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Italian • Level 1 • GRAMMAR

irregular present (2)

💡 Grammar Rule

Italian Grammar: The Verbs Andare and Venire

In Italian, andare (to go) and venire (to come) are fundamental irregular verbs. Understanding them requires learning their specific forms and, more importantly, understanding the perspective of the movement.

1. Present Indicative Conjugation

Both verbs are irregular in the present tense. You must memorize these forms as fixed paradigms:

Andare (To Go)

  • Io vado
  • Tu vai
  • Lui/Lei va
  • Noi andiamo
  • Voi andate
  • Loro vanno

Venire (To Come)

  • Io vengo
  • Tu vieni
  • Lui/Lei viene
  • Noi veniamo
  • Voi venite
  • Loro vengono

2. Usage: Direction and Perspective

The choice between these two verbs depends on where the speaker and the listener are located.

Andare: Movement Away

Use andare to express movement away from the speaker's current location toward a destination where the listener is not present.

  • Domani vado a Milano. (Tomorrow I am going to Milan.)
  • Vado a dormire presto. (I am going to sleep early.)

It is also used for figurative meanings like suitability or obligation:

  • Questo dolce non mi va. (I don't feel like having this dessert / This dessert doesn't appeal to me.)
  • Questo lavoro va fatto subito. (This work must be done immediately.)

Venire: Movement Toward

Use venire to express movement toward the speaker, toward the listener, or to a place where one of them will be.

  • Adele viene qui oggi. (Adele is coming here today.)
  • Vieni con noi? — Sì, vengo! (Are you coming with us? — Yes, I'm coming!)

Note that in Italian, if you are joining someone at their location, you use venire, whereas in English you might say "I'm going there."

3. The "Venire" Pattern in Other Verbs

The verb venire belongs to a group of verbs that share a specific irregular pattern: the insertion of -ng- in the first person singular (io) and third person plural (loro), and a vowel change (e → ie) in the singular forms and third person plural.

Verbs that follow this model include tenere (to hold/keep), rimanere (to remain), and derivatives of venire like intervenire (to intervene) or provenire (to come from).

  • Tenere: Io tengo, tu tieni... loro tengono.
  • Rimanere: Io rimango, tu rimani... loro rimangono.
Where are you going now?
Dove vai adesso?
I’m going to the supermarket.
Vado al supermercato.
Are you coming with us to the movies?
Vieni con noi al cinema?
Yes, I’d love to come!
Sì, vengo volentieri!
Maria and Paolo are going to Italy.
Maria e Paolo vanno in Italia.
That’s great news!
Che bella notizia!
We are coming to your party.
Noi veniamo alla tua festa.
I’ll be waiting for you with pleasure.
Vi aspetto con piacere.
Why are you staying home?
Perché rimani a casa?
Because it’s cold outside.
Perché fuori fa freddo.
I always keep my bag here.
Io tengo sempre la borsa qui.
It’s a safe place.
È un posto sicuro.
Do these pants fit you well?
Questi pantaloni ti vanno bene?
No, they don’t fit me at all.
No, non mi vanno affatto.
The train comes from Naples.
Il treno viene da Napoli.
It’s arriving ten minutes late.
Arriva con dieci minuti di ritardo.
Are you all staying here all day?
Rimanete qui tutto il giorno?
No, we’re going out soon.
No, usciamo tra poco.
This pizza is ten euros.
Questa pizza viene dieci euro.
That’s a good price.
È un buon prezzo.
Will you keep my spot?
Tieni tu il mio posto?
Yes, don’t worry.
Sì, non ti preoccupare.
The students are staying in the classroom.
Gli studenti rimangono in aula.
They have to finish the exam.
Devono finire l’esame.
How are the photos coming out?
Come vengono le foto?
They are coming out very dark.
Vengono molto scure.
I’m going to sleep early tonight.
Vado a dormire presto stasera.
Good idea, you’re tired.
Fai bene, sei stanco.
Why don’t you all come visit us?
Perché non venite a trovarci?
We’re coming next Sunday.
Veniamo domenica prossima.
We keep the books on the table.
Teniamo i libri sul tavolo.
Okay, I’ll read them later.
Va bene, li leggo dopo.
Does Marco go to the gym often?
Marco va spesso in palestra?
Yes, he goes there every day.
Sì, ci va ogni giorno.
I’m staying an extra hour at work.
Rimango un’ora in più al lavoro.
See you later then.
Allora ci vediamo più tardi.
Is that skirt too tight for you?
Quella gonna ti va stretta?
Yes, it’s too small.
Sì, è troppo piccola.
We are staying in the hotel today.
Noi rimaniamo in hotel oggi.
There is a nice pool.
C’è una bella piscina.
Where are we going tonight?
Dove andiamo stasera?
We’re going to the new restaurant.
Andiamo al nuovo ristorante.
Anna always comes on time.
Anna viene sempre puntuale.
She is a very serious person.
È una persona molto seria.
Are you all holding the house keys?
Tenete voi le chiavi di casa?
No, our parents are holding them.
No, le tengono i nostri genitori.
This task must be done immediately.
Questo compito va fatto subito.
I’ll do it now.
Lo faccio adesso.

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