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Come

Come describing movement​

We usually use come to talk about movement from the listener to the speaker or from the speaker to the listener.

Movement from listener to speaker

  • Can you come to my office? I need to show you something.

Movement from speaker to listener

  • Shall I come to your place at 8 pm?

We also use come to talk about movement from another place to the place where the speaker or listener is:

  • Rosie is going to come to you on Friday if that’s okay. (a third person moves to the listener)
  • A man came to my door last night selling pictures. (another person moved to the speaker)

Come is also used with the meaning of ‘accompanying the speaker or listener to a place’:

  • Are you coming with us to the beach this afternoon?
  • A: I’m going for some lunch. Are you coming?
  • B: Yeah, why not.

Come meaning ‘arrive’​

We can use come to mean ‘arrive’:

  • Has the post come yet?
  • Flavio came about an hour ago but Tom isn’t here yet.

Come or come to?​

When we talk about an event which happens because someone comes to a particular place, we use come and:

  • Would you like to come and have dinner with us one day next week?

When we simply express someone’s intention or purpose in coming to a place, we use come to:

  • He came to apologise, but she wouldn’t speak to him. (it was his intention to apologise)

Common informal spoken expressions with come​

Spoken English:

How come? is used informally to mean ‘why’:

  • A: How about lunch at 1 pm?
  • B: Not today, I’m afraid.
  • A: How come?
  • B: I’ve got a big meeting this afternoon and I need to prepare for it.
See also
  • Come or go?
  • Go