For English speakers, mastering certain French verbs can be a bit challenging, especially those that don’t have a direct English counterpart. This challenge becomes particularly evident when we delve into the french verbs retourner, revenir, and rentrer. It’s a common misconception among English speakers that these three verbs all translate to “to return,” “to come back,” and “to re-enter,” respectively, and that they can be used interchangeably in French. However, this assumption doesn’t hold true in the French language.

While these French verbs generally involve the idea of going back to a particular place, they each have unique and specific contexts in which they are employed. Let’s take a closer look:

French verbs :

Retourner

Meaning #1: To go back (to a place where the speaker is not).

Meaning #2: To go back (to a place where the speaker is not) for a brief period.

Meaning #3: To give back or return something.

As these definitions indicate, “retourner” is used when referring to a return to a place where the subject of the sentence has previously been, and the speaker is not currently at that location.

New Example #1: “J’adore Paris. J’y retournerai dès que possible.”

• “I love Paris. I will return there as soon as possible.”

New Example #2: “Marie doit retourner au magasin parce-quelle a oublié d`acheter le lait.

• “Marie has to return to the shop because she forgot to buy milk”.

New Example #3: ” En cas de problème, l`article doit être retourné au magasin.”

• “In case of any issues, the product must be returned to the store.”

Revenir

Meaning: To come back (to the place where the speaker is). “Revenir” is used when referring to a return to a place where the subject of the sentence has been previously, and the speaker is currently at that location.

New Example #1: “Où est Sarah? Elle est sortie, mais elle reviendra bientôt.”

• “Where is Sarah? She went out, but she will come back soon.”

New Example #2: “Je dois revenir à l’hôtel car j`ai oublie mon portefeuill, je reviens (here) tout de suite.”

• “I need to come back to the hotel because I forgot my wallet, I’ll come right back (here)!.”

Rentrer

Meaning: “To return home,” regardless of whether “home” refers to one’s country or residence.

New Example #1: “Après une longue journée de travail, il est temps de rentrer chez moi.”

• “After a long day at work, it’s time to go (back) home.”

New Example #2: “Elle a vécu à New York pendant des années, mais elle rentrera en France pour les vacances.”

• “She lived in New York for years, but she will return to France for the holidays.”

In conclusion, while these French verbs all involve the concept of returning or going back, they each have their unique contexts and meanings. Understanding the distinctions among retourner, revenir, and rentrer will significantly enhance your proficiency in using the French language.

Exercise: Fill in the Blanks

Let’s practice using the French verbs retourner, revenir, and rentrer in various contexts. Fill in the blanks with the correct verb based on the provided meanings and examples. Choose from “retourner,” “revenir,” or “rentrer.”

1. Example #1: Je suis allé au parc, mais maintenant je dois _________ chez moi pour préparer le diner.
2. Example #2: Elle a oublié son sac à l’école. Elle doit _________ pour le récupérer.
3. Example #3: Est-ce que tu penses _________ l’année prochaine?
4. Example #1: Il est alle chez son ami mais il m`a promis de _________ avant 22h.
5. Example #2: Où est Jean? Il est sorti, mais il a dit qu’il _________ bientôt.
6. Example #1: La réunion est terminée, nous pouvons _________ à nos bureaux maintenant.
7. Example #2: Nous sommes à la plage depuis des heures, il est temps de _________ à l’hôtel.

Now, fill in the blanks with the appropriate verbs, and review your answers to see how well you understand the distinctions between these French verbs.

Answers

1. rentrer
2. Retourner
3. Revenir
4. Rentrer
5. Revenir ( il a dit qu`il revienait bientôt)
6. retourner
7. rentrer

Conclusion

In the rich tapestry of the French language, mastering the nuances of verbs like “revenir,” “rentrer,” and “retourner” is essential for effective communication. As we’ve discovered, these seemingly similar verbs have distinct meanings and contexts that add depth to your expression in French.

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A bientôt !