monter

ByFast French

The French verb monter is a versatile verb with several meanings, primarily “to climb,” “to go up,” or “to mount.” It can also mean “to assemble,” “to set up,” or “to take up” depending on the context. Additionally, its conjugation in the passé composé varies between être and avoir, which changes its meaning slightly.

Main meanings of monter

1. To climb, to go up (literal and figurative)

This is the most common meaning, referring to physical ascent or progression.

Examples:

  • Il monte l’escalier rapidement. (He climbs the stairs quickly.)
  • Les prix montent chaque année. (Prices go up every year.)
  • Elle monte dans sa chambre. (She goes up to her room.)

2. To mount, to get on (a vehicle or animal)

Used when boarding transportation or riding an animal.

Examples:

  • Nous montons dans le train. (We get on the train.)
  • Il monte à cheval tous les weekends. (He rides a horse every weekend.)

3. To assemble, to set up

When referring to putting something together, such as furniture or machinery.

Examples:

  • Ils montent une étagère. (They are assembling a shelf.)
  • Elle monte un projet ambitieux. (She is setting up an ambitious project.)

4. To take up, to bring up (carrying something upward)

Used when moving something to a higher place.

Examples:

  • Je monte les valises au grenier. (I take the suitcases up to the attic.)
  • Peux-tu monter le dîner ? (Can you bring up dinner?)

Passé composé: être vs avoir

The choice of auxiliary verb (être or avoir) in the passé composé changes the meaning of monter:

With être (intransitive: no direct object)

Used when the subject is moving upward on its own (no object being carried).

Examples:

  • Elle est montée au deuxième étage. (She went up to the second floor.)
  • Nous sommes montés dans le bus. (We got on the bus.)

With avoir (transitive: has a direct object)

Used when the subject is carrying something upward or assembling something.

Examples:

  • J’ai monté les courses à l’appartement. (I took the groceries up to the apartment.)
  • Il a monté son vélo hier. (He assembled his bike yesterday.)

Common expressions with monter

  • Monter la garde (to stand guard)
  • Les soldats montent la garde. (The soldiers stand guard.)
  • Monter sur ses grands chevaux (to get on one’s high horse)
  • Il monte sur ses grands chevaux dès qu’on le critique. (He gets defensive as soon as he’s criticized.)
  • Monter un coup (to set up a scheme)
  • Ils ont monté un coup pour le piéger. (They set up a scheme to trap him.)

Conjugation highlights

Present tense

  • Je monte (I climb)
  • Tu montes (You climb)
  • Il/elle monte (He/she climbs)
  • Nous montons (We climb)
  • Vous montez (You climb)
  • Ils/elles montent (They climb)

Passé composé (with être)

  • Je suis monté(e) (I went up)
  • Tu es monté(e) (You went up)
  • Il est monté (He went up)
  • Elle est montée (She went up)

Passé composé (with avoir)

  • J’ai monté (I took up)
  • Tu as monté (You took up)
  • Il a monté (He assembled)

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • rez-de-chaussée

    ByFast French

    The French term rez-de-chaussée refers to the ground floor of a building—that is, the level at ground height, directly accessible from the street. It corresponds to what Australians (and the British) call the “ground floor.” This differs from American English, where the same level is called the “first floor.” The distinction is essential when booking…

  • present participle

    ByFast French

    The French present participle is a verb form ending in -ant. It is less common in French than in English, but it plays an important role in certain contexts. It can be used as a verb, an adjective, or as part of a clause. It is also used after the preposition en to form what…

  • il faut

    ByFast French

    The French phrase “il faut” translates to “it is necessary.” It is an impersonal expression, meaning that the “il” does not translate as “he,” but rather as “it.” So it means “it is necessary,” not “he is necessary.” In fact, the French verb “falloir,” which is the infinitive that “il faut” comes from, can only…

  • Verb: Entretenir

    ByFast French

    The French verb “entretenir” is derived from the Latin word “intratenere,” which means “to keep up,” “maintain,” or “nourish.” “Entretenir” has a range of meanings. Basic Definition and Conjugation The verb “entretenir” can be translated into English as “to maintain,” “to sustain,” “to keep,” or “to nourish.” It is a regular -ir verb and follows…

  • run on sentences

    ByFast French

    People learning French often notice something strange. Some sentences look wrong, because two complete thoughts sit on either side of a comma. There is no connecting word, no semicolon, no em dash — just a comma separating them. In English, this is called a run on sentence, or a comma splice. It’s regarded as an…

  • nous n’avons que faire

    ByFast French

    The phrase “nous n’avons que faire” is a formal and somewhat literary French expression. Its direct, word-for-word translation is:“We have but to do.” However, this is not what it means in practice. The modern and accurate English translation is: “We have no use for…” or “We care nothing for…” It expresses a strong sense of…