Revenir vs Rentrer vs Retourner

LorieC1Kwiziq community member

Revenir vs Rentrer vs Retourner

Is there a lesson that helps us to understand the distinction between each of these three verbs (revenir, rentrer, retourner) and when one is used versus the other?

Asked 4 years ago
ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Retourner -- to go back to a place, where the speaker is not located. When used transitively (i.e., with a direct object, it means to return something, e.g., an ill-fitting garment)
Revenir -- to go back to a place where the speaker is.
Rentrer -- to go go back "home".

Some examples:

Marc a oublié son porte-monnaie au restaurant. Il va y retourner pour le retrouver. -- Marc forgot his wallet at the restaurant. He will go back there to get it.

Ce pull ne me va pas du tout. Je le retourne tout de suite. -- That sweater doesn't fit me at all. I'll return it immediately.

Mon amie est partie. Elle reviendra demain. -- My friend has left. She will come back tomorrow.

Je viens de rentrer. -- I just got back home.

RuthC1Kwiziq community member

Thank you, Chris, for your answer. It is very helpful, as always. However, I also saw this:

ATTENTION: 

Retourner never means to return (something) in the context of a shop for example.
In French, we use rapporter (to bring back) or échanger [quelque chose] instead:

Elle a rapporté cette jupe comme elle était trop petite.     She returned this skirt as it was too small.

It was in the B2 lesson: Retourner can be used with avoir or être in Le Passé Composé... and changes meaning

 

Revenir vs Rentrer vs Retourner

Is there a lesson that helps us to understand the distinction between each of these three verbs (revenir, rentrer, retourner) and when one is used versus the other?

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