Mar
5
Coming and going
Imagine your best friend has invited you to dinner. Here’s how the conversation would go in Spanish:
Tu amigo: ¿Dónde estás? ¿No vienes a cenar esta noche?
Tú: Claro que sí. Ya voy.
Now the same conversation in English:
Where are you? Aren’t you coming to dinner tonight?
Of course, I’m coming. (I’m on my way.)
Notice anything in particular about the two versions? In the Spanish version, two different verbs are used (venir/ir), while in English both you and your friend use the same verb “to come.” Turns out that in Spanish grammar there is a pretty rigid rule on when you can use venir (to come) and ir (to go) in the context of comings and goings. Here it is:
IR : to go to another place (there)
VENIR : come to where the speaker is (here)
Tú: Voy a tu oficina mañana. (I’m coming/going to your office tomorrow.)
Tu amigo: Ven a mi oficina a las 9 de la mañana. (Come to my office at 9 a.m.)
March 13th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
gracias por esta explicacion. Siempre me cuesta la diferencia y siempre he cometido erores.
March 16th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
De nada, Patty.
May 11th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
How about “I’ll be coming here tomorrow”?
May 12th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Hi Allen,
Depends on your perspective. If you’re in the place that you’re referring to, you would use “venir.” If you’re referring to a place that you’re not in, then use “ir.”
For example, let’s say you’re eating dinner at a great restaurant. You’re really enjoying the meal, so you say to your dining companion, “Vengo aquí mañana” or “Voy a venir aquí mañana.” (I’ll be coming here tomorrow.)
When you get home and start thinking again about what a great meal you had and you decide that you will eat there again the next day. Then you would use “ir” and say, “Voy a ir allí mañana.”
May 12th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Great explanation. Thanks