Higher: pour and sans + infinitive, il est + adjective + de, le mieux

Short structures that make Higher writing and translation sound fluent: in order to, without, it is important to, it is worth, the best.

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Pour and sans + infinitive

pour + infinitive = (in order) to: Je travaille pour gagner de l'argent.
sans + infinitive = without ...ing: Il est parti sans dire au revoir. (He left without saying goodbye.)
English uses -ing after without, but French always uses the infinitive after a preposition.

Impersonal phrases

PhraseExampleEnglish
il est + adj + deIl est important de dormir.It is important to sleep.
il manque + nounIl manque des espaces verts.There aren't enough green spaces.
il vaut mieux + infIl vaut mieux manger sainement.It is better to eat healthily.
il vaut la peine de + infIl vaut la peine de visiter le château.It is worth visiting the castle.

Adjectives as nouns, le mieux and aucun

Le / la / les + adjective makes a noun: le seul (the only one), les jeunes (young people), l'anglais (English, the language), les Français (the French: capital letter for people).
le mieux = (the) best, as an adverb: C'est elle qui joue le mieux.
le pire = the worst: Le pire, c'est le bruit.
ne ... aucun(e) = not a single, no: Je n'ai aucune idée. Aucun agrees with the noun.
Worked example

Translate: It is difficult to find a job without speaking French.

  1. It is difficult to = il est difficile de
  2. to find a job = trouver un emploi
  3. without speaking = sans parler (infinitive, not -ing)

Answer: Il est difficile de trouver un emploi sans parler français.

Key idea

Pour / sans + infinitive (sans dire). Il est + adjective + de; il manque + noun; il vaut mieux + infinitive; il vaut la peine de + infinitive. Le seul, les jeunes, les Français. Le mieux, le pire. Ne ... aucun(e).

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  1. Translate: "She left without saying goodbye."

    1. Elle est partie sans dire au revoir.
    2. Elle est partie sans disant au revoir.
    3. Elle est partie sans dit au revoir.
    4. Elle est partie pour dire au revoir.
    Show the answer

    Answer: Elle est partie sans dire au revoir.

    Sans + infinitive.

  2. What does "Il manque des espaces verts en ville" mean?

    1. Green spaces are missing a town
    2. There are lots of green spaces in town
    3. Green spaces are late in town
    4. There aren't enough green spaces in town
    Show the answer

    Answer: There aren't enough green spaces in town

    Il manque + noun = not enough.

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Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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