English speakers often confuse supporter with providing help, but its main meaning is to tolerate or endure something unpleasant. If you want to say you are helping a friend or backing a project, you should use soutenir instead. You will most commonly hear supporter used when someone can no longer stand a specific noise, behavior, or situation. It can also be used in sports to mean cheering for a team, which is one of the few positive contexts for the word. In a physical sense, it describes an object bearing weight, like a column holding up a ceiling.
English speakers frequently trip over supporter because it is a classic false friend. In French, its primary meaning is to tolerate, endure, or bear something unpleasant rather than to give emotional or financial backing. If you want to say you cheer for a sports team or help a friend, you should use soutenir instead to avoid a major misunderstanding. However, supporter is technically correct when describing a physical object that holds the weight of another structure. Mastering this distinction is vital for practical communication so you do not accidentally tell a colleague you can no longer stand them when you intended to offer help.
If there is one verb that trips up English speakers more than any other at the A2 level, it is supporter. This is what we call a 'false friend' (un faux-ami). Because it looks exactly like the English word 'support,' your brain will naturally want to use it in the same way. However, in French, the meaning is much narrower and often carries a negative connotation that you might not intend.
§ Mistake 1: Using it to mean 'giving help'
In English, you support a friend through a hard time or support a local charity. If you use supporter in these cases in French, you are saying you 'tolerate' them or 'put up with' them. It sounds like they are an annoyance you are forced to deal with rather than someone you care about.
- The Wrong Way
- Je supporte mon ami pendant son divorce. (Meaning: I am putting up with my friend during his divorce.)
- The Right Way
- Je soutiens mon ami pendant son divorce. (Meaning: I am supporting/helping my friend.)
§ Mistake 2: Sports and 'being a fan'
This is where it gets confusing. In French, a fan of a sports team is called un supporter (noun). However, the verb supporter can still be ambiguous. While you will hear French people say 'Je supporte Marseille,' it can occasionally sound like they are merely 'tolerating' the team's existence. To be clear and sound more natural, many French speakers prefer the verb soutenir or être pour.
Je soutiens l'équipe de France depuis toujours. (I have always supported the French team.)
- Un supporter: A fan (noun).
- Soutenir: To cheer for/back a team (verb).
- Supporter: To endure (verb) or sometimes to back a team (informal).
§ Mistake 3: Physical support vs. Emotional tolerance
In construction or physics, supporter can mean to bear a load or weight. However, learners often use it incorrectly when talking about 'supporting' an idea in a meeting. If you want to say you agree with a proposal or a person's argument, do not use supporter.
- The Correct Verb for Ideas
- Appuyer une proposition (To back/support a proposal).
When you use supporter regarding a person's behavior, you are almost always expressing frustration. If you say 'Je ne peux plus le supporter,' you aren't saying you can't help him; you are saying 'I can't stand him anymore.'
Il fait trop chaud, je ne supporte pas cette canicule. (It's too hot, I can't stand this heatwave.)
§ Summary: How to choose the right word
To keep your French clean and avoid offending people, follow these simple rules of thumb:
- Use Soutenir when you are being helpful, kind, or loyal to a person or a cause.
- Use Appuyer when you are in a professional setting and want to back an idea or a project.
- Use Supporter only when you are talking about enduring something difficult or annoying (like noise, heat, or a rude neighbor).
- Use Encourager when you are talking about sports or motivating someone.
By keeping these distinctions in mind, you will avoid the classic 'English-in-French' trap that marks most beginner and intermediate students. Next time you want to say you 'support' someone, take a second to ask: 'Am I helping them or am I just tolerating them?'
Choosing the right word for "to support" in French is a common trap for English speakers. While the verb supporter looks exactly like its English counterpart, they are usually "false friends" (faux amis). In most everyday contexts, if you use supporter to mean you are helping someone, a French person will think you are saying you barely tolerate them. This section clarifies when to use supporter and which alternatives you actually need for different situations.
§ Supporter vs. Soutenir
This is the most frequent mistake. If you want to say you support a friend, a cause, or a charity, do not use supporter. Instead, use the verb soutenir. Supporter almost always carries a negative connotation of endurance or annoyance, whereas soutenir carries the positive connotation of assistance and loyalty.
- Soutenir
- To provide help, encouragement, or financial assistance to someone or something. It can also mean to physically hold something up.
Mes parents me soutiennent toujours dans mes choix de carrière.
In the example above, using supportent would imply the parents are just "putting up with" the career choice rather than encouraging it. Use soutenir for emotional or financial backing.
§ When to use Endurer
While supporter means to tolerate something annoying or heavy, endurer is used for more serious or long-term hardships. It is closer to the English "to suffer through" or "to undergo." If a situation is painful or requires significant resilience over time, endurer is the better choice.
