Le verbe prendre (Prendre & its family)
The irregular verb prendre: conjugation, uses, and related verbs apprendre and comprendre.
PRENDRE (to take): irregular -RE verb, essential for transport
PRONUNCIATION: je/tu/il prends and prend all sound the same. The D is silent. Ils prennent (they take): the vowel changes and the NE is pronounced
SAME PATTERN as prendre: apprendre (to learn), comprendre (to understand), surprendre (to surprise), reprendre (to take again), entreprendre (to undertake). Learn one, learn them all
TAKING TRANSPORT: Je prends le bus (I take the bus). Je prends le métro (I take the metro). Je prends le train (I take the train). Je prends un taxi (I take a taxi). Je prends l'avion (I take the plane).
PRENDRE vs AMENER vs EMPORTER vs APPORTER: prendre (take/get: grab something), amener (bring a person: take them along), emporter (take away: take an object away), apporter (bring an object toward you/someone)
Common mistake: confusing prend (3rd person singular) with prennent (3rd plural): Il prend / Ils prennent: the vowel sound changes
- je prends / tu prends / il prend — I take / you take / he takes
- nous prenons / vous prenez — we take / you take
- ils prennent — they take (double-n sound)
- J'apprends le français. Tu comprends ? — I'm learning French. Do you understand? (same pattern)