Venir, tenir and family: -iens / -ienn- in the present
-IR verbs — Multiple Stems (The Venir / Tenir Model)
Some third-group verbs ending in -ir are among the most irregular in French.
They follow the venir / tenir model, which uses multiple stems in the present tense.
This makes them more complex and requires memorization.
Why These Verbs Are Very Irregular
Unlike other patterns, these verbs do not just modify spelling or shorten a stem.
👉 They use different stems depending on the subject
The Triple-Stem Pattern
In the present tense, these verbs use three distinct stems:
1️⃣ Singular forms (je, tu, il/on/elle)
Add an i to the stem:
- vien-
- tien-
2️⃣ Nous / Vous forms
Use the expected, stable stem:
- ven-
- ten-
3️⃣ Ils / Elles forms
Use a nasal stem ending in -nn-:
- vienn-
- tienn-
Model Verb: VENIR (to come)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | viens |
| tu | viens |
| il / elle / on | vient |
| nous | venons |
| vous | venez |
| ils / elles | viennent |
Model Verb: TENIR (to hold)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| je | tiens |
| tu | tiens |
| il / elle / on | tient |
| nous | tenons |
| vous | tenez |
| ils / elles | tiennent |
Other Common Verbs in This Family
Many frequent verbs follow this same pattern:
- venir → to come
- tenir → to hold
- devenir → to become
- revenir → to come back
- obtenir → to obtain
- retenir → to retain
They all share the same triple-stem structure.
Key Takeaways*
The venir / tenir model uses three different stems.
- These verbs are highly irregular.
- Singular, plural, and ils/elles forms each use different roots.
- Many common verbs belong to this family.
- Learning the stem pattern is more effective than memorizing each form separately.
In the app, you will find interactive exercises and quizzes tailored for this intermediate level.
Practice French conjugation for free in the Croissant Verbs app
Quizzes and spaced repetition for every tense, for free on your phone—plus short grammar guides on our Learn hub.
