Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn the key differences between the Spanish verbs ir/irse, venir/venirse, and llevar/llevarse. This lesson explains how reflexive forms add emphasis or intention to movement and transport actions, with practical examples and useful phrases for everyday situations.
Verbo (Verb)Significado (Meaning)Ejemplo (Example)
IrMovimiento hacia un lugar (Movement towards a place)Voy al trabajo. (I am going to work.)
IrseSalir de un lugar (énfasis) (To leave a place (emphasis))Me voy de la empresa. (I am leaving the company.)
VenirLlegar (To arrive)¿Vienes a la gestoría? (Are you coming to the gestoría?)
VenirseLlegar con fuerza o decisión (To arrive with strength or determination)Se viene con nosotros. (He is coming with us.)
LlevarTransportar algo a otro lugar (To transport something to another place)Llevo mi maletín al trabajo. (I take my briefcase to work.)
LlevarseTomar algo consigo (Take something with oneself)Se lleva el ordenador a casa. (He takes the computer home.)

 

Exercise 1: Diferencia entre ir/irse, venir/venirse, llevar/llevarse

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

llevamos, me voy, se fueron, voy, vienes, se llevan, Se viene, viene

1. Llegar:
: Mi hermana ... a visitarme el fin de semana.
(My sister is coming to visit me at the weekend.)
2. Salir de un lugar (énfasis):
: Hoy ... temprano.
(Today I am leaving early.)
3. Llegar:
: ¿Tú ... también a clase?
(Are you coming to class too?)
4. Llegar con fuerza o decisión:
: ¡... la idea!
(The idea is coming!)
5. Tomar algo consigo:
: Ellos ... todos los papeles.
(They take all the papers with them.)
6. Salir de un lugar (énfasis):
: Los alumnos ... sin despedirse.
(The students left without saying goodbye.)
7. Transportar algo a otro lugar:
: Nosotros ... comida al evento.
(We are taking food to the event.)
8. Movimiento hacia un lugar:
: Yo ... al trabajo en bicicleta.
(I go to work by bike.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence in each block to practice the difference between ir/irse, venir/venirse, and llevar/llevarse in work and daily life contexts.

1.
'Ir' without pronoun does not express the action of leaving with the required reflexive intention here.
The form 'voyse' does not exist; the correct reflexive form is 'me voy'.
2.
'Llevarse' implies taking something for oneself; here, the invoices are just transported, not taken for oneself.
The position of the pronoun is incorrect; 'me' should not come before 'las'.
3.
'Veines' is an incorrect form; the correct form is 'vienes'.
'Venirse' is not used here without emphasis, and the pronoun is misplaced.
4.
The construction 'me viene' makes no sense in this context and is incorrect.
Although grammatically correct, it lacks the personal emphasis that 'venirse' adds in this context.

Understanding the Difference Between Ir/Irse, Venir/Venirse, and Llevar/Llevarse

This lesson focuses on an essential aspect of Spanish verbs that express movement and transportation: ir, venir, and llevar, as well as their reflexive forms irse, venirse, and llevarse. These verbs are often confused by learners because their meanings are related but carry different nuances depending on their reflexive usage.

Core Meanings

  • Ir means going towards a place, e.g., Voy al trabajo (I go to work).
  • Irse emphasizes leaving a place, e.g., Me voy de la empresa (I am leaving the company).
  • Venir refers to arriving, e.g., ¿Vienes a la gestoría? (Are you coming to the office?).
  • Venirse expresses arriving with force or intention, e.g., Se viene con nosotros (He is coming with us, strongly/decidedly).
  • Llevar means to carry or transport something, e.g., Llevo mi maletín al trabajo (I carry my briefcase to work).
  • Llevarse means to take something with oneself, implying personal gain or possession, e.g., Se lleva el ordenador a casa (He takes the computer home with him).

Important Highlights

The reflexive forms add subtle meanings that enhance how actions are perceived. While ir, venir, and llevar focus on movement and transportation itself, irse, venirse, and llevarse suggest personal involvement, intention, or emphasis. Recognizing these distinctions will greatly improve your conversational accuracy and comprehension.

Grammar and Usage Differences Compared to English

Unlike English, where verbs for movement and transport do not change in form based on intention or emphasis, Spanish uses these reflexive variations to indicate subtle differences. For example, "irse" stresses the act of leaving oneself from a place, which English typically conveys with adverbs or additional phrases (e.g., "I'm leaving now" vs. just "I go"). Similarly, "llevarse" implies taking something away personally, which can require context in English to express clearly.

Useful Phrases and Word Equivalents

  • Me voy — I am leaving.
  • Vienes a la reunión — You are coming to the meeting.
  • Se lleva los documentos — He takes the documents with him.
  • Voy al centro — I go to downtown.
  • Se viene con nosotros — He is coming along with us (with emphasis).

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Anja Radovanovic

Language sciences

Ca' Foscari University of Venice

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Last Updated:

Tuesday, 15/07/2025 10:05