List of French verbs followed by a noun clause

Declarative Verbs

These verbs introduce a statement or comment.

Example:: La fée précise à Cendrillon qu’elle doit rentrer avant minuit.The fairy explained to Cendrillon that she has to be back by midnight.

These verbs related to opinions, knowledge and thoughts are followed by noun clauses in French.

Example:: Le professeur me fait remarquer que j’ai fait une faute d’orthographe.The teacher made me notice that I had made a spelling mistake.

s’apercevoirnotice, realise
admettreadmit
apprendrelearn
comprendreunderstand
constaternotice
croirethink, believe
déciderdecide
découvrirdiscover
se douterdoubt
espérerhope
estimerestimate
faire remarquercomment
faire savoirinform
ignorerignore
s’imaginerimagine
jugerjudge
montrershow
noternote
parlerspeak
penserthink
prouvertry, prove
se rappelerremember
reconnaîtrerecognise
remarquernotice
se rendre compterealise
savoirknow
se souvenirremember
supposersuppose
trouverfind
vérifiercheck
avoir la certitude/l’impression/la preuve/l’idéeto be certain/to have the impression/to have evidence/to have the idea
être certain/sûr/convaincu/persuadéto be certain/sure/convinced/persuaded
on dirait/il paraît/il (me) semblethey say/it seems/it seems (to me)

The French verbs of perception are followed by a noun clause.

Example:: Nous avons entendu dire que Christine allait déménager.We heard that Christine is moving.

Verbs that express an judgement, an evaluation, a wish or a feeling are followed by a noun clause.

Example:: Je préfère que nous restions à la maison ce soir.I’d rather we stayed home this evening.

aimerlike
aimer mieuxprefer
apprécierappreciate
craindrefear
déplorerregret
désirerwish
détesterhate
exigerdemand
s’inquiéterworry
préférerprefer
redouterdread
regretterregret
se réjouirbe delighted
souhaiterwish
vouloirwant
être content/heureux/déçu/triste/étonné/surpristo be happy/disappointed/sad/surprised
avoir envie/peur/honteto feel like doing/to be scared/to be embarrassed
il est essentiel/étonnant/étrange/peu probable/préférable/regrettableit’s essential/surprising/strange/unlikely/preferable/regrettable
il vaut mieuxit would be better
ça m’arrange/m’ennuie/m’est égal/m’étonne/me fait plaisir/m’inquiète/me plaîtthat works for me/that’s boring/I don’t care/that surprises me/that makes me happy/that worries me/that pleases me

Verbs of doubt are followed by a noun clause in French grammar.

Example:: Le professeur doute que Jeanne ait fait ses devoirs.The teacher doubts that Jeanne has done her homework.

There are also some miscellaneous verbs that are followed by noun clauses.

Example:: Il a oublié que nous avions rendez-vous hier.He forgot that we had a date yesterday.