Tu viens ?
The English phrase "are you coming?" can be translated into French as Tu viens ?
This phrase is used to ask if someone is joining or accompanying the speaker.
Which one should you use?
While Tu viens ? is a direct way to ask the question, Est-ce que tu viens ? is a more standard, slightly more structured way to ask the same question using the common est-ce que interrogative marker. If you want to ask if someone is going to come in the future, you can use Allez-vous venir? in a formal context or Est-ce que tu vas venir? in an informal context.
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the question into a statement such as "You are coming.", use the same words but change the intonation to a falling tone instead of a rising one. Use Vous venez ? if you are addressing more than one person or if you want to be formal with a single person.
Did you know?
- French speakers often replace the pronoun tu with the sound t' in fast, casual speech, turning Tu viens ? into something that sounds like T'viens ?
- The verb venir is used in the phrase venir de, which creates a 'recent past' tense that English has no single-word equivalent for.
- The pronoun tu in Tu viens ? is a direct linguistic relative of the German 'du' and the Russian 'ты', all tracing back to the same ancient Indo-European root.
Examples in context
- Venez-vous à la fête ce soir?Are you coming to the party tonight?
- Tu viens au cinéma avec nous?Are you coming to the cinema with us?
- Est-ce que tu vas venir à la réunion demain?Are you going to come to the meeting tomorrow?
- On part maintenant, tu viens ?We are leaving now, are you coming?
Example conversation
Hugo is getting ready to leave the house for a walk.
- HugoLéa, je pars au parc, tu viens ?Léa, I am going to the park, are you coming?
- LéaOui, j'arrive tout de suite.Yes, I'm coming right now.
- HugoDépêche-toi, il commence à pleuvoir.Hurry up, it is starting to rain.
- LéaD'accord, je prends mon manteau.Okay, I am taking my coat.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