- Endurer
- To undergo or suffer through a painful or difficult experience, often for a long duration.
Il a dû endurer des mois de rééducation après son accident.
If you said he had to supporter the rehab, it sounds like he was just annoyed by it. Using endurer emphasizes the hardship and the strength required to get through it.
§ Supporter vs. Tolérer
These two are very close, but tolérer is often more formal. You tolérer a behavior in a professional setting or a substance in a medical context. Supporter is more about your personal threshold for irritation or physical weight.
- Supporter: Personal feeling (e.g., I can't stand this heat).
- Tolérer: Acceptance of a rule or a biological reaction (e.g., The body tolerates the medicine).
L'entreprise ne tolère aucun retard le matin.
§ The Sports Exception
There is one specific area where supporter actually works like the English "to support": Sports. When you follow a team and cheer for them, you are a "supporter" (noun) and you "supportes" (verb) that team. This is a common anglicism that has become standard in French.
Je supporte l'équipe de France depuis que je suis petit.
§ Summary Reference
Use this quick guide to make the right choice in your next conversation:
- Use Soutenir for: Friends, family, ideas, politics, or financial aid.
- Use Supporter for: Annoying sounds, bad weather, or sports teams.
- Use Endurer for: Physical pain, long trials, or suffering.
- Use Tolérer for: Rules, regulations, and medical side effects.
By keeping these distinctions in mind, you will avoid the common beginner mistake of telling a friend you "tolerate" them when you actually meant to say you "back" them up.
How Formal Is It?
"L'administration ne peut tolérer un tel manquement au règlement."
"Je ne supporte pas le bruit quand je travaille."
"Il encaisse bien les critiques de son patron."
"Tiens bon, la piqûre est presque finie !"
"Celui-là, je ne peux vraiment pas le blairer."
趣味小知识
While it looks like the English word 'support,' its primary meaning in French shifted to focus on the burden of carrying something, leading to the modern meaning of 'tolerating' or 'enduring' something difficult.
按水平分级的例句
Je ne peux plus supporter ce bruit.
I can't stand this noise anymore.
Here, 'supporter' means 'to tolerate' or 'to stand'. It follows the conjugated verb 'peux'.
Est-ce que tu supportes bien la chaleur ?
Do you handle the heat well?
This uses 'supporter' to talk about physical endurance or tolerance of weather.
Il supporte son équipe de foot préférée.
He supports his favorite soccer team.
In sports, 'supporter' is a direct equivalent to 'being a fan of' or 'rooting for'.
Elle ne supporte pas d'être en retard.
She can't tolerate being late.
The negative structure 'ne... pas' surrounds the verb. Note the use of 'de' before the infinitive 'être'.
Nous supportons la France pendant le match.
We are supporting France during the match.
Standard present tense conjugation for -er verbs with 'nous' (-ons ending).
Mon grand-père ne supporte pas le café noir.
My grandfather can't tolerate black coffee.
Used here to describe a physical reaction or a very strong dislike.
Cette chaise ne peut pas supporter ton sac lourd.
This chair cannot support your heavy bag.
This refers to physical weight or load-bearing, similar to the English 'to support'.
Vous supportez très bien cette situation difficile.
You are handling this difficult situation very well.
In this context, it translates to 'coping with' or 'enduring' a situation.
Il est devenu quasiment impossible de supporter l'arrogance démesurée de ce haut fonctionnaire sans sourciller.
It has become almost impossible to tolerate the excessive arrogance of this high-ranking official without flinching.
At a C2 level, 'supporter' often describes the endurance of psychological or social pressure. Note the use of 'sourciller' (to bat an eyelid/flinch).
La charpente métallique ne saurait supporter une telle surcharge pondérale sans compromettre l'intégrité de l'édifice.
The metal framework could not support such a weight overload without compromising the building's integrity.
In technical contexts, 'supporter' is used for physical loads. The conditional 'ne saurait' adds a formal, high-level literary tone.
Elle peine à supporter les conséquences délétères des choix budgétaires opérés par la direction précédente.
She is struggling to bear the harmful consequences of the budgetary choices made by the previous management.
'Peiner à' (to struggle to) combined with 'supporter' emphasizes the difficulty of enduring a situation.
Rares sont ceux qui parviennent à supporter stoïquement l'opprobre jeté par une opinion publique versatile.
Few are those who manage to stoically endure the disgrace cast by a fickle public opinion.
'Supporter' here means to withstand social shame or 'l'opprobre', a very formal term for public disgrace.
Ce système économique ne peut plus supporter les distorsions engendrées par une spéculation effrénée.
This economic system can no longer sustain the distortions generated by rampant speculation.
Used here in a macro-economic sense, 'supporter' implies the ability of a system to remain functional under stress.
Le patient semble supporter les effets secondaires du traitement avec une résilience qui force l'admiration.
