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B2 verb 11 Min. Lesezeit

entraîner

Beispiele
Erklärung entraîner in your Level:
Even though 'entraîner' is officially a B2-level word when it means 'to lead to a consequence', understanding the basic idea of cause and effect is important even for beginners. At the A1 level, you are learning simple words like 'parce que' (because) or 'pourquoi' (why). You might not use 'entraîner' yet, but you should recognize it if you see it in a simple warning sign or hear it on the news. Imagine you push a toy car, and it hits a block, making the block fall. Pushing the car 'entraîne' the fall of the block. It means one thing makes another thing happen. At this stage, focus on the fact that it connects an action to a result. If a French person says 'La pluie entraîne des problèmes' (The rain leads to problems), you can understand that the rain is the cause, and the problems are the result. Do not worry about using it in complex sentences yet. Just try to listen for it when people talk about weather, traffic, or simple daily issues. It sounds a bit like 'train', and just like a train pulls cars behind it, an action pulls a consequence behind it. This simple visual trick will help you remember the meaning until you are ready to use it yourself in more advanced grammar structures. Keep practicing your basic vocabulary, and soon you will be able to build sentences that explain why things happen and what happens next.
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At the A2 level, you are starting to talk more about past events and future plans. You can begin to understand how 'entraîner' fits into these timelines. While you might still prefer simpler verbs like 'faire' (to make) or 'causer' (to cause), recognizing 'entraîner' helps you understand slightly more formal warnings or news. For example, if you read 'Le vent va entraîner des retards' (The wind is going to lead to delays), you know exactly what to expect. You are learning the futur proche (aller + infinitive) and the passé composé. You can start noticing how this word acts in those tenses. 'La neige a entraîné un accident' (The snow led to an accident). It is a very useful word because it clearly links a subject to an object without needing extra prepositions like 'à' or 'de' in its basic form. Remember the mental image: the first event is the locomotive, and the consequence is the train car being pulled along. If you are comfortable, try writing one or two simple sentences in your journal using this word. 'Manger trop de sucre entraîne des caries' (Eating too much sugar leads to cavities). It is a great way to sound a bit more advanced and clear when explaining simple facts or rules.
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Now that you are at the B1 level, you are expected to express opinions, explain situations, and describe events with more detail. 'Entraîner' becomes a highly valuable tool in your vocabulary arsenal. You are no longer just saying 'A happened because of B'. You are starting to analyze situations. You can use it to talk about hypothetical situations using the conditional tense: 'Si nous ne faisons rien, cela entraînerait une catastrophe' (If we do nothing, that would lead to a disaster). This is crucial for debates, expressing concerns, or discussing environmental and social issues, which are common B1 topics. You should also practice using it with relative pronouns like 'qui' or 'que'. For instance, 'C'est une décision qui va entraîner beaucoup de changements' (It's a decision that is going to bring about many changes). Be careful not to confuse it with 's'entraîner', which means to practice a sport or a skill. At this level, context is everything. When reading articles or listening to podcasts, pay attention to the nouns that typically follow this verb: des conséquences, des modifications, des problèmes, des retards. Grouping these words together in your mind (collocations) will make your spoken French much more natural and fluent.
