Question 1

Why is the verb spelled viens here?

Accepted Answer

viens is the present tense form of venir (to come) for je (I). Because venir is an irregular verb, it does not follow the normal conjugation rules and has to be memorized. Interestingly, the informal you form is spelled the exact same way: tu viens.

Question 2

I always mix up viens and vais. How can I tell them apart here?

Accepted Answer

It is a very common mix-up! Je viens means I come (from the verb venir). Je vais means I am going (from the verb aller). Notice how viens pairs with de (from) to show your origin, and vais pairs with à (to) to show your destination.

Question 3

Why do we say de Paris and à Rome without adding a word for the before the cities?

Accepted Answer

In French, you usually do not use definite articles like le or la (the) before city names. You just put the preposition directly in front of the city: de + Paris, and à + Rome.

Question 4

Do I pronounce the s at the end of viens and vais?

Accepted Answer

No, the final s is completely silent in both of these verbs. In French, a consonant at the very end of a word is usually not pronounced unless it connects to a vowel in the next word.

Je viens de Paris et je vais à Rome.

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