Prendre is the verb to take — and the model conjugation for an entire family of compound verbs (apprendre, comprendre, surprendre, entreprendre, reprendre, se méprendre). Master prendre and you have mastered seven of the most-used verbs in the language at once. The verb is also semantically broad: in addition to the literal "take" sense, French uses prendre where English uses have (prendre un café — have a coffee, prendre le train — take the train), catch (prendre froid — catch a cold), pick up (je passe te prendre — I'll pick you up), and a constellation of fixed idioms (prendre soin de, prendre la parole, se prendre pour).
The conjugation pattern is famously a three-stem alternation in the present: prend- (singular), pren- (1pl, 2pl with single n), prenn- (3pl with double n and a different vowel). This pattern is the diagnostic for the entire -prendre family.
This page is the verb-reference entry: every paradigm, every compound tense, the major uses with examples, and the idioms. Use it as a lookup. The detail pages cover individual topics in depth.
The simple tenses
These are the tenses formed without an auxiliary — the basic conjugational paradigms.
Présent de l'indicatif
The classic three-stem alternation. The vowel changes between forms: nasal /ɑ̃/ in the singular and 3pl spelling, but the actual pronunciation of the 3pl is /ɛn/ (denasalized).
| Person | Form | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| je | prends | /pʁɑ̃/ |
| tu | prends | /pʁɑ̃/ |
| il / elle / on | prend | /pʁɑ̃/ |
| nous | prenons | /pʁənɔ̃/ |
| vous | prenez | /pʁəne/ |
| ils / elles | prennent | /pʁɛn/ |
A subtle but important pronunciation contrast: the singular forms (prends, prends, prend) end in a nasal vowel /ɑ̃/, while the 3pl prennent is denasalized to /ɛn/. The double n in the spelling is the orthographic signal that the vowel before it is no longer nasal: prenn- /pʁɛn/, not /pʁɑ̃n/.
The 1pl/2pl forms (prenons, prenez) revert to a single n with a schwa /ə/ between pr and n: /pʁə-/.
Je prends le train de huit heures tous les matins.
I take the eight o'clock train every morning.
Vous prenez un café ou un thé ?
Will you have coffee or tea?
Ils prennent toujours les mêmes vacances en août.
They always take the same vacation in August.
The same three-stem pattern applies to all verbs in the -prendre family: apprendre (j'apprends, nous apprenons, ils apprennent), comprendre (je comprends, nous comprenons, ils comprennent), surprendre (je surprends, nous surprenons, ils surprennent), and so on.
Imparfait
Built on the stem pren- (from nous prenons) plus the regular imparfait endings. Predictable from the nous form.
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | prenais |
| tu | prenais |
| il / elle / on | prenait |
| nous | prenions |
| vous | preniez |
| ils / elles | prenaient |
Quand on était jeunes, on prenait souvent le train de nuit pour Marseille.
When we were young, we often used to take the night train to Marseille.
Tu prenais combien de sucre dans ton café avant ?
How much sugar did you used to take in your coffee before?
Passé simple (literary)
Stem pri-. The endings follow the -i- pattern of irregular verbs, like fis (faire) and dis (dire). Used in literary writing and historical narration.
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | pris |
| tu | pris |
| il / elle / on | prit |
| nous | prîmes |
| vous | prîtes |
| ils / elles | prirent |
The circumflex on prîmes and prîtes is obligatory and historically marks a lost -s-.
Il prit alors la décision de tout quitter.
He then made the decision to leave everything behind. (literary)
Nous prîmes la route au lever du soleil.
We took the road at sunrise. (literary)
Futur simple
Stem prendr- — derived directly from the infinitive (with the e of -re dropping out before the futur endings). Endings are the regular futur endings.
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | prendrai |
| tu | prendras |
| il / elle / on | prendra |
| nous | prendrons |
| vous | prendrez |
| ils / elles | prendront |
The futur of prendre is one of the few French paradigms where the futur stem matches the infinitive minus -e — making it relatively easy to remember once you have the infinitive.
Je prendrai une décision avant la fin de la semaine.
