/pʁe.tɑ̃dʁ/
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Translation
to claim, to assert (a false friend, it does not mean 'to pretend', which is faire semblant)
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Word origin
From Latin praetendere ('to stretch forth, to hold out, to put forward as a reason'), from prae- ('before') and tendere ('to stretch'). English 'pretend' comes from the same verb but drifted towards feigning, while the French kept the sense of putting a claim forward.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- praetendere
- English cognates
- pretend, pretension, tend
Grammar
Conjugation
Regular -re (vendre-style) conjugation. Pronouns: je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles.
Indicative
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Past historic | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | prétends | prétendais | prétenis | prétendrai | prétendrais |
| tu | prétends | prétendais | prétenis | prétendras | prétendrais |
| il/elle | prétend | prétendait | prétenit | prétendra | prétendrait |
| nous | prétendons | prétendions | prétenîmes | prétendrons | prétendrions |
| vous | prétendez | prétendiez | prétenîtes | prétendrez | prétendriez |
| ils/elles | prétendent | prétendaient | prétenirent | prétendront | prétendraient |
Subjunctive
| Person | Present | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| je | prétende | prétenisse |
| tu | prétendes | prétenisses |
| il/elle | prétende | prétenît |
| nous | prétendions | prétenissions |
| vous | prétendiez | prétenissiez |
| ils/elles | prétendent | prétenissent |
Imperative
| Person | Affirmative |
|---|---|
| tu | prétends |
| nous | prétendons |
| vous | prétendez |
Non-finite
- Gerund / present participle
- prétendant
- Past participle
- prétenu
Examples
.
He claims he has known the director for twenty years.
.
She claims that she did not know.
.
I do not claim to know everything.
.
The authors claim to have solved the problem.
.
That candidate is laying claim to the post of director.
Where this fits
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French · Free printables
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Free printable study downloads for the French word "prétendre" (to claim, to assert (a false friend, it does not mean 'to pretend', which is faire semblant)): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free week (no card)This word is taught in chapter 19, lesson 3: prétendre, autorité, veste and 7 more words.