a pris

took

→ avoir
phrase Extremely common #370
took Passé composé of prendre with il/elle/on. Often translates as simple past in English, especially in narration.
FR: Elle a pris le bus ce matin.
EN: She took the bus this morning.

Krampus a pris ma fille.

Krampus took my daughter.

— Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2026)

Ça a pris du temps.

It took time.

— The Man from Earth (2007)

L'affaire a pris une tournure dangereuse.

The situation has taken a dangerous turn.

Ziri a pris sa retraite.

Ziri has retired.

Il nous les a pris.

He took them from us.

— Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2026)

Tom a pris l'appât.

Tom took the bait.

Le gouvernement a pris une décision qui aide l'État.

The government made a decision that helps the state.

L'enfant a pris froid.

The child caught a cold.

La locataire précédente a pris grand soin de son appartement.

The previous tenant took great care of her apartment.

Ça a pris une demi-heure.

It took half an hour.

M. Duan a pris l'épée.

Mr. Duan took the sword.

— Adieu ma concubine (1993)

Tom a pris mon argent.

Tom took my money.

Qu'est-ce qu'il a pris?

What did he take?

Qu'est-ce qui a pris si longtemps?

What took so long?

Alan a pris deux voitures!

Alan took two cars!

— Picnic (1955)

Qui a pris ces photos?

Who took these photos?

Tom a pris une bouchée de ma pomme.

Tom took a bite of my apple.

Marie a pris son petit déjeuner.

Marie had breakfast.

Combien de temps ça t'a pris?

How long did it take you?

Qui a pris soin de toi?

Who took care of you?

Qu'est-ce qui vous a pris si longtemps?

What took you so long?

Damiano a pris l'or.

Damiano took the gold.

L'ennemi n'a pris aucune voie ferrée sur l'Oder.

The enemy did not seize any railway lines on the Oder.

— La Chute (2004)

Quel mal t'a pris, Thomassine?

What on earth came over you, Thomassine?

— The Witch (2016)

Tom a ouvert sa bière et a pris une gorgée.

Tom opened his beer and took a sip.

Ça a pris des années avant d'avoir un service complet.

It took years before we had a complete service.

— The Big Sick (2017)

Mais te voilà enfin, et grâce à ton amour, ma vie a pris tout son sens.

But here you are at last, and thanks to your love, my life has taken on its full meaning.

— On ne vit qu'une seule fois (2011)

Poutine a pris toute une péninsule en otage.

Putin has taken an entire peninsula hostage.

Tom a pris des mesures pour éviter que cela ne se reproduise.

Tom took steps to prevent this from happening again.

Je suis celui qui a pris la photo.

I'm the one who took the photo.

Ça a pris toute la soirée.

It took all evening.

Tom a pris le relais.

Tom took over.

Cela a pris plusieurs heures à Brian pour écrire une carte.

It took Brian several hours to write a card.

Gabriel a pris un taxi.

Gabriel took a taxi.

Cela lui a pris du temps pour écrire le rapport.

It took him a while to write the report.

Tom a pris un livre sur l'étagère.

Tom took a book from the shelf.

Qui a pris mes clés?

Who took my keys?

Il s'appelle comment ton pote qui a pris les photos?

What's the name of your friend who took the photos?

— La Cité de Dieu (2002)

Tom a pris une vidéo de Mary en train de surfer et l'a mise sur Instagram.

Tom took a video of Mary surfing and posted it on Instagram.

Quelqu'un les a pris.

Someone took them.

Qu'est-ce qui leur a pris, à ces soldats?

What came over those soldiers?

— A Taxi Driver (2017)

Qu'est-ce qu'il lui a pris?

What's gotten into him?

Quelqu'un a pris mes affaires.

Someone took my things.

Le vieil homme a pris le livre de mes mains.

The old man took the book from my hands.

Tom a pris cette photo.

Tom took this photo.

Ça a pris plus de temps que prévu.

It took longer than expected.

Tom a pris le livre le matin et l'a déjà lu.

Tom took the book in the morning and has already read it.

L'incendie a pris dans la chambre de Tom.

A fire broke out in Tom's room.

Il le lui a pris de force.

He took it from her by force.

Cette loi a pris effet aujourd'hui.

This law took effect today.

Tu sais que ta soeur a pris ma Clef?

You know your sister took my key?

Cela nous a pris trois heures de peindre la clôture.