I'll make a decision before the end of the week.
On prendra le bus ou le métro, c'est plus rapide.
We'll take the bus or the metro, it's faster.
Conditionnel présent
Same prendr- stem as the futur, with the imparfait endings.
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| je | prendrais |
| tu | prendrais |
| il / elle / on | prendrait |
| nous | prendrions |
| vous | prendriez |
| ils / elles | prendraient |
Je prendrais bien un peu de gâteau, s'il en reste.
I'd happily have a little cake, if there's any left.
À ta place, je prendrais le temps d'y réfléchir.
If I were you, I'd take the time to think it over.
Subjonctif présent
Two stems: prenn- (1sg, 2sg, 3sg, 3pl) and pren- (1pl, 2pl). The split mirrors the indicative pattern of strong (singular and 3pl) vs weak (1pl, 2pl) forms.
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| (que) je | prenne |
| (que) tu | prennes |
| (qu')il / elle / on | prenne |
| (que) nous | prenions |
| (que) vous | preniez |
| (qu')ils / elles | prennent |
Note that the 1pl/2pl subjunctive forms (prenions, preniez) are spelled identically to the imparfait — context disambiguates. The double n of prenne, prennes, prenne, prennent is a key spelling cue that the form is not indicative.
Il faut que tu prennes ton parapluie, il va pleuvoir.
You need to take your umbrella, it's going to rain.
Je veux qu'on prenne le temps de discuter ce soir.
I want us to take the time to talk tonight.
Impératif
Three forms, derived from the indicative present (with the tu form dropping the final -s — a regular feature of -re and -ir imperatives).
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| (tu) | prends |
| (nous) | prenons |
| (vous) | prenez |
Note that the tu form prends keeps the -s in writing, unlike the -er imperatives (parle, mange). The -s is preserved because prendre is not an -er verb. The -s is silent in normal speech but is reintroduced in liaison: prends-en /pʁɑ̃zɑ̃/ ("take some").
Prends ton temps, il n'y a pas le feu.
Take your time, there's no rush. (literally: there's no fire)
Prenons un café, j'ai besoin d'une pause.
Let's grab a coffee, I need a break.
Prenez place, on commence dans cinq minutes.
Take a seat, we're starting in five minutes.
Participles and gérondif
- Participe passé: pris (agrees with preceding direct object when avoir is auxiliary)
- Participe présent: prenant
- Gérondif: en prenant
En prenant cette décision, elle savait qu'elle prenait un risque.
In making that decision, she knew she was taking a risk.
Prenant son courage à deux mains, il est entré dans le bureau du patron.
Gathering his courage, he walked into the boss's office. (literally: taking his courage in both hands)
The participle pris is one of the highly irregular short past participles in French (alongside mis from mettre, dit from dire). Agreement: les clés que j'ai prises (feminine plural — prises agrees with the preceding direct object les clés).
The compound tenses
Prendre uses avoir as its auxiliary in compound tenses.
Passé composé
avoir (présent) + pris
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| j' | ai pris | I took / I've taken |
| tu | as pris | you took |
| il / elle / on | a pris | he/she/we took |
| nous | avons pris | we took |
| vous | avez pris | you took |
| ils / elles | ont pris | they took |
J'ai pris une bonne décision en venant ici.
I made a good decision coming here.
On a pris le TGV pour gagner du temps.
We took the high-speed train to save time.
Plus-que-parfait
avoir (imparfait) + pris
J'avais déjà pris rendez-vous avant ton appel.
I'd already made an appointment before your call.
Futur antérieur
avoir (futur) + pris
Quand tu reviendras, j'aurai pris ma décision.
When you get back, I'll have made my decision.
Conditionnel passé
avoir (conditionnel) + pris
Sans toi, je n'aurais jamais pris cette opportunité.
Without you, I'd never have taken this opportunity.
Subjonctif passé
avoir (subjonctif) + pris
Je suis content que tu aies pris cette décision.
I'm glad you've made that decision.
The four core uses
1. Take: literal and physical
The most basic use. Prendre expresses physically grasping, picking up, or carrying something. It also extends to taking transport, taking time, and taking abstract things (a decision, a risk).
