Usage
Prendre is used in various contexts such as taking something physically, making a choice, or ordering in a restaurant.
Conjugations
Présent (Present)
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Pronoun | English Conjugation |
|---|
| je | prends | I | take |
| tu | prends | you (sing.) | take |
| il/elle/on | prend | he/she/one | takes |
| nous | prenons | we | take |
| vous | prenez | you (pl./form.) | take |
| ils/elles | prennent | they | take |
Passé Composé (Perfect Past)
| French Pronoun | French Form | English Pronoun | English Translation |
|---|
| j' | ai pris | I | took |
| tu | as pris | you (sing.) | took |
| il/elle/on | a pris | he/she/one | took |
| nous | avons pris | we | took |
| vous | avez pris | you (pl./form.) | took |
| ils/elles | ont pris | they | took |
Imparfait (Imperfect)
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Pronoun | English Conjugation |
|---|
| je | prenais | I | was taking / used to take |
| tu | prenais | you (sing.) | were taking / used to take |
| il/elle/on | prenait | he/she/one | was taking / used to take |
| nous | prenions | we | were taking / used to take |
| vous | preniez | you (pl./form.) | were taking / used to take |
| ils/elles | prenaient | they | were taking / used to take |
Futur Simple (Simple Future)
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Pronoun | English Conjugation |
|---|
| je | prendrai | I | will take |
| tu | prendras | you (sing.) | will take |
| il/elle/on | prendra | he/she/one | will take |
| nous | prendrons | we | will take |
| vous | prendrez | you (pl./form.) | will take |
| ils/elles | prendront | they | will take |
Conditionnel Présent (Present Conditional)
| French Pronoun | French Conjugation | English Pronoun | English Conjugation |
|---|
| je | prendrais | I | would take |
| tu | prendrais | you (sing.) | would take |
| il/elle/on | prendrait | he/she/one | would take |
| nous | prendrions | we | would take |
| vous | prendriez | you (pl./form.) | would take |
| ils/elles | prendraient | they | would take |
Examples
- Je prends un café. (I take a coffee.)
- Elle a pris le train. (She took the train.)
- Nous prendrons des vacances. (We will take a vacation.)
- Tu prendrais du sucre ? (Would you take some sugar?)
- Prenez la première rue à gauche. (Take the first street on the left.)
Summary
Prendre is a versatile and irregular French verb meaning "to take." It’s used in many common situations, from everyday actions to expressing future plans or polite requests.
