sister plays on the guitar, the

harpe, et du forté-piano; et

mon frère joue de la fluite, du violon, et de la clarinette. J'aime mieux jouer aux cartes qu'à la boule, aux quilles, au palet, ou à la paume.

1

I

harp, and piano-forte; and my brother plays on the flute, the violin, and the clarinet.

had rather play at cards than at bowls, nine-pins, quoits, or tennis.

LESSON THE SEVENTEENTH.

ON THE INFINITIVE.

Master. French infinitives may be preceded by either of the prepositions de, à, pour, or sans, as is shown by the following rules:

RULE I. The preposition de is used before the infinitive of verbe in the following cases:

1st. When the infinitive is preceded by a-noun which requires de after it.--EXAMPLES:

Croyez-vous qu'il ait eu le temps d'y aller?

Il est sur le point de mourir.

Je ne l'ai point trouvé en état de faire une si longue route.

| Do you believe that he has had time to go there?

He is on the point of death, or very near dying.

I did not find him in a state to perform so long a journey.

2d. Before the infinitive of verbs to which are joined certain noune without an article, of which a list of the principal was given in treating of the article.-EXAMPLES:

N'avez-vous pas envie de faire un | Have you not a mind to take a petit tour de promenade ?

Prenez garde de lui déplaire.

little walk?

Beware of displeasing him or her.

3d. Before the infinitive of a verb preceded by the verb être, to be, and before the greater number of French adjectives.-Ex

AMPLES:

Qu'il est heureux de ne pas être | How happy he is, not to be obligé de travailler!

Il est incapable de faire tort à qui

que ce soit.

Je suis las de vous répéter toujours la même chose.

obliged to work!

He is incapable of wronging any body whatever.

I am tired of always repeating the same thing to you.

4th. Before the infinitive of a verb following any of the verbs mentioned in the preceding lesson, with de, &c. for their complement. The following list of verbs, which frequently occur, and are followed by de, before another verb in the infinitive, will be of

service.

It is proper to observe, that, in general, whenever, in English, instead of the preposition to, with the infinitive, either of the prepositions of, from, by, or with, and the participle present, are used, the French make use of de, and the infinitive of the corresponding verb.-EXAMPLES:

Finissez de jouer.

Il m'a empêché de l'acheter.
Il est accusé de l'avoir assassiné.

Make an end of playing.

He prevented me from buying it.
He is charged with murdering
him.

RULE II. The preposition à is generally put before an infinitive. 1st. After adjectives denoting aptness, fitness, unfitness, inclination, repugnancy, and particularly after the following:

2d. The following verbs also require the infinitive with à: