Go vs. Come – English Grammar Exercises for A1
You are calling your friend to invite them to your house this weekend to watch a movie together.
Choose the best word (A, B, C, or D) to complete the sentences.
1 Hey! Are you free this weekend? Do you want to ______ to my house to watch a movie?
(A) coming
(B) visit
(C) come
(D) go
2 I just bought some popcorn and drinks. Please ______ over on Saturday night!
(A) go
(B) arrive
(C) to come
(D) come
3 My parents are not at home, so you can ______ to my place anytime you want.
(A) come
(B) comes
(C) go
(D) stay
4 What time will you ______ to my house tomorrow?
(A) go
(B) come
(C) arriving
(D) coming
5 Can you ______ here at around 7 PM so we can start the movie early?
(A) to come
(B) go
(C) come
(D) going
6 I am setting up the TV right now. When you ______ here, everything will be ready.
(A) will come
(B) come
(C) go
(D) to come
7 If you ______ to my house, please bring some extra snacks.
(A) come
(B) goes
(C) go
(D) will come
8 Don’t ______ to my house too late because the movie is very long.
(A) going
(B) coming
(C) go
(D) come
9 It is raining outside, so you should ______ to my house by taxi.
(A) to come
(B) come
(C) go
(D) drive
10 After you finish your dinner, just ______ straight to my place.
(A) go
(B) head
(C) come
(D) to come
11 Will your younger sister ______ to my house with you?
(A) coming
(B) come
(C) go
(D) arriving
12 I am so excited! I can’t wait for you to ______ to my house!
(A) come
(B) enter
(C) go
(D) coming
13 You don’t need to knock. Just open the door and ______ in.
(A) coming
(B) go
(C) come
(D) enter
14 Let me know when you are ready to ______ over.
(A) come
(B) go
(C) leave
(D) coming
15 Are you ______ to my house now, or do you need more time?
(A) come
(B) going
(C) driving
(D) coming
16 I am waiting in the living room. Please call me before you ______ over.
(A) go
(B) will come
(C) come
(D) arrive
17 I know you are tired, but are you still ______ to my house tonight?
(A) come
(B) coming
(C) going
(D) to come
18 My mom made a cake for us. She hopes you will ______ over to try it.
(A) pass
(B) go
(C) coming
(D) come
19 If you can’t ______ to my house today, we can watch the movie next week.
(A) get
(B) go
(C) come
(D) to come
20 Next weekend, I will go to your apartment, but today you must ______ to mine!
(A) return
(B) come
(C) go
(D) coming
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) come
Why it is correct: The verb “come” is used when the movement is directed towards the speaker (in this case, your house).
Mistake Analysis: (D) “go” is a Common Mistake caused by translating word-for-word from the student’s native language. (A) is a Structural Error after “want to”. (B) “visit” is a Strong Distractor (we say “visit my house”, not “visit to my house”).
2 (D) come
Why it is correct: The phrasal verb “come over” means to visit someone at their house.
Mistake Analysis: (A) “go” is the Common Mistake. (C) “to come” is a Structural Error (imperative sentences use the base verb). (B) “arrive” is a Meaning Trap (it does not pair with “over” in this context).
3 (A) come
Why it is correct: Your friend is moving towards your space (“my place”), so you must use “come”.
Mistake Analysis: (C) “go” is the Common Mistake. (B) “comes” is a Structural Error (no “s” after the modal verb “can”). (D) “stay” is a Meaning Trap (“stay” pairs with “at”, not “to”).
4 (B) come
Why it is correct: Asking about the time of movement directed towards the speaker.
Mistake Analysis: (A) “go” is the Common Mistake. (C) and (D) are Structural Errors because a base verb is required after “will”.
5 (C) come
Why it is correct: “Here” refers to the speaker’s current location. Any movement towards “here” always requires “come”.
Mistake Analysis: (B) “go” is the Common Mistake (“go here” is a contradiction in direction). (A) and (D) are Structural Errors after “can”.
6 (B) come
Why it is correct: In a time clause starting with “When” referring to the future, we use the present simple tense.
Mistake Analysis: (C) “go” is the Common Mistake. (A) “will come” is a Structural Error (do not use “will” immediately after “when” in time clauses). (D) “to come” is a Structural Error.
7 (A) come
Why it is correct: First conditional sentence (If + Subject + Present Simple). The movement is towards the person making the call.
Mistake Analysis: (C) “go” is the Common Mistake. (D) “will come” is a Structural Error (no future tense inside the “If” clause). (B) “goes” is a Structural Error (“you” does not take an “s”).
