Picture where the speaker or listener is, or will be.

The idea

Use come for movement toward that person or place, and go for movement away toward another place.

Patterns to compare
VerbDirection
cometoward the speaker, listener, or a place they will be
goaway from the reference point toward another place

Examples

  • Please come to my office; I am waiting here.
  • I am going to the library after lunch.
  • Can you come to the café where I am sitting?
  • Mina went to the market while her brother stayed home.
  • Are you coming to the party? I will be there too.
  • The children go to school by bus every morning.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

When answering someone at the door, say I’m coming, even though you are leaving your own spot.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct word. I am at the door. Please ___ here. (come / go)

    Show answer or example answer

    come

    come: The person at the door is asking you to move toward them.

  2. Choose the correct word. We are at home now. We will ___ to the museum later. (come / go)

    Show answer or example answer

    go

    go: The museum is a destination away from home.

  3. Choose the correct word. I will be at the picnic. Can you ___ too? (come / go)

    Show answer or example answer

    come

    come: The speaker will be at the picnic, so the movement is toward that shared place.

Use it today

Imagine inviting a friend over and then travelling to a different place.