Rentrer, Retourner, Partir or Sortir: How to use them

When it comes to certain verbs of movement, it can be confusing to choose the right one. Here, you discover the difference between 4 French movement verbs: rentrer, retourner, partir and sortir.

Not only should we have a clear idea of the movement, but we should also ask ourselves the question about who is doing the action. Let's take a quick peek:

What does rentrer mean in French?

Oui! The verb rentrer implies that someone or something is coming back to a place. Indeed, the prefix “re” means repetition or back. In our case: “entrer” is enter and “rentrer” is the same action but with the idea of back to where it came from. 

Now, “rentrer” has 2 different meanings depending on the subject of the “action”.

Let's look:

If the person or thing is doing the action, the English translation is “go back home”. In this case, we use the verb “rentrer” with the auxiliary “être” with the passé composé. Don’t forget the agreement of the gender.

Let’s see it with the following example:

• Je suis rentrée chez moi après avoir fait les courses >>> I went back home after doing the shopping. 

How do you say bring back in French?

This time, let’s play with the same verb “rentrer” with another sense. Indeed, if the person or living creature is not doing the action themselves but applying the movement on someone or something else, the meaning is “bring in”.  

Note that the auxiliary for the passé composé is “avoir” and no agreement is required.

Here’s an example:

• Mon chien a rentré mes chaussures >>> My dog brought my shoes in.

Rentrer or retourner?

Both verbs give the idea of returning. Therefore, in many instances, you can use rentrer or retourner. Let’s say “retourner” is broader because it is used when someone or something returns somewhere and not back home like in “rentrer”.

Like the previous verb, “retourner” can be passive or active. In other words, the movement is being done by the person (to themselves), or you can move another person or object. In the first case, you want the auxiliary “être” and its agreement and for the second case, you’ll choose the auxiliary “avoir”.

• Je suis retournée à la montagne cette année >>> I returned to the mountain this year. 

How to use retourner with avoir.

Do you mean “turn over”? Then, you want “retourner” but not with “être”. Instead, select the auxiliary “avoir” since someone or something is moving a person or an object (not themselves).

Take this example::

• J'ai retourné la crêpe dans la poêle >>> I turned the pancake over in the pan.

How to say to leave in French.

Whenever someone leaves a place and when the return doesn’t matter, the appropriate French verb is “partir”. As many verbs of movement, you’ll need the auxiliary of “être” for the passé composé and its required agreements.

Let’s have an example:

• Je suis partie en vacances il y a quelques années >>> I went on holiday a few years ago.

Another meaning of partir.

This French movement verb can also be used in the expression “On your marks, Get set, Go!”. Indeed, in the French translation, we have:

•  “À vos marques, prêts? Partez!”

In this context, we start from a stationery position, the same as a train departing from the station. 

Partir or aller? What’s the difference

Both verbs are related to a movement. However, with  “partir” we not only focus on the departure but also on the return. On the contrary, the verb “aller” is only about the departure with nothing about any return.

Basically, you can switch one verb for another but ask yourself if the person or thing is coming back.

Let's compare with 2 examples:

• Où est Chantalle? Elle est partie à la boulangerie. >>> Where’s Chantalle? She left for the bakers. 

In this context, we are supposing she’s coming back with things from the bakery.

• Où est Chantalle? Elle est allée à la boulangerie. >>> Where’s Chantalle? She went to the bakers. 

This time, we are saying Chantalle is going to the bakery and then, she’ll go somewhere else, like her place, or her office….but not coming back, not yet.

Sortir and its meanings in French.

The French verb “sortir” is multifunctional since it has various meanings. You can study all its meaning in my detailed post: "Go and its French translations".

In this post, we will focus on the meaning of “going out / leaving”.

First, let’s say when a person or object is moving from a place to the exterior.

• Je suis sortie à 15h00 >>> I went out at 3 PM.

Don’t forget the agreements because you need the auxiliary “être”.

Sortir with the auxiliary avoir.

Let’s explore a specific meaning of “sortir”.  We usually use it with pets and the English translation is “walk” or “take out”. In this scenario, someone walks an animal like in this example:

• Je sors mes chiens tous les jours. Mais je ne les ai pas sortis hier. >>> I walk my dogs every day. But yesterday, I didn’t take them out.

Note, it’s conjugated with AVOIR because you’re doing it to something else. Note also, you can take other objects out like this sentence:

• Il a sorti les poubelles >>> He took the rubbish out.

4 French verbs of movement: rentrer, retourner, partir and sortir.

In conclusion, we have seen 4 verbs of movement in French and some variations. First, the verb “rentrer” has 2 main meanings: go / come back if the person(s) move themselves or bring in if someone is moving something.

Then, the verb “retourner” is similar to the previous one with 2 different meanings depending on who is moving. If someone is going back or returning to a place, you will need the auxiliary “être” and if you are turning over something, you’ll pick the auxiliary “avoir”.

As far as the verb “partir” is concerned, there are 3 meanings. The direct translation of to leave, the sense of “set off” and “go out”.

Finally, the verb “sortir” which can be applied to humans when they go out with the auxiliary “être” or when taking out pets and objects with the auxiliary  “avoir”.

So, can you easily play with these 4 verbs of movement or do you have any difficulties?

Do get back to me if you have any questions!