8 (D) come
Why it is correct: Negative imperative sentence (“Don’t” + base verb).
Mistake Analysis: (C) “go” is the Common Mistake. (A) and (B) are Structural Errors (never use an “-ing” verb right after “don’t”).
9 (B) come
Why it is correct: Giving advice with “should” + base verb, moving towards the speaker.
Mistake Analysis: (C) “go” is the Common Mistake. (A) “to come” is a Structural Error. (D) “drive” is a Meaning Trap (if you take a taxi, you are not the one driving).
10 (C) come
Why it is correct: An imperative instruction to move towards the speaker’s home.
Mistake Analysis: (A) “go” is the Common Mistake. (B) “head” is a Strong Distractor (“head to” is grammatically correct and means “go towards”, but “come” is the most natural and accurate choice when warmly inviting someone to your own location). (D) “to come” is a Structural Error.
11 (B) come
Why it is correct: Yes/No question structure (“Will” + Subject + base verb).
Mistake Analysis: (C) “go” is the Common Mistake. (A) and (D) are Structural Errors (cannot use “-ing” after “will”).
12 (A) come
Why it is correct: The structure is “wait for someone to do something” (to come).
Mistake Analysis: (C) “go” is the Common Mistake. (D) “coming” is a Structural Error (missing “to”). (B) “enter” is a Meaning Trap (“enter to my house” is incorrect; “enter” does not take the preposition “to”).
13 (C) come
Why it is correct: The phrase “come in” means to enter the room or building where the speaker currently is.
Mistake Analysis: (B) “go” is the Common Mistake. (D) “enter” is a Meaning Trap (saying “enter in” is redundant; “enter” alone means to go in). (A) “coming” is a Structural Error.
14 (A) come
Why it is correct: “Ready to” is followed by the base verb. We use “come over” for visiting the speaker.
Mistake Analysis: (B) “go” is the Common Mistake. (C) “leave over” is a Meaning Trap (this phrase makes no sense here). (D) “coming” is a Structural Error.
15 (D) coming
Why it is correct: Present continuous tense (Are you + verb-ing) describing an action happening right now, directed towards the speaker.
Mistake Analysis: (B) “going” is the most Common Mistake (students combine “am/are” with “going” regardless of the direction). (A) “come” is a Structural Error. (C) “driving” is a Meaning Trap (we don’t know if the friend is driving, walking, or taking a bus).
16 (C) come
Why it is correct: In a time clause after “before”, we use the present simple tense.
Mistake Analysis: (A) “go” is the Common Mistake. (D) “arrive” is a Meaning Trap (“arrive over” is not a valid English phrase). (B) “will come” is a Structural Error.
17 (B) coming
Why it is correct: Present continuous used for a planned future arrangement (“are you still coming…”).
Mistake Analysis: (C) “going” is the Common Mistake. (A) “come” is a Structural Error (missing the “-ing” after the “to be” verb). (D) “to come” is a Structural Error.
18 (D) come
Why it is correct: Inviting someone to visit your house requires “come over”.
Mistake Analysis: (B) “go” is the Common Mistake. (A) “pass” is a Meaning Trap (“pass over” means to ignore or overlook, not to visit). (C) “coming” is a Structural Error (requires a base verb after “will”).
19 (C) come
Why it is correct: Referring to the ability to travel towards the speaker.
Mistake Analysis: (B) “go” is the Common Mistake. (A) “get” is a Strong Distractor (“get to my house” is grammatically okay, but “come” is the natural, welcoming choice for invitations). (D) “to come” is a Structural Error after “can’t”.
20 (B) come
Why it is correct: This sentence directly contrasts the two directions. The speaker leaving their house to visit the friend = GO (“go to your apartment”). The friend leaving their house to visit the speaker = COME (“come to mine”).
Mistake Analysis: (C) “go” is the Common Mistake (students habitually use “go” for all travel). (A) “return” is a Meaning Trap (the friend does not live there, so they cannot “return” to it). (D) “coming” is a Structural Error after “must”.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- COME (Moving Towards): Always use “come” when the movement is directed towards the current location of the speaker (or a place the speaker owns/is hosting at, like their home). When inviting someone to your house, you are asking them to move towards you, so you MUST use phrases like “come to my house”, “come over”, “come here”, or “come in”.
- GO (Moving Away): Only use “go” when the movement is directed away from both the speaker and the listener, towards a third location. (Example: “I will go to your house” – The speaker is leaving their own house to travel to the listener’s house).
- The Native Language Trap: In many languages, a single word for “go/travel” is used for all directions regardless of who is speaking. Do not translate directly! Never say “go to my house” when you are at home inviting a friend over.