Not sure why 'pendre' is incorrect

MaartenC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Not sure why 'pendre' is incorrect

Although I didn't use it, I am not sure why < pendre > is considered incorrect to use ? 

1. Larousse (entry for pendre)

pendre [pɑ̃dr]

verbe transitif Conjugaison

[accrocher]     Conjugaison to hang (up)

  pendre un tableau à un clou    to hang a picture from a nail

2. Robert (entry for accrocher)

accrocher​​​ verbe

 verbe transitif

 Suspendre à un crochet. Accrocher son manteau. ➙ pendre. — 

3. Académie Française (entry for pendre)

PENDRE conjugaison verbe transitif et intransitif (se conjugue comme Attendre).

xe siècle. Issu du latin pendere, « être suspendu », puis « dépendre de ».

I. Verbe transitif.

1.  Attacher, accrocher à quelque distance du sol. 

It does not seem incorrect based on these 3 sources. Not sure what I am missing in these definitions that would make < pendre > incorrect.

Asked 3 years ago
CélineKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Bonjour Maarten,

As far as I am aware ‘accrocher des décorations’ is the right expression and the one that is most used. You can use ‘suspendre des décorations’ but it implies something quite heavy.

‘Pendre’ is not used in this context (‘decorations’) as it would imply ‘dangling’. And it sounds more than odd to my French ears.

However, I am happy to be proven wrong... ;-)

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

MaartenC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Thanks Céline - as she is using ribbons to hang pictures, they could (in my mind, probably would, be dangling). The example sentence  from Larousse of accrocher as < pendre un tableau à un clou >, and the fact that all 3 references define each word using the other, suggest the interchange of these words is not 'wrong',  just unusual usage in practice perhaps. It could also depend what image is conjured in the readers mind by using ribbons to hang pictures in the house, I guess. 

Not sure why 'pendre' is incorrect

Although I didn't use it, I am not sure why < pendre > is considered incorrect to use ? 

1. Larousse (entry for pendre)

pendre [pɑ̃dr]

verbe transitif Conjugaison

[accrocher]     Conjugaison to hang (up)

  pendre un tableau à un clou    to hang a picture from a nail

2. Robert (entry for accrocher)

accrocher​​​ verbe

 verbe transitif

 Suspendre à un crochet. Accrocher son manteau. ➙ pendre. — 

3. Académie Française (entry for pendre)

PENDRE conjugaison verbe transitif et intransitif (se conjugue comme Attendre).

xe siècle. Issu du latin pendere, « être suspendu », puis « dépendre de ».

I. Verbe transitif.

1.  Attacher, accrocher à quelque distance du sol. 

It does not seem incorrect based on these 3 sources. Not sure what I am missing in these definitions that would make < pendre > incorrect.

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
I'll be right with you...