Come on: encouragement and urgency

The idea

Use come on to encourage someone or urge them to hurry. It is informal and its tone matters. In these uses it has no object, so neither a noun nor a pronoun separates the words.

Examples

• Come on, you can finish the puzzle!
• Come on, the bus is nearly here.
• Come on, let us try one more time.
• Come on, we need to leave now.
• Come on, your team needs you!
• Come on, the film starts soon.

Watch out

A sharp come on can sound impatient rather than encouraging; a friendly tone helps when someone needs support.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. ___, you can climb the last step! (Come on / Come over)

   Show answer or example answer

   Come on

   Come on encourages the person taking the last step.

2. Choose the correct option. ___, the train leaves in a minute! (Come on / Get back)

   Show answer or example answer

   Come on

   Come on urges the listener to move because the train is leaving.

3. Choose the correct option. To encourage a friend, say: ___! (Come on / Hurry back)

   Show answer or example answer

   Come on

   Come on fits an encouraging appeal to a friend.

Use it today

Encourage a friend in a game, then ask a group to hurry politely.