Preterite of vir and ver

Level 2

Vin can mean I came or I saw: Vin en tren (I came by train), Vin a película (I saw the film). In the other persons the two verbs are different.

How It Works

vir (to come): vin, viñeches, veu, viñemos, viñestes, viñeron
ver (to see): vin, viches, viu, vimos, vistes, viron

Telling vin apart: with a means of travel, a starting point or a destination, vin means I came: Vin en autobús, Vin de Ourense. With a direct object, it means I saw: Vin o mar.

veu and viu: the standard keeps these apart. veu means came (vir) and viu means saw (ver). In speech some areas use veu for both, but in writing use viu for saw.

ver follows the -ir pattern: although ver is an -er verb, its preterite looks like that of an -ir verb such as partir: viu like partiu, vimos like partimos.

Everyday use: Galician uses this simple past where English says have you seen: Viches o meu móbil? See using the preterite for completed actions.

Examples (6)

  1. Vin en tren.

    I came by train.

    Word by Word: Came-I in train.

    en tren shows travel, so vin is the past of vir.

  2. Vin a película onte.

    I saw the film yesterday.

    Word by Word: Saw-I the film yesterday.

    A direct object follows, so vin is the past of ver.

  3. Viches o meu móbil?

    Have you seen my phone?

    Word by Word: Saw-you the my phone?

    ver → viches for ti.

  4. Ela veu á festa con Brais.

    She came to the party with Brais.

    Word by Word: She came to-the party with Brais.

    veu is the el/ela form of vir.

  5. Viñeron todos os primos.

    All the cousins came.

    Word by Word: Came all the cousins.

    vir → viñeron, with ñ.

  6. Vimos o mar desde a xanela.

    We saw the sea from the window.

    Word by Word: Saw-we the sea from the window.

    ver → vimos for nós.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Spanish form vino for came.

    Ela vino onte.
    Ela veu onte.

    The Galician el/ela form of vir is veu. In Galician, viño means wine.

  • Using the Spanish eu form vi.

    Vi a película.
    Vin a película.

    The Galician eu form of ver ends in n: vin.

  • Using a form of vir when you mean saw.

    Ti viñeches a película?
    Ti viches a película?

    Viñeches means you came. For you saw, use viches.

How It Connects

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Preterite of vir and verLevel 2

Learn This First

Vir and ver have partly similar preterite forms with different stems and meanings.

Words in This Pattern

vir