Today’s lesson covers the verb supporter, which means both to support and to tolerate. Supporter comes from supportare (to carry up, to transport) in Latin.
supporter
to support, to put up with, to tolerate, to stand
Pronunciation [sypɔʀte]
Supporter – to support, to tolerate
Example sentences
This first sentence uses the negation ne…plus, which means no longer or anymore. The expression en avoir marre means “to have had it”.
Je ne supporte plus ses plaintes. J’en ai marre !
I can’t stand her complaints anymore. I’ve had it!
This second sentence uses supporter in the literal sense: to hold up.
Les poutres en bois supportent le toit de la maison.
The wooden beams support the roof of the house.
In French a synonymous verb for supporter is tolérer (to tolerate, put up with). Je’en ai assez (I’ve had enough) is gentler way of saying j’en ai marre.
Comment peut-tu tolérer la musique de ces voisins ? J’en ai assez !
How can you stand the neighbor’s music? I’ve had enough!
Present tense conjugation
Supporter is a regular ER verb. This means that it’s endings are the same as parler (to speak) when conjugated in the present tense.
Je supporte I support
Tu supportes You support (singular, informal)
Il, elle supporte He, she supports
Nous supportons We support
Vous supportez You support (plural, formal)
Ils, elles supportent They support
Related lessons
References
Word of the Day archive | Lessons by David Issokson