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Welcome to the B2 level, where 'entraîner' is officially a core part of your active vocabulary. At this stage of fluency, you are expected to construct well-reasoned arguments, write formal essays, and comprehend complex news reports. This verb is absolutely essential for all of these tasks. You must be comfortable using it in various tenses, including the subjunctive mood when necessary, though it is most commonly found in the indicative. 'Il est possible que cette loi entraîne des manifestations' (It is possible that this law will lead to protests). You should also master its passive voice usage, which is common in formal writing: 'Ces complications ont été entraînées par un manque de communication' (These complications were brought about by a lack of communication). At B2, you need to understand the subtle nuances that distinguish it from synonyms like 'provoquer' (more sudden/violent) or 'causer' (more neutral/direct). 'Entraîner' implies a logical, sometimes inevitable, chain reaction. It is the perfect verb for discussing economics, politics, science, and sociology. When you use this word correctly in a DELF B2 exam, whether in the oral presentation or the written essay, it demonstrates to the examiners that you have a firm grasp of logical connectors and advanced vocabulary.
At the C1 level, your use of 'entraîner' should be effortless and highly nuanced. You are dealing with complex, abstract texts and sophisticated spoken discourse. You should be able to employ nominalization to make your language more academic. For example, instead of saying 'Parce que les prix ont augmenté, cela a entraîné une baisse de la consommation', you might write 'La hausse des prix a entraîné une baisse de la consommation'. You are expected to know a wide variety of collocations and idiomatic expressions. You should seamlessly integrate it with adverbs to modify the certainty or severity of the consequence: 'inévitablement entraîner', 'mécaniquement entraîner', 'fatalement entraîner'. Furthermore, you should be perfectly comfortable with the less common structure 'entraîner quelqu'un à faire quelque chose' (to lead someone to do something), understanding how it differs from simply causing an event. 'Cette situation l'a entraîné à prendre des mesures drastiques.' At this level, you are also aware of the sociolinguistic registers. You know that while it is standard and formal, in highly literary contexts, you might opt for 'engendrer' or 'susciter' for stylistic variation. Your ability to choose the exact right verb for the exact right type of consequence is what marks your proficiency.
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At the pinnacle of French proficiency, the C2 level, your command of 'entraîner' is indistinguishable from that of an educated native speaker. You use it intuitively in real-time, complex debates, academic dissertations, and professional negotiations. You understand its historical and etymological weight—the literal concept of 'dragging'—and you can play with this imagery in rhetorical speech. You are adept at using it in highly complex syntactical structures, including past conditional and anterior future, to discuss counterfactuals and complex timelines. 'Si la banque centrale n'était pas intervenue, la panique aurait inévitablement entraîné un effondrement systémique des marchés financiers.' You master the subtle past participle agreements in complex relative clauses without hesitation. You also recognize when it is used figuratively or ironically in literature or high-level journalism. At C2, vocabulary is no longer about translation; it is about precision, tone, and stylistic elegance. You know exactly when 'entraîner' is the perfect word to convey a sense of inescapable consequence, and when a synonym like 'occasionner' or 'déclencher' would serve your specific rhetorical purpose better. Your language is rich, precise, and deeply expressive.
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Beispiele
The French verb entraîner is a fascinating and highly versatile word that holds significant importance in both everyday communication and formal discourse, particularly when discussing cause and effect relationships. At its core, in the context of the CEFR B2 level, entraîner translates to 'to lead to', 'to bring about', 'to entail', or 'to result in a particular consequence'. When you want to express that one action, event, or situation logically or inevitably causes another situation to happen, this is the perfect vocabulary choice. Understanding causality is fundamental to mastering any language, and in French, this concept is frequently articulated using this specific verb. It implies a chain reaction, where the initial subject acts as a catalyst that pulls or drags the subsequent consequence into reality.

