How to Use "Go" and "Come"

Many people make awkward choices with the words "go" and "come", because it is not always easy to tell when to use one word or the other.

It may be better while you are singing to not make corrections, but it is good for a speaker (including at a podium) to "make it right" and not be careless. Read this article for some suggestions.

Steps

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    1
    Realize that "go there/go here" do not have the same meanings and again neither do "come here/come there". You probably know this, but if not, then understanding this is pretty easy in some situations.[1] You might consider saying:
    • "You can come with me." -- or "I will go with you."
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    2
    Identify the direction of travel. Both of these phrases refer to a person changing location.[2]
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    Say, "They should come here." Directed to/toward the speaker's location.[3]
    • "Come in first. Please, come here. Come inside the house, please -- and then we'll discuss what to do next," while calling someone "to/toward" the speaker.
      • Thus, if the direction will be to or toward the speaker, the speaker should use "come".
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    Say "Go away from me." (not toward the speaker). For example, you can say:[4]
    • "You could go over there." or "I could go to their house. Should I go pick them up or will you?", when calling a friend about a visit to a third person's house.
      • The direction is away from the speaker's location, so use the word "go."
    • "Should we go to their house to eat or not? Either way we can go to their house."
      • As the current location spoken of is neither the speaker's nor the listener's present location, use "go".
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    Correct yourself instantly without repeating the whole sentence, when you make a mistake. If you do this you will find it easier each subsequent time. For example:
    • "I'll come..." "I'll go to their house."
    • If you are interested in correct usage, then plan the wording a little as you speak (or before).
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    Search for some more examples on the internet.
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    Be persistent. Keep thinking about using these words and practicing. It will take time to change your habits; so don't be impatient with yourself if you regress or seem slow to change.[5]
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    Ask for permission, which is slightly different.
    • When the speaker is outside and the listener is inside, ask: "May I come into your house to the bathroom?" -- to move toward the listener.
    • When both of you are outside, ask: "May I go inside your house to the bathroom?" -- moving away from the listener.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    "Are you coming with me?" or "...going with me?"
    Donagan
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Use "coming," because the movement would be in the direction of the speaker.
  • Question
    How do I know whether to use "come" or "comes"?
    Donagan
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Use "come" when the subject of the verb is I, we, you, they, or any plural noun (dogs, cars, etc.). Use "comes" when the subject is he, she, it, or any singular noun (dog, car, wind, happiness, etc.).
  • Question
    When meeting someone, is it right to say, "I come to see you" or "I came to see you" in present tense?
    Donagan
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Say "came," because even if you just arrived, the coming is already in the past. You could also say, "I have come..."
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Warnings

  • People may act and speak like it is unnecessary to speak correctly to make excuses for you, when they really think that you could/should do better.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Do not try to change another person's word usage. Many people would find that rude. But, you could speak of how you are trying to change your own wording and so you would drop a hint about it.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • Until you want to make the change and try to do so -- consistently for two weeks or more -- it can not become a new habit.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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References

  1. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv135.shtml
  2. ↑ http://www.eslcafe.com/grammar/confusing_words_come_go.html
  3. ↑ http://www.eslcafe.com/grammar/confusing_words_come_go.html
  4. ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/grammar/british-grammar/come-or-go
  5. ↑ https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/learning-a-second-language/

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 89,399 times.
52 votes - 81%
Co-authors: 8
Updated: May 6, 2021
Views: 89,399
Categories: Correct Usage of Words
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