The patient seems to be tolerating the side effects of the treatment with a resilience that commands admiration.
In medical contexts, 'supporter' refers to physiological tolerance of a drug or procedure.
Il est ardu de supporter la vacuité de certains débats médiatiques sans éprouver un certain agacement.
It is difficult to put up with the emptiness of certain media debates without feeling a degree of annoyance.
'Supporter' is frequently used for mental endurance of intellectual or social frustrations like 'la vacuité' (emptiness/shallowness).
L'écosystème local ne pourra supporter indéfiniment l'impact anthropique lié à l'urbanisation galopante.
The local ecosystem will not be able to indefinitely withstand the human impact linked to rampant urbanization.
In environmental science, 'supporter' translates to 'withstand' or 'sustain' an external pressure or impact.
常见搭配
常用短语
Je ne peux plus le supporter.
I can't stand him anymore.
Elle supporte mal le soleil.
She doesn't handle the sun well.
Quelle équipe supportes-tu ?
Which team do you support?
C'est difficile à supporter.
It is hard to bear.
Je ne supporte pas d'attendre.
I can't stand waiting.
Comment fais-tu pour le supporter ?
How do you put up with him?
Il supporte bien son traitement.
He is tolerating his treatment well.
On doit supporter les conséquences.
We have to bear the consequences.
Je supporte le PSG.
I support PSG (the soccer team).
Tu ne devrais pas supporter ça.
You shouldn't put up with that.
容易混淆的词
Use 'subvenir aux besoins' or 'soutenir financièrement'. Never use 'supporter' for money unless you mean you hate the bills.
Use 'le soutien'. If you say 'je supporte mon ami', it sounds like you are barely tolerating his presence.
In French, 'un supporter' (noun) is a fan. However, to say you are a fan of a team, 'je soutiens' or 'je suis fan de' is often clearer than the verb 'supporter'.
语法模式
习语与表达
"Ne plus pouvoir supporter quelqu'un"
To not be able to stand someone anymore
Je ne peux plus le supporter, il se plaint tout le temps. (I can't stand him anymore, he complains all the time.)
neutral"Supporter une équipe"
To support or cheer for a sports team
Quelle équipe est-ce que tu supportes ? (Which team do you support?)
neutral"Supporter la chaleur"
To stand or tolerate the heat
Elle ne supporte pas la chaleur, elle préfère l'hiver. (She can't stand the heat, she prefers winter.)
neutral"C'est difficile à supporter"
It's hard to bear or put up with
Le bruit des travaux est vraiment difficile à supporter. (The construction noise is really hard to bear.)
neutral"Supporter la comparaison"
To bear comparison or be as good as something else
Ce nouveau modèle ne supporte pas la comparaison avec l'ancien. (This new model doesn't compare well with the old one.)
neutral"Supporter le regard des autres"
To deal with or endure the judgment of others
Il est timide et a du mal à supporter le regard des autres. (He is shy and has trouble dealing with people's stares.)
neutral"Supporter les conséquences"
To bear the consequences
Tu as fait une erreur, tu dois en supporter les conséquences. (You made a mistake, you must bear the consequences of it.)
neutral"Supporter la solitude"
To cope with being alone
Depuis qu'il vit seul, il apprend à supporter la solitude. (Since he lives alone, he is learning to cope with solitude.)
neutral"Supporter les frais"
To cover or bear the costs
L'entreprise va supporter tous les frais de déplacement. (The company will bear all the travel expenses.)
formal"Ne pas pouvoir supporter que..."
To not be able to stand that (something happens)
Je ne supporte pas qu'on me mente. (I can't stand being lied to / I can't stand that people lie to me.)
neutral容易混淆
It is the actual translation for 'to support' in a moral, physical, or financial sense.
Supporter means 'to tolerate' or 'to put up with.' Soutenir means to provide help, backup, or physical stability.
Mes parents me soutiennent dans mes études. (My parents support me in my studies.)
Both words describe dealing with something difficult or unpleasant.
Endurer is used for long-term hardships or physical pain. Supporter is for annoying people or temporary situations.
Il a dû endurer de dures épreuves. (He had to endure hard trials.)
English speakers use 'support' when talking about costs or responsibilities.
Assumer means to take responsibility for something or to bear a cost. Supporter is just the act of standing it.
Elle assume les frais de transport. (She covers/takes on the transport costs.)
They are synonyms in the context of 'putting up with' something.
Tolérer is more formal or official (like a rule). Supporter is more common in daily speech and focuses on personal patience.
Le directeur ne tolère aucun retard. (The director does not tolerate any lateness.)
English 'support' is often used interchangeably with 'help'.
Aider is an active gesture of assistance. Supporter is a passive state of endurance.
Je peux t'aider à finir ce projet. (I can help you finish this project.)
