français · A2 · verb · 4 minutes
Venir: present tense
Use a two-stem irregular verb for origins, arrivals, and recent actions.
Understand the choice
Venir connects movement toward a reference point with several high-value constructions. Venir de gives origin, venir + infinitive can describe purpose in context, and venir de + infinitive expresses the recent past.
Core rule: Venir uses vien- in singular, ven- in nous and vous, and vienn- in third-person plural.
Notice it in context
Tu viens avec nous ou tu viens plus tard ?
Are you coming with us, or are you coming later?
Both repeated tu forms use viens; avec and plus tard distinguish company from timing.
Nous venons de Belgique.
We come from Belgium.
Venons uses the ven- stem; de introduces geographic origin.
Elle vient de finir son travail.
She has just finished her work.
Vient de + infinitive forms the recent past, not physical movement.
What to remember
- Before a country, origin may contract: du Canada, des Pays-Bas, but de France.
- The spelling viennent has -nn-, although the final -ent is silent.
Common trap: Do not translate every viens de as “come from.” When another infinitive follows, it usually means “have just done.”