Mastering Two Useful Expressions with the Verb Venir (to come)

Bonjour tout le monde!

In this new – and easy to follow – lesson, I will talk about the verb venir (to come) and how to use it to effectively in various contexts. For example, you can use venir to indicate an origin and you can also use it to talk about actions you have just completed. But before we start digging deeper, we should take a look at the verb itself and how it is conjugated.

Venir

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

If you don’t know how to spell this audio conjugation, click here.

Now let’s learn 2 very useful French expressions with the verb VENIR:

1- TALKING ABOUT A PLACE OF ORIGIN

For example, you can use venir de (to come from) to talk about somebody’s place of origin:

-          “Mr. Smith vient des Etats-Unis.” (Mr. Smith comes from the United States).

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

-          “Abou vient du Sénégal.” (Abou comes from Senegal)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

-          “Andrea Bocelli vient d’Italie.” (Andrea Bocelli comes from Italy)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

-          “D’où viens-tu?” (Where do you come from? or Where are you from?)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.


2- TALKING ABOUT WHAT YOU’VE JUST DONE

Venir can also be used to talk about actions you have just completed. Just like the examples listed above, we will use venir de, BUT this time, it is followed by a verb in the infinitive form. Follow these simple examples and you will be able to describe the actions you’ve just accomplished in French:

[Important: Here, the verb venir can only be conjugated in the simple present tense]

-          “Je viens de rencontrer Bob dans un café.” (I’ve just met Bob at a coffee shop.).

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

-          “Nous venons de voir un grand film.” (We have just watched a great movie.)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

-          Viens-tu de m’appeler?” (Have you just called me?)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

-          “Marie et Anne viennent de partir.” (Mary and Anne just left.)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

-          “Vient-il de pleuvoir?” (Has it just rained?)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

You see, this is not that difficult, is it? :-) Just make sure to learn how to conjugate the venir in the simple present tense and follow the different examples mentioned here.

You will find all the audio files for these examples at http://frenchtasticpeople.com. Make sure to contact me if you ever run into problems. Merci et à bientôt!

Herman

6 comments to Mastering Two Useful Expressions with the Verb Venir (to come)

You must be logged in to post a comment.