garder/ɡaʁ.de/
verb · A2 · Frequency 310
verb
Meanings
to keep; to retain; to store; to save
Refers to keeping something or saving information.
to guard; to watch over
Refers to protecting a place or person from intrusion or harm.
to be careful; to watch out (for doing something)
Used to advise caution or carefulness about something.
Examples
Je préfère garder ce reçu jusqu'à la fin du mois.
I prefer to keep this receipt until the end of the month.
Deux agents doivent garder l'entrée pendant la cérémonie.
Two officers must guard the entrance during the ceremony.
Il faut garder les mains libres pour porter les cartons.
You need to keep your hands free to carry the boxes.
Collocations
- garder un secretto keep a secret
- garder une porteto guard a door
Common mistakes
Les enfants que j'ai gardé hier sont rentrés.
Les enfants que j'ai gardés hier sont rentrés.
Here, the direct object of garder, les enfants, precedes the past participle, so the past participle agrees in gender and number: gardés.
Related words
synonymconserverto keep (in a particular place)
Grammar note
Garder is a transitive verb typically taking a direct object; as an essential pronominal verb, it must be used with a reflexive pronoun.
verb
Meanings
to keep; to retain; to store; to save
Refers to keeping something or saving information.
to guard; to watch over
Refers to protecting a place or person from intrusion or harm.
to be careful; to watch out (for doing something)
Used to advise caution or carefulness about something.
Examples
Gardant les factures dans un dossier séparé, elle a retrouvé rapidement le justificatif demandé.
Keeping the invoices in a separate folder, she quickly found the requested receipt.
Gardant l'entrée du bâtiment, le concierge vérifie l'identité de chaque visiteur.
Guarding the building entrance, the concierge checks every visitor's identity.
Gardant une distance suffisante avec le véhicule devant lui, le conducteur évite un freinage brusque.
Keeping a sufficient distance from the vehicle in front of him, the driver avoids sudden braking.
Grammar note
Garder is a transitive verb typically taking a direct object; as an essential pronominal verb, it must be used with a reflexive pronoun.
verb
Meanings
to keep; to retain; to store; to save
Refers to keeping something or saving information.
to guard; to watch over
Refers to protecting a place or person from intrusion or harm.
to be careful; to watch out (for doing something)
Used to advise caution or carefulness about something.
Examples
J'ai gardé les reçus dans un dossier séparé.
I kept the receipts in a separate folder.
Elle a gardé une copie du contrat pour ses archives.
She kept a copy of the contract for her records.
Le chien a gardé la maison pendant notre absence.
The dog guarded the house while we were away.
Grammar note
Garder is a transitive verb typically taking a direct object; as an essential pronominal verb, it must be used with a reflexive pronoun.
verb
Meanings
to keep; to retain; to store; to save
Refers to keeping something or saving information.
to guard; to watch over
Refers to protecting a place or person from intrusion or harm.
to be careful; to watch out (for doing something)
Used to advise caution or carefulness about something.
Examples
Je garde les reçus dans une enveloppe jusqu'à la fin du mois.
I keep the receipts in an envelope until the end of the month.
Chaque soir, le concierge garde l'entrée de l'immeuble pendant une heure.
Every evening, the caretaker guards the building entrance for an hour.
Garde tes mains loin de la machine pendant qu'elle fonctionne.
Keep your hands away from the machine while it is running.
Grammar note
Garder is a transitive verb typically taking a direct object; as an essential pronominal verb, it must be used with a reflexive pronoun.
verb
Meanings
to keep; to retain; to store; to save
Refers to keeping something or saving information.
to guard; to watch over
Refers to protecting a place or person from intrusion or harm.
to be careful; to watch out (for doing something)
Used to advise caution or carefulness about something.
Examples
Tu gardes le reçu au cas où le magasin accepterait un retour.
You keep the receipt in case the store accepts a return.
Tu gardes les photos dans un dossier séparé.
You keep the photos in a separate folder.
Tu gardes l'entrée pendant que je vais chercher le responsable.
You guard the entrance while I go to find the manager.
Grammar note
Garder is a transitive verb typically taking a direct object; as an essential pronominal verb, it must be used with a reflexive pronoun.