Meaning and Usage
The verb venir means to come in English. It is used to describe the action of moving toward the speaker or the place where the speaker is located. Venir is an important verb in Spanish because it frequently appears in everyday conversation, invitations, and descriptions of movement.
Irregular Verb Characteristics
Venir is an irregular verb, meaning it does not follow the standard conjugation rules of regular -ir verbs. Its stem changes in several tenses and forms, so it is essential to memorize these changes to use it correctly.
Present Tense Conjugation
In the present tense, venir undergoes a stem change from "ven-" to "vien-" in all forms except for nosotros and vosotros. This is typical for many stem-changing verbs in Spanish.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | vengo | I come | Yo vengo a la fiesta. | I come to the party. |
| tú | vienes | you come (informal) | ¿Vienes tú conmigo? | Are you coming with me? |
| él/ella/Ud. | viene | he/she/you come | Ella viene temprano hoy. | She comes early today. |
| nosotros/as | venimos | we come | Nosotros venimos juntos. | We come together. |
| vosotros/as | venís | you all come | Vosotros venís de España. | You all come from Spain. |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | vienen | they/you all come | Ellos vienen en tren. | They come by train. |
Preterite Tense Conjugation
In the preterite tense, venir follows a stem change to "vin-" and uses regular preterite endings for -er/-ir verbs.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | vine | I came | Yo vine temprano ayer. | I came early yesterday. |
| tú | viniste | you came | Tú viniste a la reunión. | You came to the meeting. |
| él/ella/Ud. | vino | he/she/you came | Él vino con su amigo. | He came with his friend. |
| nosotros/as | vinimos | we came | Nosotros vinimos en autobús. | We came by bus. |
| vosotros/as | vinisteis | you all came | Vosotros vinisteis tarde. | You all came late. |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | vinieron | they/you all came | Ellos vinieron de vacaciones. | They came on vacation. |
Imperfect Tense Conjugation
In the imperfect tense, venir follows a regular conjugation pattern for -ir verbs with no stem changes.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | venía | I was coming | Yo venía a la escuela todos los días. | I was coming to school every day. |
| tú | venías | you were coming | Tú venías con frecuencia. | You were coming often. |
| él/ella/Ud. | venía | he/she/you were coming | Ella venía a la oficina temprano. | She was coming to the office early. |
| nosotros/as | veníamos | we were coming | Nosotros veníamos en bicicleta. | We were coming by bike. |
| vosotros/as | veníais | you all were coming | Vosotros veníais a las 5. | You all were coming at 5. |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | venían | they/you all were coming | Ellos venían juntos. | They were coming together. |
Other Common Uses
Besides physical movement, venir is often used in expressions about time and events coming up, like "La fiesta viene pronto" (The party is coming soon). It can also be combined with prepositions to express ideas such as origin or circumstances.
Summary
Venir is an essential irregular verb in Spanish, used to express the idea of coming or approaching. Its stem changes in the present and preterite tenses require special attention. Mastering venir helps in everyday conversations about movement, time, and events.
