Comedescribing movement
We usually usecometo talk about movement from the listener to the speaker or from the speaker to the listener.
Movement from listener to speaker
Can youcometo my office? I need to show you something.
Movement from speaker to listener
Shall Icometo your place at 8 pm?
We also usecometo talk about movement from another place to the place where the speaker or listener is:
Rosie is going tocometo you on Friday if that’s okay.(a third person moves to the listener)
A mancameto my door last night selling pictures.(another person moved to the speaker)
Comeis also used with the meaning of ‘accompanying the speaker or listener to a place’:
Are youcomingwith us to the beach this afternoon?
A:I’m going for some lunch. Are youcoming?
B:Yeah, why not.
Comemeaning ‘arrive’
We can usecometo mean ‘arrive’:
Has the postcomeyet?
Flaviocameabout an hour ago but Tom isn’t here yet.
Comeorcome to?
When we talk about an event which happens because someone comes to a particular place, we usecome and:
Would you like tocome andhave dinner with us one day next week?
When we simply express someone’s intention or purpose in coming to a place, we usecome to:
Hecame toapologise, but she wouldn’t speak to him.(it was his intention to apologise)
Common informal spoken expressions withcome
How come?is used informally to mean ‘why’:
A:Howabout 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:
Comeorgo?
Go