It took us three hours to paint the fence.

Le vol nous a pris dix heures.

The flight took us ten hours.

Tom a pris un bain hier soir.

Tom took a bath last night.

Qui a pris la chaussure de Tamako?

Who took Tamako's shoe?

— Mademoiselle (2016)

Tom a pris une photo de son ancienne caméra avec sa nouvelle caméra.

Tom took a picture of his old camera with his new camera.

Claude a pris une chambre d'hôtel à Berck.

Claude booked a hotel room in Berck.

— Le Scaphandre et le Papillon (2007)

Combien de temps ça vous a pris?

How long did it take you?

Tom a pris Marie dans ses bras et l'a embrassée.

Tom took Marie in his arms and kissed her.

Qu'est-ce qui lui a pris?

What got into him?

— Les Diaboliques (1955)

Krampus a pris ma fille!

Krampus took my daughter!

— Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2026)

Le Général Chiang Kai-shek a pris Shanghai.

General Chiang Kai-shek captured Shanghai.

— Le Dernier Empereur (1987)

Ziri a pris une autre voie.

Ziri took another path.

Ma grand-mère a pris soin de moi jusqu'à ce que je prenne soin d'elle.

My grandmother took care of me until I took care of her.

— Qui suis-je (2014)

Tom a pris l'argent de Mary.

Tom took Mary's money.

Qu’est-ce qui t’a pris?

What got into you?

— La strada (1954)

Alain a pris une décision.

Alain made a decision.

Ça a pris une telle ampleur que j'ai eu besoin d'aide.

It got so out of hand that I needed help.

— Les Affranchis (1990)

Même s'il lui a fallu un jour, ce qui vous a pris six mois.

Even though it took him a day, it took you six months.

— Ne Zha (2019)

L'homme a pris la vie de la mer.

The man took the life of the sea.

— Ponyo sur la falaise (2008)

Tom a pris soin des enfants hier.

Tom took care of the children yesterday.

Ken a pris le mauvais bus par erreur.

Ken took the wrong bus by mistake.

Qu'est-ce qui a pris tant de temps?

What took so long?

Malgré la tournure que ça a pris?

Despite the way things have turned out?

Qui a pris cette décision?

Who made this decision?

Tom a pris une colle pour avoir parlé en classe.

Tom got detention for talking in class.

Marie a pris un bain.

Mary took a bath.

Mais qu'est-ce qui lui a pris?

But what got into him?

La famille a pris son déjeuner à midi.

The family had lunch at noon.

Peu importe ce qui lui a pris.

Whatever got into him.

— Lagaan (2001)

Qu'est-ce qui vous a pris tant de temps?

What took you so long?

Figueroa a pris la première.

Figueroa took the first one.

— Tesis (1996)

Quel mal t'a pris?

What came over you?

— The Witch (2016)

Directeur Fury, le Conseil a pris une décision.

Director Fury, the Council has made a decision.

— Avengers (2012)

Sameer a pris beaucoup de piments.

Sameer ate a lot of chili peppers.

— Mon cœur est déjà pris (1999)

Ça vous a pris combien de temps?

How long did it take you?

Ça a pris des mois.

It took months.

— Le Loup de Wall Street (2013)

Ma cliente a pris sa décision.

My client has made her decision.

— Pour l'éternité (2025)

Dallas a pris ma place.

Dallas took my place.

— Le Cinquième Élément (1997)

Grand-père a pris sa retraite parce qu'il se fait vieux.

Grandpa retired because he’s getting old.

Mais qu'est-ce qui vous a pris?

But what came over you?

Tom a pris des photos.

Tom took pictures.

Mais ma propre aventure a pris tout autre tournure.

But my own adventure took a completely different turn.

— Le Seigneur des anneaux : La Communauté de l'anneau (2001)

Ça a pris un peu de temps.

It took a little while.

Tom a pris le train de huit heures.

Tom took the eight o’clock train.

Ça t'a pris comme ça?

Did it just come over you like that?

— La Légende du pianiste sur l'océan (1998)

Cela lui a pris trois mois pour apprendre à faire du vélo.

It took him three months to learn to ride a bike.

Un truc qu'on a pris à l'atelier.

Something we took from the workshop.

Tom a pris un selfie devant le miroir.

Tom took a selfie in front of the mirror.

Marie a pris Thomas en grippe.

Mary took a dislike to Thomas.

