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You are here: Home / English lessons / COME or GO – English lesson

COME or GO – English lesson

15th March 2019 by Andrew

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.
man cooking

Mark: Please come to the kitchen. I need your help. correct
Mark: Please go to the kitchen. I need your help. wrong

Reminder: We also use “come” for movement towards the hearer.

Jane: Ok, don’t panic! I’m coming. correct
Jane: Ok, don’t panic! I’m going. wrong

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
by imagerymajestic | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Manager: Where are you?
Mark: I’m at home.
Manager: Please come to the office immediately. correct
Manager: Please go to the office immediately. wrong

Reminder: We also use “come” for movement towards the hearer.

Mark: Ok. I’m coming. I’ll be there in 10 minutes. correct
Mark: Ok. I’m going. I’ll be there in 10 minutes. wrong

man running
by stockimages | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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

Jane: Please go to the kitchen and close the window. correct
Jane: Please come to the kitchen and close the window. wrong

Reminder: We use “go” for movement NOT towards the hearer.

Mark: Ok, I’m going! correct
Mark: Ok, I’m coming! wrong

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. correct
Manager: Please come to the airport immediately. wrong

plane taking off

Reminder: We use “go” for movement not towards the hearer.

Mark: Ok. I’m going. correct
Mark: Ok. I’m coming. wrong

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
by photostock | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Jane: 50 people came to my party yesterday! correct
(The movement was towards the speaker in the past.)
Jane: 50 people went to my party yesterday! wrong

Reminder: We use “come” for movement towards the hearer in the past.

Sarah: It was a great party. I am glad that I came. correct
(The movement was towards the speaker and hearer in the past.)
Sarah: It was a great party. I am glad that I went. wrong

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? correct
(movement towards the speaker in the future.)
Jane: I will be in London next week. Will you go to visit? wrong

London bus

Reminder: We use “come” for the anticipated movement towards the hearer in the future.

Sarah: Yes, I’ll come on Wednesday! correct
(movement towards the hearer in the future.)
Sarah: Yes, I’ll go on Wednesday! wrong

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? correct
(anticipated movement towards the speaker in the future.)
Jane: I’m having a party at home tomorrow. Do you want to go? wrong

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. correct
(movement not towards the hearer in the future.)
David: No, sorry, I’m coming to a football match tomorrow. wrong

football match
by hin255 | FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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