句型
Je ne supporte pas + [noun]
Je ne supporte pas le bruit. (I can't stand the noise.)
Supporter + [sports team]
Je supporte l'équipe de France. (I support/root for the French team.)
Supporter mal + [noun]
Elle supporte mal le froid. (She doesn't handle the cold well.)
Ne plus supporter + [someone]
Il ne peut plus supporter son patron. (He can't stand his boss anymore.)
[Object] + supporter + [weight]
Cette étagère supporte beaucoup de livres. (This shelf supports many books.)
Difficile à supporter
Cette situation est difficile à supporter. (This situation is hard to bear.)
Supporter + [food/drink]
Tu ne supportes pas le lait ? (You don't tolerate/can't handle milk?)
Bien supporter + [situation]
Vous supportez bien le stress au travail. (You handle work stress well.)
词族
名词
形容词
如何使用
In French, supporter primarily means to tolerate, endure, or put up with something difficult. For example: 'Je ne peux plus supporter ce bruit' (I can no longer tolerate this noise). It is also used in a physical sense to describe something bearing weight, like a beam supporting a roof. In the specific context of sports, it is acceptable to use it for 'rooting for' a team, but its general everyday meaning is about endurance.
The most common error for English speakers is treating supporter as a direct translation for 'to support' in an emotional or financial sense. If you want to say you are helping a friend or backing a cause, use the verb soutenir. Saying 'Je supporte ma sœur' actually implies that you are putting up with her, rather than helping her. Use soutenir for encouragement and supporter for tolerance.
小贴士
False friend alert
The biggest mistake is using this to mean emotional or financial support. In those cases, use the French verb soutenir instead.
Physical weight
Use this verb when talking about a structure that holds or bears a heavy load, like a pillar or a shelf.
Annoying people
When you cannot stand someone's personality or behavior, use supporter. Example: 'Je ne peux plus le supporter' (I can't stand him anymore).
Sports teams
This is the one exception where it means support. If you follow a football team, you are a supporter and you support them.
Tolerating weather
It is perfect for talking about enduring the heat or cold. Example: 'Il ne supporte pas la chaleur' (He can't stand the heat).
Easy conjugation
This is a regular -er verb. It follows the simplest conjugation pattern in the French language for all tenses.
Negative prefix
Add 'in-' to make the adjective insupportable, which means unbearable or insufferable.
Noise levels
Use it to express that you cannot put up with loud noises or a noisy environment.
Watch the context
Always check if you mean tolerate. If your sentence needs the word help, supporter is likely the wrong choice.
Memory trick
Connect it to the English word insufferable. If someone is insufferable, you cannot supporter them.
记住它
记忆技巧
Think of 'supporting' a heavy burden you don't want. In French, 'supporter' means you are putting up with or tolerating that weight.
视觉联想
Imagine someone holding a giant, heavy alarm clock that is ringing loudly. Their face shows they are struggling to 'supporter' (tolerate) the noise.
Word Web
挑战
Translate this practical sentence into French: 'I cannot stand the heat.' (Hint: Use 'la chaleur')
词源
Latin 'supportare'
原始含义： To carry from below, to bring, or to convey
Romance文化背景
<p>In daily French, <strong>supporter</strong> is used to express that you can't stand a situation or a person, such as <em>Je ne supporte plus ce bruit</em> (I can't stand this noise anymore). The main exception is sports, where it aligns with the English meaning of being a fan of a team. For most other types of 'support,' like helping a friend or a cause, use the verb <strong>soutenir</strong> instead.</p>
在生活中练习
真实语境
Weather and environment
- Je ne supporte pas la chaleur. (I can't stand the heat.)
- Elle supporte bien le froid. (She handles the cold well.)
- On ne supporte plus ce bruit. (We can't tolerate this noise anymore.)
Relationships and annoying behavior
- Je ne supporte pas son attitude. (I can't stand his/her attitude.)
- Ils ne se supportent plus. (They can't stand each other anymore.)
- Tu supportes ton nouveau collègue ? (Do you tolerate/get along with your new colleague?)
Health and physical tolerance
- Je ne supporte pas le gluten. (I can't tolerate gluten.)
- Il supporte mal ce médicament. (He doesn't handle this medicine well.)
- Elle supporte la douleur avec courage. (She is enduring the pain with courage.)
Work and stress
- Je ne supporte plus ce stress. (I can't take this stress anymore.)
- Comment tu supportes la pression ? (How do you handle the pressure?)
- Il faut supporter cette situation difficile. (We have to endure this difficult situation.)
Sports and teams
- Je supporte l'équipe de France. (I support the French team.)
- Quel club est-ce que tu supportes ? (Which club do you support?)
- On va au stade pour les supporter. (We are going to the stadium to support them.)
