Question 1

Why does the translation say "having a drink" when prendre means "to take"?

Accepted Answer

While prendre does literally mean "to take", French uses this verb for consuming food and drinks. In English you "have" a coffee or "have" a meal, but in French you always "take" them. So prendre un verre is the natural way to say "to have a drink".

Question 2

I'm learning the verb prendre. Why does it end in ds here?

Accepted Answer

Prendre is an irregular verb, but it still follows the general French rule where the tu (informal you) form ends in an s. For the singular forms, it goes: je prends, tu prends, and il/elle prend (which drops the s).

Question 3

Does un verre mean any kind of drink?

Accepted Answer

Un verre literally translates to "a glass". In the phrase prendre un verre, it is an idiomatic expression that means "to grab a drink" or "to have a drink". It usually implies going to a café or bar, often for a beer or wine, but it can perfectly well be used for non-alcoholic drinks too.

Question 4

Can I ask this question without using Est-ce que at the beginning?

Accepted Answer

Yes! In everyday spoken French, you can simply say the statement and raise your voice at the end: Tu prends un verre avec nous ? Using Est-ce que is just a standard, very common way to show right away that a yes/no question is coming.

Est-ce que tu prends un verre avec nous ?

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