Contenir or comprendre: contents, components and understanding

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Learn when comprendre means include rather than understand. Compare it with contenir through a course pack, a programme and four practice questions.

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In short

Contenir means to contain: Le sac contient un carnet. Comprendre means to understand with a person, but also to include or comprise: Le programme comprend trois activités. With a file or document, both verbs can describe its contents.

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What is the difference between contenir and comprendre?

contenirto contain

Focus: what is inside a container or document

contenir + contents

Le sac contient un carnet et deux stylos.
The bag contains a notebook and two pens.

Le document contient une liste de courses.
The document contains a shopping list.

comprendreto include; to comprise

Focus: the parts that make up a whole

comprendre + components

Le programme comprend une lecture et un dialogue.
The programme includes a reading and a dialogue.

Le dossier comprend deux textes et une photo.
The file includes two texts and a photo.

comprendreto understand

Focus: a person making sense of something

comprendre + information / question

Je comprends la liste, mais pas le prix.
I understand the list, but not the price.

Nous comprenons la consigne.
We understand the instruction.

What is in the course bag?

Avant le cours de cuisine
  1. Nora

    Qu’est-ce que le dossier contient ?

    What does the file contain?

  2. Malik

    Il comprend une recette, une liste de courses et une photo.

    It includes a recipe, a shopping list and a photo.

  3. Nora

    Je comprends la recette. On commence par les courses ?

    I understand the recipe. Shall we start with the shopping?

In this conversation, contient and comprend both work for the file. Contenir draws attention to the contents; comprendre presents the components. The final je comprends changes meaning because Nora is talking about her understanding.

Study first: two irregular verbs
Subjectcontenircomprendre
jecontienscomprends
nouscontenonscomprenons
ils / ellescontiennentcomprennent
participe passécontenucompris
Question 1No account needed
Translate Le programme comprend trois activités.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The programme includes three activities.. Here comprend lists the components of a programme: it means includes.

Question 2No account needed
Which sentence says that Nora understands?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Nora comprend la consigne.. The person is the subject: Nora comprend la consigne means she understands it.

Question 3No account needed
Both verbs can fit which sentence?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Le dossier ___ deux textes.. A file can contenir or comprendre two texts; the other sentences describe understanding.

Question 4No account needed
Complete with comprendre.Nous ___ les instructions.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

comprenons. The present nous form is comprenons, as in the prendre family.

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