Meaning
to take, hold, pick up, get
- to take; pick up
- to have, order (food or drink)
- to take (transport)
- to catch
In a sentence
Prendo il treno delle otto ogni mattina.
I take the eight o’clock train every morning.
Hai preso le chiavi dal tavolo?
Did you take the keys from the table?
Non prendere quella strada, è più lunga.
Don’t take that road, it’s longer.
Word forms (48)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| prendere | infinitive |
| prendiamo | indicative · present · plural · 1st person |
| prendo | indicative · present · singular · 1st person |
| prendete | indicative · present · plural · 2nd person |
| prendi | indicative · present · singular · 2nd person |
| prendono | indicative · present · plural · 3rd person |
| prende | indicative · present · singular · 3rd person |
| prendevamo | indicative · imperfect · plural · 1st person |
| prendevo | indicative · imperfect · singular · 1st person |
| prendevate | indicative · imperfect · plural · 2nd person |
| prendevi | indicative · imperfect · singular · 2nd person |
| prendevano | indicative · imperfect · plural · 3rd person |
| prendeva | indicative · imperfect · singular · 3rd person |
| prendemmo | indicative · past · plural · 1st person |
| presi | indicative · past · singular · 1st person |
| prendeste | indicative · past · plural · 2nd person |
| prendesti | indicative · past · singular · 2nd person |
| presero | indicative · past · plural · 3rd person |
| prese | indicative · past · singular · 3rd person |
| prenderemo | indicative · future · plural · 1st person |
| prenderò | indicative · future · singular · 1st person |
| prenderete | indicative · future · plural · 2nd person |
| prenderai | indicative · future · singular · 2nd person |
| prenderanno | indicative · future · plural · 3rd person |
| prenderà | indicative · future · singular · 3rd person |
| prendiamo | subjunctive · present · plural · 1st person |
| prenda | subjunctive · present · singular · 1st person |
| prendiate | subjunctive · present · plural · 2nd person |
| prenda | subjunctive · present · singular · 2nd person |
| prendano | subjunctive · present · plural · 3rd person |
| prenda | subjunctive · present · singular · 3rd person |
| prendessimo | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 1st person |
| prendessi | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 1st person |
| prendeste | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 2nd person |
| prendessi | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 2nd person |
| prendessero | subjunctive · imperfect · plural · 3rd person |
| prendesse | subjunctive · imperfect · singular · 3rd person |
| prenderemmo | conditional · present · plural · 1st person |
| prenderei | conditional · present · singular · 1st person |
| prendereste | conditional · present · plural · 2nd person |
| prenderesti | conditional · present · singular · 2nd person |
| prenderebbero | conditional · present · plural · 3rd person |
| prenderebbe | conditional · present · singular · 3rd person |
| prendiamo | imperative · plural · 1st person |
| prendete | imperative · plural · 2nd person |
| prendi | imperative · singular · 2nd person |
| prendendo | gerund |
| preso | past · participle |
Usage notes
- Use 'prendere' for grabbing objects, not abstract things (e.g., 'prendere un libro' vs. 'ricevere un'idea').
- In compound tenses, 'prendere' uses 'avere' (e.g., 'ho preso'), never 'essere'.
- Avoid 'prendere' for 'to take' in time expressions (e.g., 'ci vuole un'ora', not 'prende un'ora').
- past participle preso