Key differences:
- Apporter / Emporter: Used for things.
- Amener / Emmener: Used for people or animals.
- Apporter / Amener: Focus on bringing something/someone toward the speaker’s location.
- Emporter / Emmener: Focus on taking something/someone away from the speaker’s location.
Usage
A brief overview of when to use each verb.
- Apporter: Bring a thing (object) to a place or person (toward the speaker/listener).
- Amener: Bring a person or animal to a place or person (toward the speaker/listener).
- Emporter: Take a thing (object) away from the current location.
- Emmener: Take a person or animal away from the current location.
Examples
| Verb | French Example | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Apporter | Peux-tu apporter un gâteau à la fête ? | Can you bring a cake to the party? |
| Amener | Elle va amener son frère au cinéma. | She is bringing her brother to the movies. |
| Emporter | N’oublie pas d’emporter ton parapluie. | Don’t forget to take your umbrella. |
| Emmener | Il va emmener les enfants à l’école. | He is taking the children to school. |
Direction: Toward vs. Away
These verbs imply movement relative to the speaker’s (or listener’s) location.
- Toward (bringing here/there): apporter, amener
- Away (taking away from here): emporter, emmener
People/Animals vs. Things
People or animals are always introduced with amener or emmener.
- Amener/Emmener → people/animals
- Apporter/Emporter → things/objects
What object types do apporter and emporter refer to?
Things or objects only.
Apporter and emporter are used exclusively for things or objects, never for people or animals.
Which verbs would you use to talk about moving animals?
Amener (toward) and emmener (away).
Animals, like people, are moved using amener (toward) and emmener (away).
Other Common Prepositions and Phrases
Sometimes these verbs are followed by à (to) + person/place to complete the meaning.
- apporter quelque chose à quelqu’un
- amener quelqu’un à un endroit
- emporter quelque chose (souvent sans complément, l’idée de « prendre avec soi » suffit)
- emmener quelqu’un (souvent avec un complément indiquant la destination)
Quick Tips
- If it’s a thing going toward someone/place → apporter.
- If it’s a person/animal going toward someone/place → amener.
- If it’s a thing being taken away → emporter.
- If it’s a person/animal being taken away → emmener.
Summary
In short:
apporter = bring (thing) here/toward
amener = bring (person/animal) here/toward
emporter = take (thing) away
emmener = take (person/animal) away
Use the verb that matches the object (thing vs. person/animal) and the direction of movement (toward vs. away) from the speaker’s perspective.
Flashcards (1 of 4)
- Verb: Apporter
- English Meaning: Can you bring a cake to the party?
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
