Conjugate prendre and derivatives in the subjunctive mood in French (Le Subjonctif Présent)

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard , HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE

Last updated: 2022-12-15

Learn how to conjugate PRENDRE (to take) and its derivatives in Le Subjonctif Présent in French

The verb PRENDRE is irregular in Le Subjonctif Présent:

que je prenne	that I take
que tu prennes	that you take
qu'il/elle/on prenne	that he/she/we takes
que nous prenions	that we take
que vous preniez	that you take
qu'ils/elles prennent	that they take

Note that the nous and vous forms are the same as in L'Imparfait. (See Conjugate regular verbs in the imperfect tense in French (L'Imparfait))

As for the other forms, the irregular root prenn- is followed by the regular endings of Le Subjonctif Présent:

-e, -es, -e, [-], [-], -ent

These other verbs ending in -prendre follow the same conjugation pattern:

apprendre (to learn)
comprendre (to understand)
reprendre (to take back)
etc

Listen to these examples:

Il faut que je prenne l'avion.I need to take the plane.

Il faut que tu apprennes cette leçon par cœur.You must learn this lesson by heart.

Il est nécessaire qu'il prenne l'argent.He needs to take the money.

Elle ne veut pas que nous reprenions le travail.She doesn't want us to go back to work.

Il est nécessaire que vous preniez un taxi.You have to take a cab.

Elle a besoin qu'ils comprennent sa décision.She needs them to understand her decision.

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Examples and resources

Il est nécessaire qu'il prenne l'argent.He needs to take the money.

Il faut que nous prenions la voiture.We must take the car.

Il faut qu'ils prennent conscience.They have to become aware.

Il faut que tu prennes un taxi.You have to take a taxi.