prendre is a fundamental French verb meaning "to take." It’s used not only for taking things but also for catching transportation, taking part in activities, and even having meals. This makes it an essential verb for everyday conversation.
- Prendre means to take.
- It applies to taking objects, transportation, meals, and more.
- Mastering prendre helps you use French more naturally in varied contexts.
Meaning and Usage
prendre means "to take" and is used in many situations: taking an object, catching transportation, starting something, and even having meals.
- Core meaning: to take.
- Use it for physical things, transportation, and even abstract ideas.
- You can also use it for grabbing opportunities or experiences.
Conjugation Pattern
prendre is an irregular verb. Its root changes in some forms: je prends, tu prends, il prend, but nous prenons, vous prenez, ils prennent.
| Person | Present | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je | prends | I take |
| Tu | prends | You take |
| Il/Elle/On | prend | He/She/One takes |
| Nous | prenons | We take |
| Vous | prenez | You take |
| Ils/Elles | prennent | They take |
- The stem changes to prend- for most singular and third-person plural forms.
- For nous and vous, it’s pren- plus the usual endings.
*prendre* means 'to take' and is also used for catching transportation and even having meals.
The correct forms are je prends, tu prends, il prend, nous prenons, vous prenez, ils prennent.
Example Sentences
- Je prends un café. (I’m having [taking] a coffee.)
- Tu prends le métro? (Do you take the subway?)
- Il prend son livre. (He takes his book.)
- Nous prenons des vacances. (We’re taking vacations.)
- Vous prenez les bonnes décisions. (You’re making [taking] the right decisions.)
- Ils prennent des photos. (They’re taking pictures.)
*prendre* is used for taking drinks/food, using transport, and starting vacations. Not for requesting or giving.
Je prends un café, Tu prends le métro?, Nous prenons des vacances sont great examples of *prendre* in action.
Related Verbs and Expressions
- Apprendre (to learn)
- Comprendre (to understand)
- Reprendre (to take back, resume)
These all share the -prendre root and similar conjugations.
apprendre, comprendre, and reprendre are related to prendre.
Correct uses include 'Je prends le bus,' 'Elle prend son déjeuner,' and 'Nous prenons une décision.'
Il prend la parole, Tu prends un café, Nous prenons le train show unique uses (speech, drink, transport).
Conclusion
prendre is much more than “to take”—it’s a versatile verb used in many everyday situations, making it essential for fluency.
- It means “to take” but also applies to transportation, meals, and experiences.
- Its irregular conjugation is important to learn for correct usage.
- Related verbs like apprendre and comprendre share its pattern.