If you’re new to learning French then you’ll certainly want to learn the verb apprendre, which means to learn. The verb has some particularities which make it different to its English counterpart. On this page you’ll find a list of common meanings with example sentences.
example sentences in the present tense
- J’adore cette chanson. Je l’apprends par coeur. I love this song. I learn it by heart.
- Aujourd’hui, tu apprends le verbe apprendre. Today you’re learning the verb “apprendre”.
- Nous apprenons le français. We’re learning French.
Unlike English where we “learn something”, In french we say, “apprendre à faire quelque chose”.
par example:
- J’apprends à conjuguer le verbe parler. I’m learning how to conjugate the verb parler.
- Où est-ce que tu as appris à faire du ski? Where did you learn to ski?
- J’apprends à jouer du violin. I’m learning to play the violin.
In poor English we can say, “To learn somebody to do something”. In French, however, this is perfectly permissible: “Apprendre quelqu’un à faire quelque chose”.
- Mon professeur m’apprend à chanter. My teacher teaches me to sing.
- Je t’apprends à écrire ce mot. I learn to write this word.
apprendre in the passé composé
The past participle for apprendre is appris. This is related to the past participle of prendre, which is pris.
- Désolé, je n’ai rien appris aujourd’hui. Sorry, I didn’t learn anything today.
apprendre in the subjunctive
The subjunctive of apprendre is based off of the third-person plural in the present tense: Ils apprennent.
par example:
- Je veux que tu apprennes ce verbe parfaitement! I want you to learn this verb perfectly!
- Je doute qu’il comprenne ce que je dis. I doubt he understands what I’m saying.
to find out
Apprendre in the passé composé can also mean to find out or hear.
par example:
- Où est-ce que tu as appris les nouvelles? Where did you hear the news?
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Bonjour! My name is David Issokson. I'm based in Victor, Idaho (near Jackson, Wyoming) and have helped hundreds of students to learn French online since 2013.
