A comprehensive guide to understanding the differences between the French verbs apporter, amener, emporter, and emmener, including usage, rules, and examples.

• Apporter = bring a thing (an object) to a place
• Amener = bring a person or animal to a place
• Emporter = take a thing (an object) away from a place
• Emmener = take a person or animal away from a place

Pronunciation

• Apporter: /a.pɔʁ.te/
• Amener: /a.mə.ne/
• Emporter: /ɑ̃.pɔʁ.te/
• Emmener: /ɑ̃.mə.ne/

Usage Rules

1. Person vs. Thing
1. Use apporter and emporter for things (objects).
2. Use amener and emmener for people or animals.

1. Direction: Toward vs. Away
1. Apporter and amener mean “bring” someone/something toward a place (usually the speaker’s location or a destination).
2. Emporter and emmener mean “take” someone/something away from a place (usually away from the speaker’s location or origin).

1. Prepositions
1. These verbs are usually direct and don’t require a preposition before the object.
2. When adding a place, use “à” + place:
1. « J’apporte les livres à la bibliothèque. »
2. « J’emmène mon frère à l’école. »

Examples for Each Verb

Apporter (bring a thing)

• Je apporte une bouteille d’eau. — I bring a bottle of water.
• Peux-tu apporter des chaises? — Can you bring some chairs?
• Elle apporte son ordinateur au bureau. — She brings her computer to the office.

Amener (bring a person/animal)

• Je amène les enfants à l’école. — I bring the children to school.
• Peux-tu amener ton frère? — Can you bring your brother?
• Elle amène son chien chez le vétérinaire. — She brings her dog to the vet.

Emporter (take a thing away)

• N’oublie pas d’emporter ton parapluie! — Don’t forget to take your umbrella!
• Il emporte toujours un livre dans son sac. — He always takes a book in his bag.
• J’ai emporté mon déjeuner au travail. — I took my lunch to work.

Emmener (take a person/animal away)

• Je emmène ma sœur au cinéma ce soir. — I’m taking my sister to the movies tonight.
• Elle emmène les enfants chez leurs grands-parents. — She’s taking the children to their grandparents’ house.
• Tu emmènes ton chien en vacances? — Are you taking your dog on vacation?

Summary Table

Common Confusions

• Don’t use apporter or emporter with people or animals—they refer to things.
• Don’t use amener or emmener with objects—they refer to living beings.
• Think about where the movement is going relative to you (or the speaker’s location):
• Apporter / Amener = toward the speaker/destination
• Emporter / Emmener = away from the speaker/origin

Practice Sentences

1. Je _ ma sœur à la fête.
2. N’oublie pas _ ton cahier.
3. Tu peux _ des biscuits?
4. Il _ son chien au parc.
5. Nous _ nos valises.
6. Elle _ ses amis chez elle.

1. amène
2. emporter
3. apporter
4. emmène
5. emportons
6. amène

Conclusion