français · A1 · verb · 4 minutes
Prendre in the present
Use six high-frequency forms for taking, having, and transport.
Understand the choice
Prendre means take, but appears in travel, food, medicine, decisions, and fixed daily choices. Its plural ils form doubles n in spelling and has a different vowel sound from nous prenons and vous prenez.
Core rule: The present of prendre is prends, prends, prend, prenons, prenez, prennent.
Notice it in context
Je prends le bus et nous prenons un café après le travail.
I take the bus and we have coffee after work.
Prends matches je with transport; prenons matches nous in the common phrase prendre un café.
Tu prends le train demain ?
Are you taking the train tomorrow?
Prends is the familiar singular form.
Elles prennent des notes en classe.
They take notes in class.
Prennent doubles n and agrees with a feminine plural subject.
What to remember
- Apprendre and comprendre inherit the prendre endings: nous apprenons, ils comprennent.
- Prendre le petit-déjeuner means have breakfast; prendre une décision means make a decision.
Common trap: Do not build ils prendent. The third-person plural doubles the consonant: ils prennent.