对话开场白
"Quelle météo est-ce que tu ne supportes pas ? (What weather can you not stand?)"
"Est-ce que tu supportes bien le décalage horaire ? (Do you handle jet lag well?)"
"Quel type de comportement ne supportes-tu pas chez les autres ? (What kind of behavior can't you stand in others?)"
"Quelle équipe de foot supportes-tu ? (Which soccer team do you support?)"
"Est-ce que tu supportes les films d'horreur ? (Can you handle/stand horror movies?)"
日记主题
Décris un bruit ou une odeur que tu ne supportes pas. (Describe a sound or a smell you can't stand.)
Parle d'une fois où tu as dû supporter une situation difficile. (Talk about a time you had to endure a difficult situation.)
Liste trois choses que tu supportes très bien, même si c'est dur. (List three things you tolerate very well, even if it's hard.)
Est-ce que tu supportes facilement le changement ? Pourquoi ? (Do you handle change easily? Why?)
Imagine que tu ne supportes plus ton travail. Que fais-tu ? (Imagine you can't stand your job anymore. What do you do?)
常见问题
10 个问题Not exactly. It is a false friend. In French, supporter usually means to tolerate or to endure. If you want to say you are helping or encouraging someone, use soutenir instead.
You use this verb: Je ne peux pas le supporter. It is the most common way to say you find someone or something unbearable.
Yes! This is one of the few times it matches English. To say 'I support PSG,' you say Je supporte le PSG. A fan is also called un supporter.
No. For financial support, use subvenir aux besoins de or entretenir. If you say je supporte ma famille, it sounds like you are just putting up with them!
Yes. It can mean to bear or to hold up weight. For example: Le mur supporte le toit (The wall supports the roof).
Tolérer is more formal and passive. Supporter is more common in everyday speech and often implies a struggle to endure something annoying.
It is a regular -er verb: je supporte, tu supportes, il supporte, nous supportons, vous supportez, ils supportent.
Use soutenir. You should say: Je soutiens ta décision. Using supporter here would imply you find the decision difficult to live with.
If you mean the opposite of tolerating, you can use ne pas supporter. If you mean the opposite of supporting a team, you might say être contre (to be against).
Yes, it is used daily. Just remember the golden rule: if you mean 'to help/encourage,' don't use it. If you mean 'to put up with,' use it.
自我测试 66 个问题
Je ne ___ pas le bruit de la rue.
For the pronoun 'Je' (I), the regular -er verb ending is '-e'.
Est-ce que tu ___ la chaleur ?
With the pronoun 'Tu' (You, informal), the verb ending is always '-es'.
Mon frère ___ cette équipe de football.
'Mon frère' (My brother) is the same as 'Il' (He), which takes the ending '-e'.
Nous ___ nos amis pendant le match.
For the pronoun 'Nous' (We), the verb ending is '-ons'.
Vous ___ bien le froid en hiver ?
For the pronoun 'Vous' (You, plural/formal), the verb ending is '-ez'.
Elles ne ___ pas les moustiques.
For the plural pronoun 'Elles' (They), the verb ending is '-ent'.
Write 'I do not tolerate the cold' in French.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Je ne supporte pas le froid.
Translate 'He tolerates the music' to French.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Il supporte la musique.
Write 'Do you tolerate the cat?' in French using 'tu'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Tu supportes le chat ?
What is Marie unable to tolerate?
Read this passage:
Il fait très chaud aujourd'hui. Marie n'aime pas le soleil. Elle ne supporte pas la chaleur.
What is Marie unable to tolerate?
The text says 'Elle ne supporte pas la chaleur', which means she does not tolerate the heat.
The text says 'Elle ne supporte pas la chaleur', which means she does not tolerate the heat.
Does Marc tolerate the noise?
Read this passage:
Marc a un petit chien. Le chien aboie beaucoup. Marc est patient, il supporte le bruit.
Does Marc tolerate the noise?
The text states 'il supporte le bruit', meaning he tolerates or puts up with the noise.
The text states 'il supporte le bruit', meaning he tolerates or puts up with the noise.
Can the table hold heavy books?
Read this passage:
Cette table est vieille. Elle est fragile. Elle ne supporte pas les livres lourds.
Can the table hold heavy books?
The text says 'Elle ne supporte pas les livres lourds', meaning it cannot support/bear the weight of heavy books.
The text says 'Elle ne supporte pas les livres lourds', meaning it cannot support/bear the weight of heavy books.
Je ne ___ plus ce bruit insupportable ! (I can't stand this noise anymore!)
For the pronoun 'je', the verb 'supporter' takes the ending -e.
Elle ne peut pas ___ la chaleur en été. (She cannot tolerate the heat in summer.)
After a conjugated verb like 'peut' (can), the following verb must be in the infinitive form.
