Couvrir is the more basic verb meaning to cover. It's used when something is completely covered, without necessarily implying any particular action or purpose.
Examples:
* Couvrir une table: To cover a table (with a tablecloth).
* Couvrir un livre: To cover a book.
* Le ciel est couvert de nuages: The sky is covered with clouds.
Recouvrir, on the other hand, implies covering something that is already partially or completely covered. It suggests an action of replacing or adding another layer of covering.
Examples:
* Recouvrir le sol d'une bâche: To cover the ground with a tarp.
* Recouvrir la blessure d'un pansement: To cover the wound with a bandage.
* Recouvrir la peinture sèche d'une nouvelle couche: To cover the dry paint with a new layer.
In short:
* Couvrir is used for a simple action of covering something.
* Recouvrir is used when you are covering something that is already covered, or when you are adding another layer of covering.
Here's a simple way to remember the difference:
* Couvrir is like putting a blanket on a bed for the first time.
* Recouvrir is like adding another blanket on top of the first one.
Remember that context is key. You should consider the situation and the meaning you want to convey to choose the appropriate verb.