Adjectives followed by "de"
In French, many adjectives must be linked to an infinitive (an unconjugated verb) using a preposition. Use de when the adjective describes a person's feelings or state of mind.
| The instructor is thrilled to surf with us. | Le moniteur est ravi de surfer avec nous. |
You also use de for impersonal expressions that start with Il est (It is...).
| It is impossible to surf this gigantic wave! | Il est impossible de surfer cette vague gigantesque ! |
Adjectives followed by "à"
On the other hand, use à when the adjective expresses readiness, willingness, or determination to take action.
| Are you ready to surf? | Es-tu prêt à surfer ? |
| I am determined to keep my balance. | Je suis décidé à garder l'équilibre. |
You also use à when the subject of the sentence is the actual target of the action—for example, when saying a sensation is "thrilling to discover" or courage is "hard to find".
| The sensations of surfing are thrilling to discover. | Les sensations du surf sont passionnantes à découvrir. |
| The courage you need to surf is hard to find. | Le courage dont tu as besoin pour surfer est difficile à trouver. |
Putting it all together
To choose the right preposition, look at what the adjective is doing: use de for feelings and impersonal facts, and à for readiness or describing a subject's traits.
| I am willing to try. It is exciting to surf, but impossible to do without courage. | Je suis disposé à essayer. C'est excitant de surfer, mais impossible à faire sans courage. |
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