Ces murs anciens ___ le poids du toit. (These old walls support the weight of the roof.)
'Ces murs' is a third-person plural subject, so the verb ends in -ent.
Est-ce que tu ___ bien tes nouveaux collègues ? (Do you tolerate/stand your new colleagues well?)
With 'tu', the ending for regular -er verbs is always -es.
Nous ne ___ pas les retards au bureau. (We do not tolerate delays at the office.)
The 'nous' form of the verb 'supporter' ends in -ons.
Vous ___ cette situation difficile avec courage. (You are enduring this difficult situation with courage.)
For the pronoun 'vous', the verb 'supporter' ends in -ez.
Choisissez le verbe correct : 'Il fait 40 degrés, je ne ___ plus cette chaleur (stand this heat) !'
In French, 'supporter' is the standard verb for 'to tolerate' or 'to stand' something unpleasant like heat.
Que signifie la phrase : 'Je ne supporte pas tes mensonges' ?
When referring to behavior or attitudes, 'supporter' means 'to put up with' or 'to stand'.
Quel verbe utiliser pour dire : 'I support (help/encourage) my brother in his project' ?
'Soutenir' is used for providing moral, emotional, or financial support. 'Supporter' would imply you are merely tolerating him.
La phrase 'Je supporte le PSG' (I root for PSG) est correcte en français pour parler d'une équipe de football.
While 'supporter' usually means 'to tolerate', it is perfectly correct to use it when talking about being a fan of a sports team.
Si un ami dit 'C'est insupportable !', il veut dire que la situation est très facile à vivre.
'Insupportable' is the adjective form meaning 'unbearable' or 'intolerable'.
On utilise 'supporter' pour dire 'to support' au sens de tenir physiquement un objet (comme un mur qui supporte un toit).
In a physical/architectural sense, 'supporter' can mean to bear the weight of something.
Describe a person or a habit that you find difficult to tolerate in your daily life. Use the verb 'supporter' in your response.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Je ne supporte pas les gens qui parlent fort au téléphone dans le train, c'est très impoli.
Imagine you are discussing physical limitations. Write a sentence explaining how much weight a specific object (like a table or a bridge) can bear.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Cette vieille table en bois peut supporter un poids de vingt kilos maximum.
Write about a weather condition that you cannot stand and explain why using the verb 'supporter'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Je ne supporte pas la chaleur humide du sud de la France en plein été.
Quel est le problème principal de Marc ?
Read this passage:
Marc travaille dans un bureau en open-space. Ses collègues discutent souvent de leurs week-ends pendant les heures de travail. Marc est très concentré, mais il ne supporte plus ce bruit constant qui l'empêche de finir ses dossiers.
Quel est le problème principal de Marc ?
The text states 'il ne supporte plus ce bruit constant', which means he can no longer tolerate it.
The text states 'il ne supporte plus ce bruit constant', which means he can no longer tolerate it.
Que doivent vérifier les ingénieurs ?
Read this passage:
Avant de construire ce nouveau pont, les ingénieurs doivent vérifier s'il peut supporter le passage de milliers de voitures chaque jour. Si la structure est trop faible, elle pourrait s'effondrer sous le poids.
Que doivent vérifier les ingénieurs ?
The verb 'supporter' here refers to the physical capacity to bear weight ('supporter le passage de milliers de voitures').
The verb 'supporter' here refers to the physical capacity to bear weight ('supporter le passage de milliers de voitures').
Pourquoi Julie préfère-t-elle le train ?
Read this passage:
Julie adore voyager, mais elle ne supporte pas les longs trajets en avion. Elle se sent souvent mal à l'aise et coincée dans son siège pendant plus de trois heures. Elle préfère prendre le train quand c'est possible.
Pourquoi Julie préfère-t-elle le train ?
The passage mentions 'elle ne supporte pas les longs trajets en avion', indicating she cannot tolerate/stand them.
The passage mentions 'elle ne supporte pas les longs trajets en avion', indicating she cannot tolerate/stand them.
Malgré la fatigue extrême et les conditions climatiques difficiles, l'alpiniste a réussi à ___ l'ascension finale sans flancher.
At a B2 level, it is vital to distinguish between 'supporter' (to endure/tolerate) and 'soutenir' (to support/advocate). Here, the climber is enduring physical hardship.
Dans un environnement professionnel toxique, de nombreux employés ne parviennent plus à ___ le manque de reconnaissance de leur hiérarchie.
'Supporter' is the standard verb for 'putting up with' or 'tolerating' a difficult emotional or professional situation.
Les fondations de ce bâtiment historique sont trop fragiles pour ___ le poids d'un nouvel étage supplémentaire.
While 'soutenir' can be used for structural support, 'supporter' specifically refers to the capacity of a structure to bear a specific load or weight without breaking.