Elle est celle qui a pris soin de sa blessure.

She was the one who took care of his injury.

Le dictateur a pris le pouvoir par un coup d'état militaire.

The dictator seized power through a military coup.

Qui a pris mon sac à main?

Who took my purse?

Elle en a pris depuis longtemps.

She's been taking it for a long time.

— Malèna (2000)

Tom a pris à droite.

Tom took a right.

Dan a pris ses distances avec la famille de Linda.

Dan distanced himself from Linda's family.

Tom a pris de très mauvaises décisions récemment.

Tom has made some very bad decisions recently.

Savez-vous qui a pris l'appel?

Do you know who took the call?

Le mouvement des femmes a pris le contrôle, ici.

The women's movement has taken control here.

— Article 15 (2019)

La police a pris Ziri.

The police took Ziri.

Ça a pris tout un mois de casser ces nouvelles chaussures.

It took a whole month to break in these new shoes.

Qu'est-ce qu'elle a pris?

What did she take?

L'annonce a pris tout le monde de court.

The announcement caught everyone off guard.

Stu Pearson a pris Smudge pour aller voir.

Stu Pearson took Smudge to go and see.

— En terrain miné (2014)

Tom a pris le mauvais train.

Tom took the wrong train.

Le labeur du matin a pris bien du retard.

The morning's work has fallen far behind schedule.

— The Witch (2016)

Cela a pris des années.

It took years.

— Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Nous savons qu'elle a pris cette route.

We know that she took this route.

— Psychose (1960)

Tom a pris un grand verre d'eau.

Tom had a large glass of water.

Le patron a pris un sacré coup de vieux!

The boss has really aged!

— Departures (2008)

Ah, Camille a pris ton lit.

Ah, Camille has taken your bed.

— Taxi (1998)

Qui a pris la place de ton cousin?

Who took your cousin's place?

— La Cité des hommes (2007)

Tom a pris une photo de son appareil photo.

Tom took a picture with his camera.

Il dit qu'il y a pris beaucoup de plaisir.

He says he really enjoyed it.

Cappy a pris sa retraite ici.

Cappy retired here.

— Piège de cristal (1988)

Un des membres, Atlas, a pris rendez-vous avec quelqu'un au marché d'à côté.

One of the members, Atlas, has arranged to meet someone at the nearby market.

— Insaisissables 2 (2016)

L'attaque nous a pris par surprise.

The attack caught us by surprise.

Quelqu'un a pris le contrôle du logiciel.

Someone has taken control of the software.

Le grand esprit de la forêt a pris leur vie.

The great spirit of the forest took their lives.

— Princesse Mononoké (1997)

Le service de nettoyage a pris mon manteau.

The cleaning service took my coat.

— 3 Idiots (2009)

Ça a pris juste un peu plus d’une heure.

It took just over an hour.

Tom est celui qui a pris cette photo.

Tom is the one who took this photo.

J'ignore s'il a pris ce navire.

I don't know whether he took this ship.

— La Légende du pianiste sur l'océan (1998)

Venir jusqu'ici n'a pris que dix minutes.

It only took ten minutes to get here.

Ziri a pris une douche.

Ziri took a shower.

Tom a pris la relève.

Tom took over.

Ce fonds a pris beaucoup de valeur depuis son lancement.

This fund has increased significantly in value since its launch.

Un vieux réflexe a pris le dessus.

An old reflex took over.

Oui, le courant nous a pris.

Yes, we were swept away by the current.

— Roma (2018)

L'homme a pris peur, il l'a tuée sans faire exprès.

The man got scared and accidentally killed her.

— Monsieur Hire (1989)

Tom a pris son lundi.

Tom took his Monday off.

Qu'est-ce qu'il t'a pris?

What came over you?

Qui a pris cette photo?

Who took this photo?

Le sauvage m'a dérobé mes joyaux précieux et a pris la fuite.

The savage stole my precious jewels and fled.

Ça nous a pris du temps pour savoir qui appeler.

It took us some time to figure out who to call.

— Cold Storage (2026)

Tom a pris une douche froide.

Tom took a cold shower.

Le médecin a pris le pouls du patient.

The doctor took the patient's pulse.

Qu'est-ce qui vous a pris?

What got into you?

— La Main de Dieu (2021)

Tu veux bien nous dire ce qu'il t'a pris?

Would you mind telling us what got into you?

