In this new video, I'm going to explain the difference between these 4 French verbs that all students love: amener, emmener, apporter and emporter. And to do that, I'm going to use a Maria doll from Mexico and macaroons. These verbs are really useful in everyday life, in a restaurant for example, when you say to the waiter, vous pourriez m'apporter une carafe, s'il vous plaît? I'll give you my tip so you never make a mistake again.
Let's start with amener and emmener. You'll use them for both people and animals. There's a slight distinction between these two verbs.
J'amène, I don't stay with the person, the important thing is the final destination; J'emmène, I stay with the person, the important thing is the journey. Is that clear? If so, don't hesitate to give an example in the comments, I'll take a look at it.
Let's move on to the verbs apporter and emporter. It's in the same vein as what we've just seen, but when it comes to objects, we don't bring or take away people.
J'apporte, I bring an object that I leave available, j'emporte, I take an object that I keep with me. You see the difference?
It's complicated, I know, but fortunately there's an easy way to remember the differences between these 4 verbs, and it's one that I sometimes teach in my private lessons, and it works pretty well.
EM mener and EM porter, EN as in ENsemble together, we stay together i.e. with the person or object. Je t'emmène en voyage, we stay in ensemble, j'emporte un parapluie, I keep the object with me. AMENER, emMENER, we use the verb "mener" "to lead" for people, so j'amène or j'emmène a person, not an object. Je t'amène à l'aéroport, je t'emmène en voyage.
This mnemonic may help you if you hesitate, but it's practice that will make the difference. Believe me, I no longer think of this rule when I speak!
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