Prends la valise rouge, c'est la mienne.
Grab the red suitcase, it's mine.
Le voyage prend environ huit heures.
The trip takes about eight hours.
Tu prends le métro pour aller au travail ?
Do you take the metro to get to work?
The transport sense is fully productive: prendre le train, le métro, le bus, l'avion, un taxi. French does not differentiate "catch" vs "take" the way English does — it is always prendre.
2. Have (consume): prendre un café, prendre un repas
Where English uses "have" for consuming food and drink, French uses prendre. Avoir un café would mean "to possess a coffee" — to drink one is prendre un café.
Qu'est-ce que vous prenez ? — Je prendrai un café noir, s'il vous plaît.
What will you have? — I'll have a black coffee, please.
On a pris un excellent dîner chez eux samedi soir.
We had an excellent dinner at their place Saturday night.
Tu veux prendre un verre quelque part ?
Do you want to grab a drink somewhere?
This use is one of the most reliable diagnostics for natural French: a learner who orders j'ai un café in a café marks themselves immediately. Native speakers say je prendrai un café (or, even more naturally, je vais prendre un café).
3. Catch (an illness, weight, time): prendre froid, prendre du poids
A specialized but high-frequency use. Prendre covers a range of involuntary acquisitions where English uses different verbs.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| prendre froid | to catch a cold |
| prendre un coup de soleil | to get sunburned |
| prendre du poids | to put on weight |
| prendre des forces | to gather strength |
| prendre l'habitude (de) | to get into the habit (of) |
| prendre de l'âge | to age / get older |
Couvre-toi bien, tu vas prendre froid.
Bundle up, you're going to catch a cold.
J'ai pris cinq kilos pendant les fêtes.
I put on five kilos over the holidays.
4. Picking up / collecting: passer prendre
When you "pick someone up" — collect them by car or stop by to fetch them — French uses passer prendre or simply prendre.
Je passe te prendre à huit heures, ça va ?
I'll pick you up at eight, sound good?
Tu peux prendre les enfants à la sortie de l'école ?
Can you pick the kids up from school?
The construction passer prendre has the literal sense "pass by and take" — it implies a brief stop on the way to somewhere else. Without passer, prendre in this sense often implies a more deliberate trip to fetch someone.
High-frequency prendre idioms
- prendre son temps — to take one's time
- prendre rendez-vous — to make an appointment
- prendre la parole — to take the floor / start speaking
- prendre une décision — to make a decision
- prendre soin de — to take care of
- prendre ses précautions — to take precautions
- prendre conscience de — to become aware of
- prendre à cœur — to take to heart
- prendre au sérieux — to take seriously
- prendre note de — to take note of
- se prendre pour — to think one is, to fancy oneself as (il se prend pour un génie)
- s'y prendre — to go about (something) (je ne sais pas comment m'y prendre)
- se prendre la tête — to stress out / overthink (informal)
- prendre la tangente — to slip away, to dodge
- prendre les choses en main — to take charge
Je vais prendre rendez-vous chez le dentiste demain.
I'm going to make an appointment with the dentist tomorrow.
Il se prend pour un grand chef, mais il sait à peine cuire un œuf.
He thinks he's a great chef, but he can barely cook an egg.
Ne te prends pas la tête avec ça, c'est pas grave.
Don't stress yourself out about it, it's not a big deal. (informal)
Je ne sais pas comment m'y prendre pour lui annoncer la nouvelle.
I don't know how to go about telling her the news.
The reflexive se prendre pour deserves special attention — it always carries a slight pejorative or ironic tone, suggesting the subject overestimates themselves.