— The Man from Earth (2007)

Perry a pris l'habitude de penser à voix haute.

Perry has gotten into the habit of thinking out loud.

Si on payait juste ce qu'on a pris?

What if we only paid for what we took?

Le chemin qu'on a pris pour sortir nous place derrière la police.

The route we took to get out puts us behind the police.

— Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2026)

Le taxi a pris deux passagers.

The taxi took two passengers.

Ça a pris deux ans à faire.

It took two years to make.

Ziri a pris la tôle.

Ziri took the sheet metal.

Tom a pris du recul.

Tom took a step back.

Steve Lockjaw a pris ma maison d'assaut.

Steve Lockjaw stormed my house.

— Une bataille après l'autre (2025)

Ça a pris un peu plus de temps que prévu.

It took a little longer than expected.

Le cours des événements a pris une tournure inattendue.

The course of events took an unexpected turn.

Combien de photos a pris Tom?

How many pictures did Tom take?

Tom a pris les fleurs en photo.

Tom took a picture of the flowers.

Qu'est-ce qui a pris autant de temps?

What took so long?

Timuçin a pris l'avion de Yozgat à Varsovie avec Ryanair.

Timuçin flew from Yozgat to Warsaw with Ryanair.

Un espion indien a pris la fuite.

An Indian spy has fled.

— Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)

Combien de temps ça a pris?

How long did it take?

Ça t'a pris du temps.

That took you a while.

— Les Bonnes étoiles (2022)

Tom a pris un selfie torse nu.

Tom took a shirtless selfie.

Marie a pris la résolution d'arrêter de fumer.

Marie resolved to quit smoking.

Cette tâche a pris trois heures.

This task took three hours.

Qu'est-ce qui vous a pris aussi longtemps?

What took you so long?

— Thirst, ceci est mon sang (2009)

Ma sœur a pris soin du chien pendant que j'étais absent.

My sister took care of the dog while I was away.

Maman a pris le temps hors du travail.

Mom took some time off from work.

— La petite Véra (1988)

Dan a pris une chambre dans un hôtel de Londres.

Dan took a room in a London hotel.

Je me demande ce qui lui a pris.

I wonder what got into him.

Tom a pris des leçons de ski.

Tom took ski lessons.

La police a pris le relais.

The police took over.

Ça a pris toute la journée.

It took all day.

Le barman a pris une pinte.

The bartender had a pint.

Quand Eisenhower a pris ses fonctions, il y a vu une chance de plus.

When Eisenhower took office, he saw it as another opportunity.

— Oppenheimer (2023)

Tom a pris le petit déjeuner à la hâte.

Tom hurriedly ate breakfast.

Cela a pris exactement une heure.

It took exactly one hour.

Gabriel a pris la photo de Rima.

Gabriel took Rima's photo.

Cela leur a pris un moment avant de s'habituer les uns aux autres.

It took them a while to get used to each other.

Tom a pris un gros poisson.

Tom caught a big fish.

La fille a pris un petit poisson.

The girl caught a small fish.

Qui a pris le fer?

Who took the iron?

— Aguirre, la colère de Dieu (1972)

Mais il l'a escroqué et lui a pris tout son argent.

But he scammed him and took all his money.

— Le Frère 2 (2000)

Tom a pris une semaine de congé.

Tom took a week off.

Le Gouvernement Japonais a pris une importante décision.

The Japanese government has made an important decision.

L'imam a pris sa retraite.

The imam has retired.

a pris du temps.

It took some time.

— Mon cœur est déjà pris (1999)

Qu'ils lui manquent, mais que sa recherche a pris du retard.

That he misses them, but that his search has been delayed.

— Roma (2018)

L'attaque par missile a pris un grand nombre de vies.

The missile attack claimed a large number of lives.

Quelqu'un a pris ma place.

Someone took my place.

Ils pensent que c'est Fábio qui a pris leur argent.

They think it was Fábio who took their money.

— Troupe d'Élite (2007)

Tom a pris bien soin de tout le monde.

Tom took good care of everyone.

Ça a pris plus de temps que je pensais.

It took longer than I thought.

Sami a pris sa retraite.

Sami has retired.

Ce dessin m’a pris cinq minutes, mais j’ai mis soixante ans pour y arriver.

This drawing took me five minutes, but it took me sixty years to get there.

Ziri a pris une serviette propre.

Ziri took a clean towel.