le comprendre
The English phrase "understand it" is translated into French as le comprendre.
The most common and universal word for "understand" in French is comprendre.
How does it change in a sentence?
If the thing being understood is a feminine noun, use la comprendre instead of le comprendre. Additionally, when used with an auxiliary or modal verb like pouvoir (can) or vouloir (to want), the object pronoun le is placed directly before the infinitive comprendre.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly place the object pronoun after the verb (e.g., comprendre le), but in French, the pronoun must precede the verb it modifies.
Did you know?
- The verb comprendre also means 'to include'. For example, a price can comprendre tax and service charges.
- While English uses 'understand' for both logic and sympathy, French speakers often use comprendre for logic and compatir avec for empathy.
- The Latin ancestor of comprendre was comprehendere, which literally meant 'to seize together' or 'to grasp'.
Examples in context
- Je peux le comprendre.I can understand it.This sentence shows how to express the ability to understand it using le comprendre.Tatoeba #11563395 by Aiji, translation #2301401 by CK
- Je ne peux le comprendre.I can't understand it.This sentence shows how to express the inability to understand it using le comprendre.Tatoeba #457673 by sacredceltic, translation #2299111 by AlanF_US
- J'essaye de le comprendre.I'm trying to understand it.This sentence shows how to express the attempt to understand it using le comprendre.Tatoeba #7786088 by Aiji, translation #3823471 by CK
- Je saisis parfaitement l'idée.I perfectly understand the idea.
- J'ai capté ce que tu veux dire.I got what you mean.
- Ouais, j'ai pigé, t'inquiète.Yeah, I got it, don't worry.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are discussing a difficult book.
- LéaCe livre est vraiment difficile.This book is really difficult.
- LucasOui, j'ai du mal à le comprendre.Yes, I'm having trouble understanding it.
- LéaEst-ce que Lucas peut t'aider ?Can Lucas help you?
- LucasPeut-être, il semble le comprendre mieux que moi.Maybe, he seems to understand it better than I do.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comprendre, le, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
