Prendre – present tense
Je prends, nous prenons, ils prennent
Prendre (to take) is irregular and extremely common. Learn it well, because its pattern is shared by apprendre and comprendre.
Conjugation
| prendre | |
|---|---|
| je | prends |
| tu | prends |
| il / elle / on | prend |
| nous | prenons (one n) |
| vous | prenez |
| ils / elles | prennent (two n) |
- Je prends le bus tous les jours.I take the bus every day.
- Il prend une douche.He's taking a shower.
- Nous prenons le petit-déjeuner à 8 h.We have breakfast at 8.
- Ils prennent des photos.They're taking photos.
Same pattern
- apprendre (to learn): j'apprends, nous apprenons, ils apprennent
- comprendre (to understand): je comprends, ils comprennent
- surprendre (to surprise), reprendre (to take again, resume)
- Tu comprends ?Do you understand?
- J'apprends à conduire.I'm learning to drive.
Prendre with food and drink
In cafés and restaurants, prendre means to have:
- Je prends un café.I'll have a coffee.
- Qu'est-ce que vous prenez ?What will you have?
Pronunciation
Prends / prend end in a nasal sound (pran). In prennent, the double n makes the vowel oral: prèn.
Practice
- Je _____ le métro. (prendre)
Show the answer
prends
- Tu _____ ? (comprendre)
Show the answer
comprends
- Nous _____ l'italien. (apprendre)
Show the answer
apprenons
- Ils _____ un taxi. (prendre)
Show the answer
prennent
In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days until you've mastered it.