comporter

Comporter is a French verb with two main senses. In its transitive use, it means to bear, to carry, to contain, or to entail—often indicating that something includes elements, risks, or consequences. For example, a document can comport several sections, and a decision can comport des risques. It can also express that a thing consists of particular parts, as in the phrase “Le rapport comporte trois chapitres.”

Etymology and related forms: Comporter derives from Old French and ultimately from porter, “to carry,” with the prefix com-. The sense “to entail” or “to involve” developed from the idea of carrying along as a consequence or component. The verb is related to the noun in various languages through the same root.

Usage and conjugation: Comporter is a regular -er verb in its transitive form. Present tense: je comporte, tu comportes, il/elle comporte, nous comportons, vous comportez, ils/elles comportent. Past tense (passé composé) uses avoir: j’ai comporté. The reflexive form se comporter means “to behave.” Present tense: je me comporte, tu te comportes, il se comporte, nous nous comportons, vous vous comportez, ils se comportent. Examples: “Elle se comporte bien en public.” “Ce système se comporte comme prévu.”

Nuances and distinctions: Comporter differs from comprendre (to include in sense of “to include or comprise”) and from inclure (to include explicitly). It is closer to entraîner or impliquer in the sense of “to entail” or “to involve,” especially with risks or consequences. When discussing behavior, use se comporter rather than the non-reflexive form.