La forte tempête de cette nuit va entraîner des retards importants sur le réseau ferroviaire national.

This sentence perfectly illustrates how a natural event (the storm) directly causes a negative consequence (delays).
Semantic Nuance
Unlike the verb 'causer', which can sometimes sound a bit clinical or strictly scientific, 'entraîner' carries a subtle visual metaphor of pulling something along with it, making the language feel more dynamic and connected.
Native speakers frequently use this word in professional environments, news broadcasts, and analytical discussions.

Cette nouvelle loi pourrait entraîner une augmentation des impôts locaux.

The usage here is entirely abstract. A law doesn't physically pull anything, but the legal framework creates a situation where taxes must rise.
Register and Tone
It is perfectly suited for formal and neutral registers. While not overly elevated, it sounds much more sophisticated than simply saying 'faire' (to make) to indicate a result.

Son manque de préparation a fini par entraîner son échec à l'examen final.

It is also important to recognize that the consequences described by this verb are very often negative or burdensome, though not exclusively so.

Une mauvaise alimentation peut entraîner de graves problèmes de santé à long terme.

Etymological Insight
The root comes from 'en-' and 'traîner' (to drag). Literally, it means to drag something into a situation. This mental image helps solidify why it means 'to result in'—one event drags another event along behind it.

Le réchauffement climatique risque d'entraîner la disparition de nombreuses espèces animales.

As you advance in your French learning journey, mastering this verb will allow you to construct complex, logical arguments, write compelling essays, and participate in deep conversations about societal, scientific, and personal issues with a high degree of fluency and accuracy.
Constructing sentences with the verb entraîner requires a solid understanding of French sentence structure, specifically regarding direct objects and logical connectors. The most common grammatical structure you will encounter is 'Subject + entraîner + Direct Object'. The subject is the cause, and the direct object is the consequence or result. This straightforward transitive use makes it relatively easy to integrate into your writing and speaking once you grasp the vocabulary of the consequences you wish to describe.

La crise économique a entraîné une hausse massive du chômage.

In this example, 'La crise économique' is the subject (the cause), and 'une hausse massive du chômage' is the direct object (the consequence).
Grammar Focus
Because it takes a direct object, any preceding direct object pronoun will require past participle agreement in the passé composé. For instance: 'Les conséquences que cela a entraînées' (The consequences that it brought about).

Ce médicament peut entraîner des effets secondaires indésirables comme la somnolence.

Notice how smoothly it pairs with modal verbs like 'pouvoir' (can/may) or 'devoir' (must). This is incredibly common in warnings, medical leaflets, and predictive statements.

La grève des transports entraînera inévitablement des complications pour les voyageurs.

Another crucial structure is the passive voice, although it is slightly less common than the active voice. You might say that a consequence was brought about by an event.
Passive Construction
In the passive voice, the result becomes the subject: 'Ces modifications ont été entraînées par la nouvelle direction.' (These modifications were brought about by the new management).

Une simple erreur de calcul a entraîné la perte de millions d'euros pour l'entreprise.

You can also use it with an infinitive in a slightly different sense, meaning 'to lead someone to do something', which bridges the gap between 'causing a result' and 'training/pushing'. For example, 'La situation l'a entraîné à démissionner' (The situation led him to resign).

Leur passion commune les a entraînés à créer cette magnifique association caritative.

Pronominal Form
Do not confuse this usage with the pronominal form 's'entraîner', which strictly means 'to train oneself' or 'to practice' (e.g., in sports or language learning).
Mastering these various sentence structures will give you the flexibility to express complex cause-and-effect relationships dynamically and accurately in any context.
To truly master a language, you must understand the contexts in which native speakers naturally employ specific vocabulary. The verb entraîner, in its sense of causing or leading to a consequence, is ubiquitous in modern French, but it gravitates toward certain domains of discourse. You are highly likely to encounter it in journalism, scientific reporting, economic analysis, political debates, and formal professional communications. When you turn on a French news channel like France 24 or read a newspaper like Le Monde, this verb will appear frequently to explain the ramifications of current events.

La chute des cours du pétrole pourrait entraîner une récession dans les pays producteurs.

This is a classic example of economic journalism. The verb neatly bridges the gap between the event (falling oil prices) and the macroeconomic consequence (recession).
Scientific Contexts
In science and medicine, it is the standard verb used to describe side effects, symptoms, or environmental consequences. It sounds objective and precise.

L'exposition prolongée au soleil sans protection va entraîner des lésions cutanées sévères.

You will also hear it constantly in the workplace during meetings, especially when discussing project management, risk assessment, or strategic planning.

Le retard pris par le fournisseur a entraîné un décalage de toute la chaîne de production.

Legal and Administrative
Legal documents, contracts, and terms of service use it to outline penalties or automatic outcomes of certain actions (e.g., 'Tout manquement entraînera la résiliation du contrat').

Le non-paiement de votre facture dans les délais impartis entraînera des pénalités de retard.

Furthermore, in everyday conversation among educated speakers, it is used to discuss personal decisions and their life impacts. It elevates the conversation slightly above basic verbs.

Accepter ce nouveau poste à l'étranger va entraîner de grands bouleversements pour toute notre famille.

