Inclure vs. comprendre
The French words 'inclure' and 'comprendre' can both be translated as 'to include' or 'to contain' in English, but they are used in different contexts. Here we will explore the nuances in meaning and usage of these two verbs with illustrative examples.
Inclure
Inclure is a verb that conveys the act of including something as part of a larger whole or group. It is often used to imply that an item is being added to a set or collection.
La nouvelle édition inclut des chapitres supplémentaires.
(The new edition includes additional chapters.)
Il faut inclure les frais de livraison dans le total de la facture.
(Delivery charges should be included in the total invoice amount.)
Nous avons décidé d'inclure quelques nouvelles rubriques dans notre magazine.
(We have decided to include some new sections in our magazine.)
Comprendre
Comprendre indicates that something is comprised or made up of various elements. It's often used to describe what a set or group already contains without suggestive adding more to it.
Le prix comprend la TVA et le service.
(The price includes VAT and service.)
Cette collection comprend des œuvres de plusieurs artistes célèbres.
(This collection comprises works from several famous artists.)
Le cours de biologie comprend une partie théorique et une partie pratique.
(The biology course includes a theoretical part and a practical part.)
Summary
In summary, 'inclure' suggests the addition of elements into a group, whereas 'comprendre' denotes elements that are already part of a group. Both verbs imply inclusion but differ based on the context of whether the inclusion is an action taking place ('inclure') or a state of being ('comprendre').