The -prendre family
Master the conjugation of prendre and you have automatically mastered six high-frequency verbs that share its pattern. All take avoir as auxiliary; all have past participles ending in -pris with the same agreement rules.
| Verb | Meaning | 1sg present | 3pl present | Past participle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| prendre | to take | je prends | ils prennent | pris |
| apprendre | to learn / to teach | j'apprends | ils apprennent | appris |
| comprendre | to understand | je comprends | ils comprennent | compris |
| surprendre | to surprise | je surprends | ils surprennent | surpris |
| entreprendre | to undertake | j'entreprends | ils entreprennent | entrepris |
| reprendre | to take again / resume | je reprends | ils reprennent | repris |
| se méprendre | to be mistaken | je me méprends | ils se méprennent | mépris |
J'apprends le japonais depuis trois ans.
I've been learning Japanese for three years.
Tu comprends ce qu'il dit ?
Do you understand what he's saying?
Cette nouvelle m'a vraiment surpris.
That news really surprised me.
On reprend le travail lundi prochain.
We go back to work next Monday.
Note that apprendre has a useful dual meaning: apprendre quelque chose = to learn something; apprendre quelque chose à quelqu'un = to teach something to someone. The same verb covers both ends of the learning relationship — j'apprends le piano à mon fils (I'm teaching my son piano) vs mon fils apprend le piano (my son is learning piano).
Comparison with English
Three friction points:
- One verb for "take" and "have (consume)." English splits these: take a train but have a coffee. French uses prendre for both (prendre le train, prendre un café). Substituting avoir for the consumption sense is a foundational error.
- The three-stem present. Prends — prenons — prennent. The double n in 3pl is a shibboleth for the -prendre family — get it wrong and you flag yourself instantly. The pronunciation contrast /pʁɑ̃/ (singular) vs /pʁɛn/ (3pl) is also something English speakers tend to miss.
- The reflexive se prendre pour has no clean English equivalent. English uses "thinks he's" with a pejorative tone; French uses se prendre pour
The literal "take" sense otherwise lines up cleanly with English. The transport-taking and decision-taking idioms also transfer well.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using avoir for consumption.
❌ J'ai un café, s'il vous plaît.
Wrong as a beverage order — this means 'I possess a coffee.' Use prendre.
✅ Je prendrai un café, s'il vous plaît.
I'll have a coffee, please.
Mistake 2: Using a single n in 3pl present.
❌ Ils prenent le train à huit heures.
Wrong — 3pl is prennent, with double n.
✅ Ils prennent le train à huit heures.
They take the train at eight.
Mistake 3: Pronouncing the 3pl with a nasal vowel.
❌ /ils pʁɑ̃n/ for ils prennent
Wrong — the double n denasalizes the vowel: /ɛn/, not /ɑ̃n/.
✅ /ils pʁɛn/ for ils prennent
Correct pronunciation.
Mistake 4: Using catch literally for prendre froid.
❌ J'ai attrapé froid.
Acceptable but less natural — French prefers prendre froid for catching a cold.
✅ J'ai pris froid.
I caught a cold.
Mistake 5: Forgetting the agreement on the past participle.
❌ Les clés que j'ai pris sont là.
Wrong — pris must agree with the preceding feminine plural direct object les clés.
✅ Les clés que j'ai prises sont là.
The keys I took are over there.
Key takeaways
Prendre is the verb to take — and the model conjugation for the entire -prendre family (apprendre, comprendre, surprendre, entreprendre, reprendre, se méprendre). Master prendre and you have mastered seven high-frequency verbs at once.
The simple-tense paradigms feature a famous three-stem present alternation: prend- (singular, /pʁɑ̃/), pren- (1pl, 2pl, /pʁə-/), prenn- (3pl, /pʁɛn/, denasalized). The futur stem prendr- is straightforward (infinitive minus -e); the subjunctive splits into prenn- and pren-.
In compound tenses, prendre takes avoir: j'ai pris, j'avais pris, j'aurai pris. The participle pris agrees with a preceding direct object: les clés que j'ai prises. Three idiomatic uses are essential: prendre + transport (prendre le train), prendre + food/drink (prendre un café), and prendre froid / un coup de soleil for involuntary acquisitions.
Memorize the paradigms cold; reread the -prendre family table; use the page as a lookup. Prendre is one of the verbs you will use in nearly every conversation — and getting ils prennent right (with double n and the /ɛn/ pronunciation) is one of the small details that separates fluent learners from beginners.
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