Traffic and Weather
Radio broadcasts frequently use it for traffic updates: 'Un accident entraîne actuellement un bouchon de dix kilomètres sur l'autoroute A4.'
By familiarizing yourself with these common contexts, you will not only recognize the word instantly when listening to native speakers but also intuitively know when it is the most appropriate and natural verb to use in your own French production.
Even advanced learners of French often stumble when using the verb entraîner, primarily because it possesses a dual meaning that can lead to significant confusion, and because its grammatical requirements differ slightly from its English equivalents. The most glaring and frequent mistake is confusing the two primary definitions of the word: 'to cause/lead to' versus 'to train/coach'. While context usually clarifies the meaning for native speakers, learners sometimes use the wrong structures for the meaning they intend to convey.

L'entraîneur va entraîner l'équipe, ce qui va entraîner de meilleurs résultats.

This sentence playfully uses both meanings: the coach will train the team, which will lead to better results.
The Pronominal Trap
A massive pitfall is using the reflexive form 's'entraîner' when trying to say 'to result in'. 'S'entraîner' strictly means 'to practice' or 'to train oneself'. Saying 'La pluie s'entraîne des inondations' is completely incorrect and nonsensical.

Incorrect: Le virus s'entraîne la fièvre. Correct: Le virus va entraîner de la fièvre.

Another common error involves prepositions. When English speakers want to say 'to result in', they often try to translate the 'in' literally, saying 'entraîner dans'. This is grammatically wrong for this meaning. The verb is directly transitive; it takes a direct object without a preposition.

Incorrect: Cela va entraîner dans un désastre. Correct: Cela va entraîner un désastre.

Confusion with Amener and Apporter
Learners also confuse 'entraîner' with 'amener' (to bring someone/something abstract) or 'apporter' (to bring an object). While 'amener' can sometimes mean 'to lead to', 'entraîner' implies a stronger, more inevitable chain reaction or a heavier consequence.

Sa décision audacieuse a entraîné la faillite de l'entreprise entière.

Here, using 'apporté' would be bizarre because bankruptcy isn't a physical object brought to someone. Using 'amené' is possible but weaker.

Leur négligence a fini par entraîner des poursuites judiciaires.

Agreement with Preceding Direct Object
In written French, do not forget the past participle agreement if the direct object comes before the verb in the passé composé: 'Les erreurs qu'il a entraînées' (The errors that it caused) requires an '-es' because 'erreurs' is feminine plural.
Avoiding these specific mistakes will immediately elevate your French from intermediate to advanced, demonstrating a precise command of vocabulary and syntax.
The French language boasts a rich and nuanced vocabulary for expressing causality, and while entraîner is an excellent and versatile choice, knowing its synonyms and alternatives is crucial for a B2/C1 level speaker to avoid repetition and convey exact shades of meaning. The most direct synonym is 'causer', which translates plainly to 'to cause'. However, 'causer' is highly neutral and direct, whereas 'entraîner' suggests a process, a chain of events, or a logical progression.

Le verglas a causé un accident, ce qui a entraîné un blocage total de la route pendant des heures.

Notice how 'causer' is used for the immediate event (the accident), while 'entraîner' is used for the subsequent, rolling consequence (the traffic jam).
Provoquer
Another powerful alternative is 'provoquer'. This word implies a sudden, often violent or immediate reaction. It is much more abrupt than the dragging implication of our target word. You provoke a riot; you entail a long-term economic shift.

Le discours du président a provoqué la colère de l'opposition et va entraîner de longs débats parlementaires.

Cette découverte archéologique a suscité l'enthousiasme, ce qui devrait entraîner de nouveaux financements pour la recherche.

Engendrer and Occasionner
For more formal or academic writing, 'engendrer' (to generate/breed) and 'occasionner' (to bring about/cause) are excellent choices. 'Engendrer' has a biological undertone of giving birth to a situation, while 'occasionner' often pairs with inconveniences or costs.

Les travaux dans le centre-ville vont occasionner des nuisances sonores et entraîner des déviations de la circulation.

Les négociations n'ont abouti à rien, ce qui va inévitablement entraîner une grève générale dès demain matin.

