prendre

A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., acheter).

transitive verb

Luc a pris le livre sur la table de nuit et a commencé à lire.Luc took the book from the nightstand and started reading.

b. to take hold of

Le bébé a pris la cuillère et l'a mise dans sa bouche.The baby took hold of the spoon and put it in her mouth.

2. (to bring with you)

a. to take

N'oublie pas de prendre ta veste. Il fait froid dehors !Don't forget to take your jacket. It's cold outside!

b. to take with you

Prenez des restes. On ne va pas tout manger.Take some leftovers with you. We're not going to eat it all.

3. (to buy)

a. to take

Je vais prendre la jupe verte, s'il vous plaît.I'll take the green skirt, please.

b. to get

N'oublie pas de prendre du lait au supermarché.Don't forget to get milk at the grocery store.

4. (to sign up for)

a. to take out

La banque recommande à toutes les personnes âgées de prendre une assurance vie.The bank recommends that all seniors take out life insurance.

5. (to obtain)

a. to take

Laurette voudrait prendre des vacances.Laurette would like to take a vacation.

6. (to employ)

a. to hire

J'ai pris un comptable pour m'aider à remplir ma déclaration d'impôt.I hired an accountant to help me fill out my tax return.

7. (to react to)

a. to take

Comment ton patron a-t-il pris l'annonce de ton départ ?How did your boss take the news of you leaving?

8. (to follow a way)

a. to take

Au rond-point, prenez la deuxième sortie.At the roundabout, take the second exit.

9. (to use a vehicle)

a. to take

Il se fait tard. Prenons un taxi.It's getting late. Let's take a taxi.

b. to catch

On a pris le bus pour se rendre au musée.We caught the bus to get to the museum.

10. (to ingest)

a. to take

Vous devez prendre un comprimé toutes les quatre heures.You have to take one tablet every four hours.

b. to have

Je vais prendre une pizza margherita.I'll have a Margherita pizza.

c. to eat

Ma collègue prend son déjeuner à 12 h 30.My colleague eats lunch at 12:30.

d. to drink

Les enfants prennent toujours un jus d'orange frais le matin.The children always drink fresh orange juice in the morning.

11. (to ask for in payment)

a. to take

Le professeur particulier de Mathilde prend 50 euros de l'heure.Mathilde's tutor takes 50 euros an hour.

b. to charge

Cet avocat prend-il une avance sur honoraires ?Does this lawyer charge a retainer fee?

12. (to require time)

a. to take

Ça prend du temps d'apprendre une langue. N'abandonne pas !It takes time to learn a language. Don't give up!

13. (to capture)

a. to take (a place or a prisoner)

Les soldats ont pris la ville après deux semaines de bataille.The soldiers took the city after a two-week battle.

b. to catch (a person or an animal)

Nous avons pris trois truites dans la rivière hier.We caught three trout in the river yesterday.

14. (to receive)

a. to take

Pour le moment, l’hôpital ne peut plus prendre de patients.At the moment, the hospital cannot take any more patients.

b. to see

J'ai trouvé un dentiste qui peut me prendre demain.I found a dentist who can see me tomorrow.

15. (to get hurt)

a. to take

Si tu as pris un coup sur la tête, tu devrais aller chez le médecin.If you took a blow to the head, you should go to the doctor.

16. (to consider)

a. to take

Prenez mon entreprise, par exemple. Elle est petite, mais elle se développe de manière optimale.Take my company, for example. It's small, but it's developing optimally.

17. (to confuse with)

a. to take for

Tu me prends pour un idiot ? Je sais que tu mens.Do you take me for a fool? I know you're lying.

b. to mistake for

On n'arrête pas de me prendre pour un chanteur pop célèbre. C'est flatteur !People keep mistaking me for a famous pop singer. It's flattering!

18. (to carry out)

a. to take

Si le cessez-le-feu n'est pas respecté, nous serons obligés de prendre des mesures appropriées.If the ceasefire is not respected, we'll be obliged to take appropriate measures.

19. (to study)

a. to take

J'aimerais prendre un cours de photographie.I would like to take a photography course.

20. (to measure)

a. to take

L'infirmier a pris la température du patient et elle était très élevée.The nurse took the patient's temperature, and it was very high.

21. (to occupy)

a. to keep busy

Ma femme rentre tard tous les soirs. Son nouveau travail la prend beaucoup.My wife comes home late every night. Her new job keeps her very busy.

22. (to get bigger)

a. to put on

Élisa était faible après avoir été malade et devait prendre quelques kilos.Élisa was weak after being sick and needed to put on a few kilos.

b. to gain

Le bébé prend du poids et il est en bonne santé.The baby is gaining weight, and he's healthy.

23. (to thieve)

a. to take

J'ai laissé mon ordinateur portable dans ma voiture et quelqu'un l'a pris.I left my laptop in my car and someone took it.

b. to steal

Les voleurs ont pris les bijoux de la femme.The robbers stole the woman's jewelry.

24.

A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning (e.g., to pull someone's leg).

(figurative)

(to afflict)

a. to come over

Une colère inattendue m'a pris lorsque j'ai entendu ses insultes.An unexpected rage came over me when I heard her insults.

An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., éternuer.).

intransitive verb

25. (to succeed)

a. to take

Toutes les boutures ont pris et poussent désormais parfaitement.All of the cuttings have taken and are now growing perfectly.

b. to work

Le projet avance et j'ai de nouveaux clients. Ça prend bien !The project is progressing, and I have new clients. It's working well!

26. (to go up in flames)

a. to take

Le bois était humide mais le feu a quand même pris.The wood was damp but the fire still took.

b. to start

L'incendie a pris dans la cuisine avant de se propager dans toute la maison.The fire started in the kitchen before spreading throughout the house.

27. (to solidify)

a. to set

Laissez refroidir la crème puis mettez-la au frais plusieurs heures pour qu'elle prenne.Let the cream cool, then refrigerate it for several hours to set.

28.

A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning (e.g., to pull someone's leg).

(figurative)

(to affect emotionally)

a. to be the matter with

Qu'est-ce qui te prend ? Pourquoi tu cries ?What's the matter with you? Why are you yelling?

b. to be wrong with

Robin roule beaucoup trop vite ! Qu'est-ce qui lui prend ?Robin is driving way too fast! What's wrong with him?

c. to come over

Qu'est-ce qui te prend depuis quelque temps ? Tu te comportes bizarrement.What's come over you lately? You've been acting strange.

d. to get into

A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning (e.g., to pull someone's leg).

(figurative)

Ma meilleure amie ne veut plus me voir. Je ne sais pas ce qui lui prend.My best friend doesn't want to see me anymore. I don't know what's got into her.

e. to possess

A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning (e.g., to pull someone's leg).

(figurative)

Qu'est-ce qui t'a pris de voler un téléphone ?!What possessed you to steal a phone?!

Examples