Introduction
Phrasal verbs are one of the most exciting—and confusing—parts of English. The verb “come” is especially useful because it combines with different particles to create new meanings. Whether you are talking about finding something, visiting someone, or recovering from an illness, “come” phrasal verbs will help you sound more natural. In this post, we will explore the most common phrasal verbs with “come”, their meanings, and how to use them correctly in everyday conversation.
What Are Phrasal Verbs with Come?
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a preposition or an adverb (or both) to create a new meaning. For example, “come” alone means to move toward the speaker. But when you add a particle like “up”, “out”, or “across”, the meaning changes completely. Phrasal verbs with “come” are very common in both spoken and written English, so mastering them will boost your fluency quickly.
Rules for Using Phrasal Verbs with Come
- Separable vs. Inseparable: Some phrasal verbs with “come” are separable (you can put the object between the verb and particle), and some are inseparable (the object must go after the particle). For example, “come across” is inseparable: “I came across an old photo.” (Not: “I came an old photo across.”) But “come up with” is also inseparable: “She came up with a great idea.”
- Transitive vs. Intransitive: Many “come” phrasal verbs are intransitive (no object needed), like “come back” or “come in”. Others are transitive and require an object, like “come across” (find something) or “come up with” (think of something).
- Particle Meaning: The particle often gives a clue about the meaning. “Out” suggests emergence or discovery; “up” suggests movement upward or appearance; “across” suggests crossing or finding.
- Context Matters: Always pay attention to the sentence context. For example, “come over” can mean visit, change your opinion, or move physically across a space.
- Stress in Pronunciation: In natural speech, the verb “come” is usually unstressed, and the particle is stressed. For example: “I came across a great book.”
How to Use Phrasal Verbs with Come
Follow these steps to use them correctly:
- Learn the most common ones first: Start with “come back” (return), “come in” (enter), “come out” (appear/reveal), and “come up” (arise/approach).
- Memorize the meaning with an example: Write each phrasal verb in a sentence that makes sense to you. For “come down with” (become ill): “I think I’m coming down with a cold.”
- Practice with dialogues: Imagine conversations. For “come up with” (think of): “We need to come up with a solution before tomorrow.”
- Check if it is separable: For “come across”, it is inseparable: “I came across an interesting article.” For “come up with”, also inseparable: “He came up with a plan.” There are no common separable “come” phrasal verbs.
- Use them in writing: Try writing a short paragraph using 3–4 “come” phrasal verbs. For example: “When I came across my old diary, I came to realize how much I had changed. Later, my friend came over, and we came up with a fun weekend plan.”
Examples in Sentences
- I came across a beautiful park while walking home.
- She came back from her trip last night.
- Please come in and take a seat.
- The truth will come out eventually.
- A problem came up during the meeting.
- He came down with the flu last week.
- Can you come over for dinner tomorrow?
- I came up with a new idea for the project.
- She came to after fainting for a few seconds.
- How did that come about? (meaning: happen)
- We need to come together to solve this problem.
- The book came out in paperback last month.
Common Mistakes
- Mistake 1: ❌ “I came up a great idea.”
✅ “I came up with a great idea.” (The particle “with” is necessary.) - Mistake 2: ❌ “She came across it in the drawer.” (Correct, but sometimes learners say: “She came it across.”)
✅ “She came across it in the drawer.” (Inseparable—do not separate the verb and particle.) - Mistake 3: ❌ “He came down flu.”
✅ “He came down with the flu.” (The preposition “with” is required.) - Mistake 4: ❌ “When did you come back from?” (Incomplete)
✅ “When did you come back from your vacation?” (Add the place or context.) - Mistake 5: ❌ “I need to come out with a new plan.” (This can be correct, but learners often confuse “come out” and “come up with”.)
✅ “I need to come up with a new plan.” (“Come out with” means to release or say something publicly.)
Quick Summary
- Come across = find or meet by chance (inseparable)
- Come back = return (intransitive)
- Come in = enter (intransitive)
- Come out = appear, be revealed, or be published (intransitive)
- Come up = arise, happen, or approach (intransitive)
- Come down with = become ill (inseparable, transitive)
- Come over = visit someone (intransitive, or with “to” + place)
- Come up with = think of an idea/solution (inseparable, transitive)
- Come to = regain consciousness (intransitive)
- Come about = happen, occur (intransitive)
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the correct phrasal verb from the list: come across, come back, come in, come out, come up, come down with, come over, come up with, come to, come about. Use the correct tense.
- I ________ a very old letter while cleaning the attic.
- She ________ a brilliant solution during the brainstorming session.
- Please ________ the room quietly—the baby is sleeping.
- He ________ a bad cold and had to stay home.
- How did this situation ________? It’s so strange.
Answers:
- came across
- came up with
- come in
- came down with
- come about
Conclusion
Phrasal verbs with “come” are essential for sounding natural in English. By learning the most common ones—like “come across”, “come up with”, and “come down with”—you will be able to express yourself more clearly in everyday conversations. Keep practicing with the examples and exercises above, and soon these phrasal verbs will become a natural part of your vocabulary.
FAQ
1. What is the difference between “come across” and “come up with”?
“Come across” means to find something or meet someone by chance, without planning. For example: “I came across an old friend at the mall.” “Come up with” means to think of or create an idea or solution deliberately. For example: “She came up with a clever way to save money.”
2. Is “come back” the same as “return”?
Yes, “come back” is the phrasal verb equivalent of “return”. However, “come back” is more common in spoken English and is often used with a sense of movement toward the speaker. “Return” is more formal. For example: “Please come back soon” sounds natural; “Please return soon” sounds more formal.
3. Can I use “come out” to talk about a movie or book?
Absolutely! “Come out” is very common for movies, books, albums, or news. For example: “The new Marvel movie comes out next month.” It means to be released or become available to the public.
4. What does “come to” mean besides regaining consciousness?
“Come to” can also mean to reach a total amount or to arrive at a decision. For example: “The bill came to $50.” or “We came to an agreement after hours of discussion.” In the context of consciousness, it means to wake up after fainting: “She fainted but came to after a few minutes.”