Both “come” and “go” describe movement from one place to another place.
Example:
I’m coming to the shop.
I’m going to the shop.
Both of these sentences are grammatically correct but their use and meaning is slightly different.
Question: When do we use “come” and when do we use “go“?
Answer: It depends on the position of the speaker or hearer.
To understand, let’s look at COME and GO in more detail.
COME
Pronunciation of “come“: /kʌm/
“come” is an irregular verb.
past simple: came
past participle: come
When to use COME
1) For movement towards the speaker.
Jane (speaker) is in a shop. Mark is at home. Jane calls Mark.
Jane: “Please come to the shop.”
2) For movement towards the hearer.
Mark: “Ok, I’m coming to the shop.”
GO
Pronunciation of “go“: /ɡəʊ/
“go” is also an irregular verb.
Past simple: went
Past participle: gone
When to use GO
1) For movement not towards the speaker.
Example:
Jane and Mark are both at home. Jane (speaker) is talking to Mark.
Jane: “Please go to the shop and buy some bread.”
2) For movement not towards the hearer.
Mark: “Ok, I’m going to the shop.”
come – Example 2
Reminder: We use COME for movement towards the speaker.
Jane is in the living room. Mark (speaker) is in the kitchen. He needs help.
Mark: Please come to the kitchen. I need your help.
Mark: Please go to the kitchen. I need your help.
Reminder: We also use “come” for movement towards the hearer.
Jane: Ok, don’t panic! I’m coming.
Jane: Ok, don’t panic! I’m going.
come – Example 3
Reminder: We use “come” for movement towards the speaker.
Mark is at home. The manager (speaker) is at the office. He calls Mark.
![man making phone call](https://www.crownacademyenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/man-phone2-300x200.jpg)
Manager: Where are you?
Mark: I’m at home.
Manager: Please come to the office immediately.
Manager: Please go to the office immediately.
Reminder: We also use “come” for movement towards the hearer.
Mark: Ok. I’m coming. I’ll be there in 10 minutes.
Mark: Ok. I’m going. I’ll be there in 10 minutes.
![man running](https://www.crownacademyenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/man-running-300x200.jpg)
go – Example 2
Reminder: We use “go” for movement not towards the speaker.
Jane and Mark are in the living room watching television. There is an open window in the kitchen. Jane is the speaker.
![open window](https://www.crownacademyenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/window-open.jpg)
Jane: Please go to the kitchen and close the window.
Jane: Please come to the kitchen and close the window.
Reminder: We use “go” for movement NOT towards the hearer.
Mark: Ok, I’m going!
Mark: Ok, I’m coming!
go – Example 3
Reminder: We use “go” for movement not towards the speaker.
Mark and the manager (speaker) are at the office.
Manager: Please go to the airport immediately.
Manager: Please come to the airport immediately.
![plane taking off](https://www.crownacademyenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/plane-take-off-300x200.jpg)
Reminder: We use “go” for movement not towards the hearer.
Mark: Ok. I’m going.
Mark: Ok. I’m coming.
Come and go in the past
If the movement is happening in the past:
- The position of the speaker and hearer in the past is important.
- The position of the speaker and hearer in the present is not important.
Reminder: We use “come” for movement towards the speaker in the past.
Yesterday (past), Jane had a party at her house.
Today (present), Jane (speaker) and Sarah are talking at the office.
![party](https://www.crownacademyenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/teenagers-party-300x200.jpg)
Jane: 50 people came to my party yesterday!
(The movement was towards the speaker in the past.)
Jane: 50 people went to my party yesterday!
Reminder: We use “come” for movement towards the hearer in the past.
Sarah: It was a great party. I am glad that I came.
(The movement was towards the speaker and hearer in the past.)
Sarah: It was a great party. I am glad that I went.
Come and go in the future
If the movement is in the future:
- The position of the speaker and hearer in the future is important.
- The position of the speaker and hearer in the present is not important.
Reminder: We use “come” for the anticipated movement towards the speaker in the future.
Jane (speaker) and Sarah are talking in an office in Manchester:
Jane: I will be in London next week. Will you come to visit?
(movement towards the speaker in the future.)
Jane: I will be in London next week. Will you go to visit?
![London bus](https://www.crownacademyenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/bus-london-300x168.jpg)
Reminder: We use “come” for the anticipated movement towards the hearer in the future.
Sarah: Yes, I’ll come on Wednesday!
(movement towards the hearer in the future.)
Sarah: Yes, I’ll go on Wednesday!
Come and go in the future – Example 2
Reminder: We use “come” for the anticipated movement towards the speaker in the future.
Jane (speaker) and David are talking in the office.
Jane: I’m having a party at home tomorrow. Do you want to come?
(anticipated movement towards the speaker in the future.)
Jane: I’m having a party at home tomorrow. Do you want to go?
Reminder: We use “go” for the anticipated movement not towards the hearer in the future.
David: No, sorry, I’m going to a football match tomorrow.
(movement not towards the hearer in the future.)
David: No, sorry, I’m coming to a football match tomorrow.
![football match](https://www.crownacademyenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/football-match.jpg)
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