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Spanish grammar lessons › Level A1 › The Spanish present tense and stem-changing verbs

Tener, venir, decir: irregular in two ways

Tengo, vengo, digo: an irregular yo form plus a stem change.

Part of the free A1 Spanish course. Press the speaker next to an example to hear it.

Two irregularities at once

These three everyday verbs combine the two patterns you have just learned: 1. an irregular yo form ending in -go (Irregular yo forms: hago, pongo, salgo, traigo, conozco); 2. a stem change in the other boot forms: e → ie for tener and venir (Stem-changing verbs e → ie (querer, empezar)), e → i for decir (Stem-changing verbs e → i (pedir, repetir)).

Nosotros and vosotros are regular, as always.

Persontener (to have)venir (to come)decir (to say, to tell)
yotengovengodigo
tútienesvienesdices
él / ella / ustedtienevienedice
nosotros / nosotrastenemosvenimosdecimos
vosotros / vosotrastenéisvenísdecís
ellos / ellas / ustedestienenvienendicen

Tener is an -er verb (tenéis), but venir and decir are -ir verbs (venís, decís).

Tener

You met tener for possessions, family and age in Tener: having things, family and age (tengo veinte años). It is also used in many fixed expressions (Tener hambre, sed, frío, calor, prisa, miedo, razón, sueño) and for obligation, tener que (Obligation: tener que, hay que).

  • Tengo dos hermanos.I have two brothers (or a brother and a sister).
  • ¿Tienes tiempo mañana?Do you have time tomorrow?
  • Tenemos un perro y dos gatos.We have a dog and two cats.

Venir

Venir means "to come": movement towards where the speaker is. Venir de = to come from.

  • Vengo de la oficina.I'm coming from the office.
  • ¿Vienes a mi casa esta tarde?Are you coming to my place this afternoon?
  • Mis primos vienen en Navidad.My cousins are coming at Christmas.
  • ¿Venís con nosotros?Are you coming with us?

When you move towards the person you're talking to, Spanish uses ir, not venir. Someone calls you to the table and you answer ¡Ya voy! = I'm coming! (Ya vengo usually means "I'll be right back" or "I'm back", depending on the region.)

Decir

Decir = to say or to tell. Decir que + a sentence reports what someone says.

  • Digo la verdad.I'm telling the truth.
  • ¿Qué dices?What are you saying?
  • Mi madre dice que la cena está lista.My mother says dinner is ready.

Latin America

Same forms everywhere; plural "you" is ustedes tienen, vienen, dicen.

Common mistakes

  • Yo tieno / yo tiene → Yo tengo.
  • Tienemos → Tenemos. Vienimos → Venimos. Nosotros has no change.
  • Yo dico → Yo digo. Dicimos → Decimos.
  • Ya vengo for "I'm coming (to you)" → ¡Ya voy!

Practice

  1. Mi hermana _____ (tener) tres hijos.
    My sister has three children.
    Show the answer

    tiene

  2. ¿Cuántos años _____ (tener) vosotros?
    How old are you?
    Show the answer

    tenéis

  3. Yo _____ a clase en bici.
    I come to class by bike.
    Options: vengo · veno · viengo · viene
    Show the answer

    vengo

  4. ¿_____ (tú, venir) al cine con nosotros?
    Are you coming to the cinema with us?
    Show the answer

    vienes

In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days, until you've answered it correctly on three separate days.
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