Si vous voulez dire 'I support this political candidate' en français, vous devriez utiliser la phrase : 'Je supporte ce candidat politique'.
This is a common 'faux ami'. To support a candidate or a cause, you must use 'soutenir'. 'Supporter' would imply you are barely tolerating them.
Le verbe 'supporter' peut être utilisé pour exprimer une intolérance biologique, par exemple : 'Mon corps ne supporte plus le lactose'.
Correct. In a medical or biological context, 'supporter' means to tolerate a substance or a treatment.
Dans le contexte du sport, 'supporter une équipe' est un anglicisme accepté qui signifie être fan de cette équipe.
Although 'soutenir' is also used, 'supporter' (and the noun 'supporter') is widely used and accepted in French to describe rooting for a sports team.
A professional context expressing a limit to endurance.
Engineering context regarding structural resistance.
Expressing an inability to tolerate a specific social behavior.
Read this aloud:
Comment fais-tu pour supporter son tempérament colérique sans jamais t'énerver ?
Focus: The nasal 'en' in 'tempérament' and the 'u' in 'supporter'.
你说的：
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Read this aloud:
Il est inadmissible de devoir supporter un tel harcèlement dans un cadre professionnel.
Focus: The liaison in 'est inadmissible' and the 'h' muet in 'harcèlement'.
你说的：
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Read this aloud:
Supporteras-tu les conséquences de tes actes si le projet finit par échouer ?
Focus: Future tense ending '-as' and the 'qu' sound in 'conséquences'.
你说的：
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Dans un contexte professionnel de haute pression, quelle phrase illustre le mieux l'usage du verbe 'supporter' au niveau C1 ?
At C1, 'supporter' is used to describe enduring a heavy burden or a difficult situation. Option B should use 'aider', option C should use 'soutenir' (to advocate), and option D is an anglicism (should be 'soutenir').
Choisissez le synonyme le plus approprié pour 'supporter' dans cette phrase : 'L'infrastructure ne pourra pas supporter une telle augmentation de trafic.'
In technical or structural contexts, 'supporter' means to withstand or endure physical stress. 'Endurer' is the closest synonym among the choices.
Complétez la phrase avec la forme correcte : 'Je ne ___ pas qu'il y ait autant d'inégalités au sein de notre institution.'
To express an inability to tolerate a situation (especially followed by a subjunctive clause), 'supporter' is the correct verb.
Dans l'expression 'supporter les conséquences', le verbe signifie que l'on apporte une aide financière pour compenser les dégâts.
No, 'supporter les conséquences' means to bear or suffer the consequences of an action, not to provide financial support.
L'usage de 'supporter' pour dire que l'on est fan d'un club de sport est considéré comme un calque de l'anglais à éviter dans un registre soutenu.
Correct. In formal French, 'soutenir une équipe' is preferred. Using 'supporter' for sports is a common anglicism (though 'un supporter' is a noun used for a fan).
Le verbe 'supporter' peut être suivi du subjonctif lorsqu'il exprime une impatience ou une intolérance subjective.
Yes, 'Je ne supporte pas qu'il fasse cela' (I can't stand him doing that) requires the subjunctive because it expresses a strong feeling/judgment regarding an action.
In this C1 context, 'supporter' means to endure or tolerate. The sentence structure follows the standard negation 'ne... plus' around the modal verb 'peux'.
Here, 'supporter' is used in a technical/architectural sense meaning 'to bear' or 'to hold up' a physical weight.
This figurative use of 'supporter' means to deal with or bear the brunt of outcomes resulting from one's behavior.
Dans un contexte de haute voltige diplomatique, si un ambassadeur affirme ne plus pouvoir 'supporter' les outrages de son homologue, quel est le sens exact de son propos ?
At a C2 level, 'supporter' implies the psychological or emotional endurance of a burden or an annoying situation, similar to 'to bear' or 'to stand' in English.
Identifiez la nuance précise du verbe dans cette sentence : 'L'infrastructure séculaire ne semble plus en mesure de supporter la charge pondérale du nouveau revêtement.'
In architectural or physical contexts, 'supporter' means to bear the weight or pressure of a physical object.
Traduisez la pensée suivante en respectant le registre soutenu : 'It is difficult to bear the weight of one's past mistakes.'
'Supporter le poids de' is a common metaphorical use in French to describe enduring the consequences or the guilt of past actions.
L'usage du verbe 'supporter' est considéré comme un anglicisme incorrect lorsqu'il est employé pour signifier 'apporter un soutien financier' (ex: Je supporte cette association par des dons).
In French, to provide financial or moral support, the verb 'soutenir' is correct. 'Supporter' focuses on enduring or bearing a load/nuisance.
Dans la phrase 'Il supporte stoïquement les critiques acerbes de la presse', le verbe exprime une passivité totale sans aucune forme de résistance mentale.