Produire
Finally, 'produire' (to produce) can be used when the result is tangible or measurable, such as 'produire un effet' (to produce an effect). Understanding these subtle distinctions allows you to paint a much more accurate and vivid picture of causality in your French communication.
By diversifying your vocabulary with these alternatives, you demonstrate a profound grasp of French semantics.
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Beispiele nach Niveau

1

La pluie entraîne des problèmes.

The rain leads to problems.

Subject + verb + direct object.

2

Le vent entraîne le ballon.

The wind drags the ball. (Physical meaning)

Basic transitive use.

3

Le sucre entraîne des caries.

Sugar leads to cavities.

Using plural nouns as objects.

4

Le bruit entraîne la fatigue.

Noise leads to fatigue.

Abstract nouns as objects.

5

Le feu entraîne de la fumée.

Fire leads to smoke.

Cause and effect basic concept.

6

L'accident entraîne un retard.

The accident leads to a delay.

Singular object consequence.

7

Le soleil entraîne la chaleur.

The sun brings about heat.

Simple natural phenomena.

8

La glace entraîne des chutes.

Ice leads to falls.

Physical cause leading to an event.

1

La tempête va entraîner des retards de train.

The storm is going to lead to train delays.

Futur proche (aller + infinitive).

2

Cette erreur a entraîné un gros problème.

This mistake led to a big problem.

Passé composé with avoir.

3

Le manque de sommeil entraîne du stress.

Lack of sleep leads to stress.

Using 'manque de' as a subject.

4

Les travaux vont entraîner du bruit aujourd'hui.

The construction work will bring about noise today.

Plural subject with futur proche.

5

Manger trop vite entraîne des maux de ventre.

Eating too fast leads to stomach aches.

Infinitive verb as the subject.

6

La grève a entraîné la fermeture de l'école.

The strike led to the closing of the school.

Passé composé describing a completed consequence.

7

Le mauvais temps entraîne souvent des accidents.

Bad weather often leads to accidents.

Using adverbs of frequency (souvent).

8

Ce médicament entraîne de la fatigue.

This medicine leads to fatigue.

Medical context basics.

1

Si nous continuons ainsi, cela entraînera une catastrophe écologique.

If we continue like this, it will lead to an ecological disaster.

First conditional (Si + present, future).

2

C'est une décision politique qui a entraîné beaucoup de manifestations.

It's a political decision that brought about many protests.

Relative pronoun 'qui' as subject.

3

Je crains que cette nouvelle règle n'entraîne de la confusion.

I fear that this new rule will lead to confusion.

Subjunctive mood after expression of fear.

4

L'augmentation des prix a entraîné une baisse des ventes.

The increase in prices led to a drop in sales.

Nominalization (l'augmentation, une baisse).

5

Il faut éviter les actions qui pourraient entraîner des conflits.

We must avoid actions that could lead to conflicts.

Conditional used for possibility (pourraient).

6

La pollution atmosphérique entraîne de graves maladies respiratoires.

Air pollution leads to serious respiratory diseases.

Adjectives modifying the consequence.

7

Leur dispute les a entraînés à ne plus se parler.

Their argument led them to stop speaking to each other.

Entraîner quelqu'un à faire quelque chose.

8

L'utilisation excessive des écrans entraîne des problèmes de vue.

Excessive use of screens leads to eyesight problems.

Complex subject phrase.

1

La crise financière de 2008 a entraîné des répercussions économiques mondiales durables.

The 2008 financial crisis brought about lasting global economic repercussions.

Advanced vocabulary and historical context.

2

Toute violation de ces conditions générales entraînera la résiliation immédiate de votre contrat.

Any violation of these terms and conditions will result in the immediate termination of your contract.

Formal legal register with future tense.

3

Les changements climatiques risquent d'entraîner la disparition de nombreuses espèces endémiques.

Climate change risks leading to the extinction of many endemic species.

Using 'risquer de' + infinitive.

4

Cette restructuration interne a été entraînée par la nécessité de réduire les coûts de fonctionnement.

This internal restructuring was brought about by the need to reduce operating costs.

Passive voice construction.

5

Il est peu probable que cette mesure isolée entraîne une amélioration significative de la situation.

