Imagine a host inside and a visitor at the door. Come in invites the visitor to enter. The visitor can ask Can I come in? before entering the host's space.

The idea

Use come in when the room is understood, or come into the kitchen to name it. After can, use come. The past is came. Drop the final e before -ing: coming.

Examples

  • Come in, please; the door is open.
  • Can I come in for a moment?
  • Mina came in with a basket of apples.
  • Omar is coming in through the side door.
  • Come into the kitchen; the tea is ready.
  • Please knock before you come in.

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Watch out

Come in and go in can both mean enter; the viewpoint differs. Come often moves towards the speaker, listener or a viewpoint adopted in the conversation. It does not always mean moving towards the person currently speaking.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. Can I ___ in for a moment? (come / came)

    Show answer or example answer

    come

    After can, the base form come is required; came is a past form.

  2. Choose the correct option. Omar is ___ in now. (coming / comeing)

    Show answer or example answer

    coming

    Drop the final e from come before -ing: coming.

  3. You are inside a room. Invite the visitor at the door to enter. ___, please. (Come in / Go out)

    Show answer or example answer

    Come in

    The host is inviting the visitor inside, so Come in fits; Go out asks for movement outside.

Use it today

Write an invitation from inside a room and a visitor's request to enter. Add a sentence about someone entering now, using is coming in.