In French, emmener and apporter are two key verbs that express the ideas of “taking” and “bringing,” but with an important difference in perspective. *Emmener focuses on leading someone away from the current location—showing movement from where the speaker is—while apporter* emphasizes bringing something (usually tangible) toward the place where the speaker or listener is located. Understanding this subtle distinction will help you avoid common pitfalls and use each verb naturally in context.
- Emmener = to take someone (and lead them) from here to there.
- Apporter = to bring something (and deliver it) to here.
- emmener | apporter
Emmener: Taking (Someone) Away
Emmener is used when you “take” someone from one place to another, specifically moving them away from where the speaker views the action from. It always applies to people or things that require someone to be “led,” such as a child or a pet.
- Subject leads someone else from point A (where the speaker is) to point B (somewhere new).
- The focus is on transporting or leading a person (or animal).
- Not used for objects you bring/ take—only for people or those who can be “led.”
Forms of Emmener
Emmener is a regular -er verb with a slight stem change (e → è) in most present tense forms:
| Subject | Present | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Je | emmène | I take (someone) |
| Tu | emmènes | You take |
| Il/Elle | emmène | He/She takes |
| Nous | emmenons | We take |
| Vous | emmenez | You take (pl.) |
| Ils/Elles | emmènent | They take |
Example Sentences
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je mène les enfants à l'école. (J'emmène...) | I take the kids to school. |
| Peux-tu emmener ton frère au parc? | Can you take your brother to the park? |
| Ils emmènent leur chien en vacances. | They take their dog on vacation. |
- (Emmener is always about “taking away” from the speaker’s location.*)
Correct: *Emmener* applies to people and animals, but not objects.
*Emmener* means to take (someone) away, focusing on moving them from where you are.
You use *emmener* for someone who can be led—like a person or a pet—not for objects.
'Nous' becomes emmenons and 'vous' is emmenez—without the accent change.
Apporter: Bringing (Something) Along
Apporter means to “bring” something to the place where the speaker or listener expects it to be delivered—that is, moving toward (or closer to) the person’s current location or point of reference. It typically refers to things (not people).
- You introduce something tangible (often an object or item).
- The movement is toward the speaker’s (or listener’s) location.
- Can also be used figuratively for non-physical things (e.g., ideas, energy).
Forms of Apporter
Apporter is a regular -er verb:
| Subject | Present | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Je | apporte | I bring |
| Tu | apportes | You bring |
| Il/Elle | apporte | He/She brings |
| Nous | apportons | We bring |
| Vous | apportez | You bring (pl.) |
| Ils/Elles | apportent | They bring |
Example Sentences
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je apporte du pain à la fête. | I bring bread to the party. |
| Peux-tu apporter ta bouteille? | Can you bring your bottle? |
| Ils apportent des idées intéressantes. | They bring interesting ideas. |
- (Apporter emphasizes bringing toward the speaker’s place or group.*)
*Apporter* is only for things, not people.
Use *apporter* when you bring something toward the speaker's location.
You *apportez* an object or thing—not a person.
The correct forms are 'nous apportons' and 'vous apportez'.
Conclusion
Emmener and apporter spotlight different directions of movement—emmener moves people away from the speaker’s location, while apporter moves things toward it. Using these verbs with their proper subjects and perspectives will make your French sound much more natural.
- Emmener is for taking (people/animals) away.
- Apporter is for bringing (things) closer.
- Pay attention to who/what is moving and in which direction.
No, *emmener* is only for people or animals that can be 'led.'
*Apporter* is used for objects, things, and even ideas (figuratively), but not for people.
*Emmener* is used for taking people away, while *apporter* is used for bringing things toward the speaker.