'Supporter' in this context implies an active effort to endure or withstand something negative, often requiring strength of character.
Le terme 'supporter' (nom) pour désigner un fan de sport vient de la même racine, mais le verbe 'supporter' ne signifie pas 'encourager' dans un contexte général (ex: on ne dit pas 'Je supporte cette idée' pour dire 'I support this idea').
While 'un supporter' is a fan, the verb 'supporter' is a 'faux-ami' (false friend) for 'to support an idea/candidate'; 'soutenir' or 'adhérer à' should be used instead.
Rédigez un paragraphe analysant les conséquences psychologiques pour un individu contraint de supporter un climat d'oppression systémique au sein d'une organisation.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Supporter une oppression constante exige une abnégation qui peut mener à l'épuisement, mettant à rude épreuve la résilience de l'individu face à une pression psychologique insoutenable.
Expliquez la nuance sémantique entre 'supporter' et 'tolérer' dans le contexte d'une cohabitation difficile, en utilisant un registre soutenu.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Tandis que tolérer suggère une acceptation passive, supporter implique souvent la gestion d'un fardeau émotionnel plus lourd, connotant une résistance physique ou morale face à l'adversité.
Décrivez une situation historique où un dirigeant a dû supporter le poids de responsabilités monumentales lors d'une crise diplomatique majeure.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Face à la gravité de la crise, le ministre a dû supporter le fardeau des décisions stratégiques, restant inébranlable malgré les critiques acerbes de l'opinion publique.
Dans ce texte technique, quel est le sens précis du verbe 'supporter' ?
Read this passage:
L'architecture gothique repose sur une gestion révolutionnaire des forces : les arcs-boutants sont conçus pour supporter la poussée latérale des voûtes. Sans cette redistribution des charges, les murs massifs n'auraient jamais pu céder la place à l'immatérialité des vitraux. C'est une victoire de l'ingénierie sur la pesanteur.
Dans ce texte technique, quel est le sens précis du verbe 'supporter' ?
Au sens technique et architectural, 'supporter' signifie porter un poids ou résister à une force physique.
Au sens technique et architectural, 'supporter' signifie porter un poids ou résister à une force physique.
Quelle est l'attitude du protagoniste vis-à-vis de la réalité selon le passage ?
Read this passage:
Le protagoniste proustien semble incapable de supporter la vulgarité du monde réel, se réfugiant dans les méandres de sa mémoire involontaire. Pour lui, la réalité est une agression sensorielle que seule l'esthétisation permet de rendre endurable. Le verbe supporter prend ici une dimension quasi métaphysique.
Quelle est l'attitude du protagoniste vis-à-vis de la réalité selon le passage ?
Le texte indique que la réalité est une 'agression' qu'il ne peut 'supporter', soulignant une incapacité à tolérer l'existence brute.
Le texte indique que la réalité est une 'agression' qu'il ne peut 'supporter', soulignant une incapacité à tolérer l'existence brute.
Quel risque est associé au fait de 'supporter' les conditions du traité ?
Read this passage:
Le traité de paix, bien que nécessaire, imposait des conditions que l'économie nationale ne pouvait plus supporter. La pression fiscale accrue risquait de briser le contrat social déjà fragile. Les analystes craignaient qu'en voulant trop en supporter, la structure même de l'État ne finisse par s'étioler.
Quel risque est associé au fait de 'supporter' les conditions du traité ?
Le texte suggère que la charge imposée par le traité dépasse la capacité de résistance de l'économie et de l'État.
Le texte suggère que la charge imposée par le traité dépasse la capacité de résistance de l'économie et de l'État.
/ 66 correct
Perfect score!
False friend alert
The biggest mistake is using this to mean emotional or financial support. In those cases, use the French verb soutenir instead.
Physical weight
Use this verb when talking about a structure that holds or bears a heavy load, like a pillar or a shelf.
Annoying people
When you cannot stand someone's personality or behavior, use supporter. Example: 'Je ne peux plus le supporter' (I can't stand him anymore).
Sports teams
This is the one exception where it means support. If you follow a football team, you are a supporter and you support them.
例句
In context, `supporter` expresses: to tolerate, to support.
相关内容
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这个词在其他语言中
更多false_friends词汇
acheter
A2Primary meaning: to buy.
actuel
A2Primary meaning: current, present.
actuellement
A2Primary meaning: currently, nowadays.
affaire
A2Primary meaning: business, matter, deal.
ancien
A2Primary meaning: former, old.
annoyer
A2Primary meaning: to annoy.
assister
A2Primary meaning: to attend.
attendre
A2Primary meaning: to wait.
audience
A2Primary meaning: hearing, formal meeting.
avertir
A2Primary meaning: to warn, notify.
