Italian grammar
Andare o venire? Portare vale per take e bring
Say whether you go, come, take or bring — from whose point of view.
From the scene Vado o vengo? (Am I going or coming?)
In short
Venire is towards the speaker or listener, andare is elsewhere; answer a call with vengo! Portare covers take and bring.
- are you coming to help me? vieni ad aiutarmi?
- coming! (reply to a call) vengo! / arrivo!
- I'll take them up le porto su
- will you bring it to me? me la porti?
- bring me portami
Your turn
Which one goes with coming! (reply to a call)?
Options: le porto su · vengo! / arrivo! · vieni ad aiutarmi?
Show answer
coming! (reply to a call) → vengo! / arrivo!
How it works
Venire means moving towards the speaker or the listener (or where they are): vieni ad aiutarmi? Andare is any other direction.
Good to know
So when someone calls you, Italian answers Vengo! or Arrivo!, never Vado! Portare covers both take and bring: le porto su, me la porti qui?
are you coming to help me? vieni ad aiutarmi?
Tomás
Javi, vieni ad aiutarmi con questa?
Javi, are you coming to help me with this one?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Javi, (blank) con questa?
Options: le porto su · vieni ad aiutarmi · arrivo
Show answer
Tomás
Javi, vieni ad aiutarmi con questa?
Javi, are you coming to help me with this one?
coming! (reply to a call) vengo! / arrivo!
Javi
Vengo, Tomás! Un momento.
Coming, Tomás! Just a moment.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), Tomás! Un momento.
Options: Le porto su · Vengo · Vieni ad aiutarmi
Show answer
Javi
Vengo, Tomás! Un momento.
Coming, Tomás! Just a moment.
I'll take them up le porto su
Javi
Mi scusi, Don Ramón. Le porto su subito.
Sorry, Don Ramón. I'm taking them up right now.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Mi scusi, Don Ramón. (blank) subito.
Options: Vieni ad aiutarmi · Arrivo · Le porto su
Show answer
Javi
Mi scusi, Don Ramón. Le porto su subito.
Sorry, Don Ramón. I'm taking them up right now.
will you bring it to me? me la porti?
Ramón
E la scatola di mia madre, me la porti qui?
And my mother's box, will you bring it here to me?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
E la scatola di mia madre, (blank) qui?
Options: vieni ad aiutarmi · arrivo · me la porti
Show answer
Ramón
E la scatola di mia madre, me la porti qui?
And my mother's box, will you bring it here to me?
bring me portami
Common mistake
Not Vado or Porto here. Reply to being called.
Vengo, Tomás! Un momento.
Coming, Tomás! Just a moment.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| are you coming to help me? | vieni ad aiutarmi? |
|---|---|
| coming! (reply to a call) | vengo! / arrivo! |
| I'll take them up | le porto su |
| will you bring it to me? | me la porti? |
| bring me | portami |
More lines from the story
- RamónIo? Io non porto caffè. Io riscuoto l'affitto.Me? I don't bring coffees. I collect the rent.
- RamónQueste scatole bloccano l'entrata!These boxes are blocking the entrance!