Emmener vs Apporter : no more mistakes !

We’ve seen with ‘retourner’ and ‘rentrer’ that French verbs can sometimes be a bit confusing. Another pair of verbs which is tricky is ’emmener’ vs ‘apporter’. We’ll show you how to make fewer mistakes with these and sound like a native French speaker.

emmener apporter

Summary :

  1. Apporter or emporter : which ones to choose ?
  2. Amener vs emmener : when to use them ?

Apporter or emporter : which ones to choose ?

Firstly, ‘apporter’ and ’emporter’ both finish with -porter. The verb ‘porter’ in French means to carry, to bring. As a result, these first two verbs are used when you have something in your hands or in your arms. Note that it can also be used for clothes but here, it’s not relevant.

Remember : ‘Apporter’ and ’emporter’  are used with objects.

The verb 'apporter' in French

Now, the verb starts with an -a. So it means that a person carries an object from one place to another with him/her. Let’s see a few examples :

  • N’oubliez pas d’apporter votre pièce d’identité = Dont’ forget to bring your ID
  • Le serveur nous apporte deux cafés = The waiter bring us two coffees
  • J’ai apporté des fleurs à ma mère = I brought flowers to my mum

How to conjugate 'apporter' in French ?

Then, let’s conjugate the verb ‘apporter’ at some of the main tenses in French.

Sujet Present Futur Simple Imparfait Passé Composé Conditionnel
J’ apporte apporterai apportais ai apporté apporterais
Tu apportes apporteras apportais as apporté apporterais
Il/elle/on apporte apportera apportait a apporté apporterait
Nous apportons apporterons apportions avons apporté apporterions
Vous apportez apporterez apportiez avez apporté apporteriez
Ils/elles apportent apporteront apportaient ont apporté apporteraient

The verb 'emporter' in French

If you been to a francophone country, you’ve probably seen a lot of ‘à emporter’ in restaurants. Here, it means to take away. Generally, the prefix ‘-em’ indicates that a person walks away from a place with an object. And he/she keeps with him/her. Let’s check a few examples you can find in real life situations :

  • Il est sorti sans emporter son manteau = He left without taking his coat
  • Les cambrioleurs ont emporté tout l’argent = The burglars took all the money

How to conjugate 'emporter' in French ?

Now that you understand when to use ’emporter‘, let’s check the conjugation of 5 main tenses in French :

Sujet Present Futur Simple Imparfait Passé Composé Conditionnel
J’ emporte emporterai emportais ai emporté emporterais
Tu emportes emporteras emportais as emporté emporterais
Il/elle/on emporte emportera emportait a emporté emporterait
Nous emportons emporterons emportions avons emporté emporterions
Vous emportez emporterez emportiez avez emporté emporteriez
Ils/elles emportent emporteront emportaient ont emporté emporteraient

Note: when you want to practice your conjugation, do not hesitate to check le Bescherelle.

apporter vs emporter

Amener vs emmener : when to use them ?

Equally important is the pair ‘amener’ vs ’emmener’. True, locals will probably understand you if you mix these two verbs. Indeed, both verbs ends with ‘mener’, which means to lead, to conduct. However, you may want to grasp the differences between these verbs !

The verb 'amener' in French

To start with, ‘amener’ means to lead a person or an animal to a place or to someone. As seen previously with ‘apporter’, this verb is made up of the prefix a-, which focus on point of arrival. It assumes that the person being moved is dropped off. How does it work in everyday situations ?

  • Mon mari m’amène au travail = My husband takes me to work (and he leaves after)
  • J’amène mon fils à la piscine = I take my son to the pool (and I doesn’t stay)

How to conjugate 'amener' in French ?

The conjugation of ‘amener‘ is quite close to the previous verbs, as follows :

Sujet Present Futur Simple Imparfait Passé Composé Conditionnel
J’ amène amènerai amenais ai amené amènerais
Tu amènes amèneras amenais as amené amènerais
Il/elle/on amène amènera amenait a amené amènerait
Nous amenons amènerons amenions avons amené amènerions
Vous amenez amènerez ameniez avez amené amèneriez
Ils/elles amènent amèneront amenaient ont amené amèneraient

The verb 'emmener' in French

On the contrary, ’emmener’ implies that you go with someone from one place to another. Because of the prefix em-, the emphasise is on the place of departure. In other words, we move away from this place accompanied by the person, to stay with them. You will understand easily with these examples :

  • J’emmène ma fille à Disneyland = I take my daughter to Disneyland (and I spend the day with her)
  • Un voisin m’a emmené au restaurant = A neighbour took me to the restaurant (and we had dinner together)

How to conjugate 'emmener' in French ?

Finally, we’ll help you conjugating ’emmener’ with some essential tenses in French.

Sujet Present Futur Simple Imparfait Passé Composé Conditionnel
J’ emmène emmènerai emmenais ai emmené emmènerais
Tu emmènes emmèneras emmenais as emmené emmènerais
Il/elle/on emmène emmènera emmenait a emmené emmènerait
Nous emmenons emmènerons emmenions avons emmené emmènerions
Vous emmenez emmènerez emmeniez avez emmené emmèneriez
Ils/elles emmènent emmèneront emmenaient ont emmené emmèneraient

Note : Exactly like ‘amener’, there is no accent for ’emmener’ at the imparfait.

amener vs emmener

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article ! To get more tailored French classes, feel free to contact me today. I’d love to help you improve your French.

Comments are closed.