Introduction
The verb prendre is an essential French verb used to express actions related to taking, consuming, or seizing. It is highly versatile and appears frequently in daily conversation.
Conjugation
Prendre is an irregular verb in French, which means its conjugation does not follow the regular patterns. Here is how it is conjugated in some of the most common tenses:
Present Tense
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | prends |
| Tu | prends |
| Il/Elle/On | prend |
| Nous | prenons |
| Vous | prenez |
| Ils/Elles | prennent |
Imperfect Tense
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | prenais |
| Tu | prenais |
| Il/Elle/On | prenait |
| Nous | prenions |
| Vous | preniez |
| Ils/Elles | prenaient |
Future Tense
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | prendrai |
| Tu | prendras |
| Il/Elle/On | prendra |
| Nous | prendrons |
| Vous | prendrez |
| Ils/Elles | prendront |
Passé Composé
- Auxiliary Verb: avoir
- Past Participle: pris
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | ai pris |
| Tu | as pris |
| Il/Elle/On | a pris |
| Nous | avons pris |
| Vous | avez pris |
| Ils/Elles | ont pris |
Subjunctive (Present)
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | prenne |
| Tu | prennes |
| Il/Elle/On | prenne |
| Nous | prenions |
| Vous | preniez |
| Ils/Elles | prennent |
Imperative
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| (Tu) | prends |
| (Nous) | prenons |
| (Vous) | prenez |
Usage
Common Meanings
- To Take:
- To Consume (Eat/Drink):
- To Catch (Transportation):
- To Make a Decision:
Examples in Sentences
- Prends ton manteau, il fait froid.
(Take your coat, it's cold.)
- Est-ce que tu prends du café le matin ?
(Do you drink coffee in the morning?)
- Nous avons pris le train pour Paris.
(We took the train to Paris.)
- Ils prennent toujours leur téléphone avec eux.
(They always take their phone with them.)
- Il faut que je prenne un rendez-vous chez le médecin.
(I need to make an appointment with the doctor.)
Related Expressions
- Prendre le temps: (To take time)
- Il faut prendre le temps de réfléchir. (You need to take time to think.)
- Prendre une photo: (To take a photo)
- Elle aime prendre des photos en vacances. (She likes to take photos on vacation.)
- Prendre soin de: (To take care of)
- Prends soin de toi. (Take care of yourself.)
- Prendre en compte: (To take into account)
- Il a pris en compte ton avis. (He took your opinion into account.)
- Prendre part à: (To take part in)
- J'ai pris part à la réunion. (I took part in the meeting.)
Idiomatic Expressions
- Prendre la parole: (To speak/take the floor)
- Elle a pris la parole lors de la réunion. (She spoke during the meeting.)
- Prendre un risque: (To take a risk)
- Il a pris un risque en changeant de carrière. (He took a risk by changing careers.)
- Prendre garde: (To be careful)
- Prends garde en traversant la rue. (Be careful when crossing the street.)
- Prendre de l’avance: (To get ahead)
- Elle veut prendre de l’avance sur son travail. (She wants to get ahead with her work.)
Conclusion
Prendre is a fundamental verb in French that conveys the idea of taking or consuming something. Its versatility makes it useful in a wide range of contexts, from everyday activities to more specialized situations. By mastering prendre, you can enhance your ability to communicate effectively in French.