Vocabulary
A1–B1
5 min read
Updated 13 June 2026
Quick answer: Use come for movement towards the speaker or reference point: Please come here for a moment. Use go for movement away from the speaker: I need to go to the shops.
Comparison Table
| Word | Direction | Meaning | Example |
|---|
| come | towards the speaker | move to where the speaker is or will be | Please come here for a moment. |
| go | away from the speaker | move away from the current location | I need to go to the shops. |
Using Come
Come describes movement towards the speaker or towards the place where the speaker will be. When you ask someone to come, you are inviting them to move in your direction.
Please come here for a moment.
She came to visit us last weekend.
Come and see what I found!
Notice that in a phone call, you can say "I’m coming to pick you up" because you are moving towards the other person’s location.
Common Phrasal Verbs with Come
- come up — arise, come to attention
- come across — find by chance
- come back — return
- come out — be released or become known
- come in — enter
Using Go
Go describes movement away from the speaker’s current position. When you go somewhere, you are leaving where you are and heading to a different place.
I need to go to the shops.
He went to the gym this morning.
Let’s go to the beach this weekend!
Common Phrasal Verbs with Go
- go on — continue or happen
- go out — leave, or socialise
- go back — return to a place
- go through — experience or examine
- go off — explode, spoil (food), or ring (alarm)
Memory Trick
Memory Tip
Think of Come = Closer (towards me). Think of Go = Get away (away from here). Or picture a magnet: come pulls towards you, go pushes away.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1 — Using come when leaving
✗ I’ll come to the supermarket now. (if you are at home, not at the supermarket)
✓ I’ll go to the supermarket now.
Mistake 2 — Using go when invited
✗ “Can you go to my office?” (said when you are in the office)
✓ “Can you come to my office?”
Mistake 3 — Party invitations
✗ “Will you go to my party?” (asked by the host)
✓ “Will you come to my party?”
(The host is the reference point; guests move towards them.)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between come and go?
Come describes movement towards the speaker or towards the place being discussed: "Please come here." Go describes movement away from the speaker's current position: "I need to go to the shops." The key distinction is direction relative to the speaker.
When should I use come?
Use come when movement is directed towards the speaker or towards the place where the conversation is focused. Examples: "Come to my office." "She came home at six." "Can you come here for a moment?"
When should I use go?
Use go when movement is away from the speaker's current position or towards a different location. Examples: "I need to go to the supermarket." "He went to the gym." "Let's go to the beach this weekend."
Can I say 'I'm coming to the party' and 'I'm going to the party'?
Both can be correct in different contexts. If you are speaking to the party host, say "I'm coming to the party" (moving towards them). If you are telling a third person, say "I'm going to the party" (moving away from your current location towards the party).
What is the past tense of come and go?
Both are irregular verbs. Come: come → came → come. Go: go → went → gone. Examples: "She came to the meeting." "They went on holiday last week." Note that "gone" is the past participle: "He has gone to the shops."
How do I use come in a sentence?
Examples: "Please come here for a moment." "She came to visit last weekend." "Come and see what I found." "When did you come to this country?" In all these cases, movement is towards the speaker or a shared reference point.
How do I use go in a sentence?
Examples: "I need to go to the shops." "We go to the gym every Monday." "She went home early." "Where are you going this summer?" In each case, movement is away from the speaker's current position.
What are common phrasal verbs with come and go?
Come phrasal verbs: come up (arise), come across (find by chance), come back (return), come out (become public). Go phrasal verbs: go on (continue or happen), go out (leave or date someone), go back (return), go through (experience or examine).
Is 'go with me' or 'come with me' correct?
Both can be correct depending on direction. "Come with me" is used when inviting someone to move towards a shared destination. "Go with me" suggests both of you are leaving together. In practice, "come with me" is more common as an invitation.
Do native speakers confuse come and go?
Native speakers rarely confuse the core meanings but sometimes debate usage in specific scenarios, especially when perspective shifts. On the phone: "I'm coming to pick you up" (moving towards you) vs "I'm going to pick you up" (from a third-person view). Context and speaker perspective always determine the correct choice.