It is unlikely that this isolated measure will bring about a significant improvement in the situation.

Subjunctive after 'il est peu probable que'.

6

L'innovation technologique entraîne inévitablement une transformation du marché du travail.

Technological innovation inevitably leads to a transformation of the labor market.

Use of adverbs (inévitablement) to modify the verb.

7

La sédentarité, combinée à une mauvaise alimentation, entraîne un risque accru de maladies cardiovasculaires.

A sedentary lifestyle, combined with a poor diet, leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Complex sentence with a dependent clause.

8

Les coupes budgétaires ont entraîné le report sine die de plusieurs projets d'infrastructure majeurs.

The budget cuts led to the indefinite postponement of several major infrastructure projects.

Advanced phrasing (report sine die).

1

L'effondrement des négociations bilatérales a mécaniquement entraîné une escalade des tensions diplomatiques.

The collapse of bilateral negotiations mechanically brought about an escalation of diplomatic tensions.

Use of adverb 'mécaniquement' for logical inevitability.

2

Bien que cette politique vise à stimuler la croissance, elle pourrait paradoxalement entraîner une inflation galopante.

Although this policy aims to stimulate growth, it could paradoxically lead to runaway inflation.

Concessive clause (Bien que) and adverbial modification.

3

La prolifération des fausses informations sur les réseaux sociaux entraîne une défiance croissante envers les institutions démocratiques.

The proliferation of fake news on social networks is leading to a growing distrust towards democratic institutions.

Abstract nominalization as subject and object.

4

C'est un engrenage fatal qui, une fois déclenché, ne peut qu'entraîner la ruine de ses instigateurs.

It is a fatal spiral which, once triggered, can only lead to the ruin of its instigators.

Literary/metaphorical usage (engrenage).

5

Les conséquences que cette décision hâtive a entraînées sont encore difficiles à évaluer dans leur totalité.

The consequences that this hasty decision brought about are still difficult to evaluate in their entirety.

Past participle agreement with preceding direct object 'conséquences'.

6

L'obsolescence programmée des appareils électroniques entraîne un gaspillage de ressources tout à fait inacceptable.

The planned obsolescence of electronic devices entails a completely unacceptable waste of resources.

High-level socio-economic vocabulary.

7

Son entêtement l'a finalement entraîné à commettre l'irréparable, détruisant ainsi sa carrière prometteuse.

His stubbornness finally led him to commit the irreparable, thus destroying his promising career.

Infinitive construction with a highly abstract object (l'irréparable).

8

L'adoption de cette directive européenne entraînera de facto une refonte complète de notre législation nationale.

The adoption of this European directive will de facto result in a complete overhaul of our national legislation.

Integration of Latin phrases common in legal/political discourse.

1

La vacuité du discours politique actuel entraîne un désabusement délétère au sein de l'électorat le plus jeune.

The emptiness of current political discourse brings about a deleterious disillusionment among the youngest electorate.

Highly advanced vocabulary (vacuité, délétère).

2

Si l'on n'y prend garde, cette dérégulation sauvage entraînera une paupérisation systémique des classes moyennes.

If one is not careful, this unchecked deregulation will lead to a systemic impoverishment of the middle classes.

Complex conditional structure ('Si l'on n'y prend garde').

3

L'auteur démontre avec brio comment l'hubris du protagoniste finit par entraîner sa chute inéluctable.

The author brilliantly demonstrates how the protagonist's hubris ultimately leads to his inescapable downfall.

Literary analysis context.

4

La financiarisation à outrance de l'économie réelle a entraîné une déconnexion vertigineuse entre la valeur boursière et l'utilité sociale.

The excessive financialization of the real economy has brought about a dizzying disconnect between stock market value and social utility.

Academic economic discourse.

5

Quelles que soient les mesures palliatives envisagées, la fonte du permafrost entraînera des bouleversements géopolitiques majeurs.

Whatever palliative measures are envisioned, the melting of the permafrost will lead to major geopolitical upheavals.

Concessive subjunctive structure ('Quelles que soient').

6

Il est fallacieux de prétendre que l'automatisation n'entraînera qu'une simple destruction créatrice san

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