Confusing words: Come vs. Go

COME vs. GO 

Let's look at the difference between these two verbs. A lot of English learners have difficulties with using 'come' and 'go' correctly. 

These verbs are used for different directions.  

COME 

Come is an irregular verb. 
come - came - come 

Come means to move to or towards a person or place. 

When you are talking to someone, you use this verb to say who or what is coming where you are. 

Examples: 

• My sister is coming home soon. (= She is coming to the place where I am. In this case, home.) 
• My cousin is coming next week. (= He / She is coming to the city where I am or where I live.) 
• My best friends are coming back from Germany. (= They may have been there to work or study, and are coming back to their country, for example Japan. The person who is saying this is in Japan at the moment of speaking.) 
• I come to work by bus. (= I am at work at the moment of speaking.) 
• I came to work quite early. 
• Come here! 
• come to do something - When did your parents last come to see you? 
• Can you come to my office? I need to show you something. 

Pay attention: 
​​In spoken English come can be used with and plus another verb, instead of with to and the infinitive, to show purpose or to tell somebody what to do. 

Examples: 

• ​Come and have your breakfast.
• Would you like to come and have dinner with us this Saturday? 

The and is sometimes left out, especially in North American English. 

Example: 

• Come have your breakfast. 

Come means to arrive at or reach a place. 

Examples: 

• come (to...) - What time did you come (to my house / to school)? 
• The book comes with a CD. 
• Your breakfast is coming soon. 
• Has the post come yet? (= If you're expecting a letter, for example.) 

Come is also used with the meaning of moving or travelling, especially with somebody else, to a place or in order to be present at an event. 

Examples: 

• Are you coming with us to the beach this Friday? 
• We're going to the park. Are you coming with us? 
• Would you like to come with us? 
• May I come with you? 
• 'I'm going for lunch. Are you coming?' 'Yeah, why not.' 

GO 

Go is an irregular verb. 
go - went - gone 

Go means to travel or move to another place. 

Examples: 

• I went to Paris last summer. Have you ever been there? 
• Does this train go to Newcastle? 
• He goes to work by bus. 
• I have to go to London on business. 
• She has gone to China. (= is now in China or is on her way there) 
• She has been to China. (= she went to China and has now returned) 
• Are you going home for the holiday? (= going to your hometown or country) 

Remember: 
Been is used when somebody has gone somewhere and come back. The person is not there any more. 

Pay attention: 
In spoken English go can be used with and plus another verb to show purpose or to tell somebody what to do. 

Examples: 

• Go and buy me coffee! 
• Go and get me a drink! 
• Go and pick up the phone. (= When someone is calling.) 

The and is sometimes left out, especially in North American English. 

Example: 

• Go ask your mom! 

​
Go is also used with the meaning of moving or travelling, especially with somebody else, to a place or in order to be present at an event. 

Examples: 

• go (to something) (with somebody) - Are you going to his birthday? 
• Who else is going to the beach? 

PHRASES WITH GO 

• go abroad 
• go by bus / car / plane / train 
• go camping 
• go for a walk 
• go on holiday 
• go sightseeing 
• go skiing / walking / cycling / jogging / swimming / sailing / surfing 
• go hiking / go horseback riding 
• go shopping / go window-shopping 

Come and go have other meanings as well but let's not get into too many details. 


Exercise 

Complete the sentences with come or go in the correct forms. 

1. 'Is your mother at home?' 'She ................ out ten minutes ago. She'll be back in about an hour.' 
2. 'Would you like to ................ to the barbecue?' 'Yes, I'd love to.'
3. I'm leaving Hanoi on Sunday. I hope to ................ back next year. 
4. Simon isn't here at the moment. He's ................ to the shop. 
5. I ................ to Tokyo last year and I'm planning to ................ back this year. 
​6. She ................ to work by bus. 
​7. Have the children ................ to sleep? 
8. My friend is on holiday. He has ................ to Italy. 
9. My sister is back home now. She has ................ to Japan. 
10. 'Are you going to the bank?' 'No, I've already ................ there.' 


Answers: 
1. went; 2. come; 3. come; 4. gone; 5. went, go; 6. goes; 7. gone; 8. gone; 9. been; 10. been;