Go vs. Come – English Grammar Exercises for A1
You are sitting in a taxi, almost at the meeting point. You are texting the friend who is waiting for you to update them on your location and reassure them that you will be there very soon.
Choose the best word (A, B, C, or D) to complete the sentences.
1 “I am in the taxi. I am ______ to you right now!”
(A) coming
(B) going
(C) come
(D) arriving
2 “Please wait for me outside. I will ______ in five minutes.”
(A) go
(B) to come
(C) come
(D) moving
3 “Are you inside the cafe? I am ______ there now.”
(A) comes
(B) coming
(C) reaching
(D) going
4 “Don’t leave! I am ______ to the meeting point where you are standing.”
(A) going
(B) driving
(C) to come
(D) coming
5 “The traffic is bad, but tell everyone I am still ______.”
(A) coming
(B) come
(C) going
(D) driving
6 “I can see the restaurant sign. I am ______ inside right now.”
(A) entering
(B) going
(C) coming
(D) to come
7 “My taxi is driving very fast. I will ______ to your location soon.”
(A) arrive
(B) come
(C) coming
(D) go
8 “Just order a coffee for me. I am ______ in two minutes.”
(A) going
(B) come
(C) appearing
(D) coming
9 “I can’t ______ any faster because of the terrible traffic jam!”
(A) come
(B) to come
(C) go
(D) driving
10 “Tell the waiter to hold our table. I am ______ right now.”
(A) going
(B) to come
(C) coming
(D) leaving
11 “Is it raining where you are? Don’t worry, I am ______ with an umbrella.”
(A) walking
(B) coming
(C) come
(D) going
12 “I am sorry I am late. I am ______ as fast as I can!”
(A) coming
(B) going
(C) comes
(D) moving
13 “Look outside the window. I am ______ up to the front door.”
(A) to come
(B) driving
(C) going
(D) coming
14 “Keep your phone in your hand. I will call you when I ______ close to you.”
(A) go
(B) coming
(C) come
(D) reach
15 “I am ______ to the cinema now, but I might be five minutes late.”
(A) going
(B) coming
(C) arriving
(D) come
16 “You don’t need to ______ out to the street to find me; I am ______ right to the lobby.”
(A) go / coming
(B) come / going
(C) going / coming
(D) to go / come
17 “The driver took a wrong turn, but we are ______ back to your street now.”
(A) come
(B) returning
(C) coming
(D) going
18 “Are you still waiting at the entrance? I am ______ down the hill towards you.”
(A) coming
(B) going
(C) walking
(D) to come
19 “I had to ______ back to my house to get my wallet, but now I am finally ______ to you!”
(A) go / driving
(B) going / come
(C) come / going
(D) go / coming
20 “Don’t ______ to another cafe. Just stay there, I am ______!”
(A) going / come
(B) go / coming
(C) leave / arrive
(D) come / going
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (A) coming
Why it is correct: Present continuous tense (am + V-ing) describing movement directed toward the listener.
Mistake Analysis: (B) “going” is the Common Mistake (students translate their native language literally, ignoring the direction rule). (C) “come” is a Structural Error (missing “-ing”). (D) “arriving” is a Meaning Trap (we say “arriving at your location”, not “arriving to”).
2 (C) come
Why it is correct: The modal “will” is followed by a base verb, and the movement is toward the listener.
Mistake Analysis: (A) “go” is the Common Mistake. (B) “to come” is a Structural Error. (D) “moving” is a Meaning Trap.
3 (B) coming
Why it is correct: Moving toward the cafe where the listener is currently waiting.
Mistake Analysis: (D) “going” is the Common Mistake. (A) “comes” is a Structural Error. (C) “reaching” is a Meaning Trap (you “reach a place”, no preposition “there/to” is needed in this structure).
4 (D) coming
Why it is correct: Moving directly toward the listener’s standing point.
Mistake Analysis: (A) “going” is the Common Mistake. (C) “to come” is a Structural Error. (B) “driving” is a Meaning Trap (you are a passenger in a taxi, so you are not the one driving).
5 (A) coming
Why it is correct: Reassuring the waiting group that you are still moving toward them.
Mistake Analysis: (C) “going” is the Common Mistake. (B) “come” is a Structural Error. (D) “driving” is a Meaning Trap.
6 (C) coming
Why it is correct: You are entering the space where the listener is located.
Mistake Analysis: (B) “going” is the Common Mistake. (D) “to come” is a Structural Error. (A) “entering” is a Meaning Trap (“entering inside” is a redundant phrase; “entering” alone is enough).
7 (B) come
Why it is correct: “Will” takes a base verb, indicating travel toward the listener’s location.
Mistake Analysis: (D) “go” is the Common Mistake. (C) “coming” is a Structural Error. (A) “arrive” is a Meaning Trap (it is incorrect to say “arrive to”; it must be “arrive at”).
8 (D) coming
Why it is correct: Updating the listener that you will be with them in two minutes.
Mistake Analysis: (A) “going” is the Common Mistake. (B) “come” is a Structural Error. (C) “appearing” is a Meaning Trap.
9 (A) come
Why it is correct: “Can’t” is followed by a base verb. You are trying to travel toward the listener faster.
Mistake Analysis: (C) “go” is the Common Mistake. (B) “to come” is a Structural Error. (D) “driving” is a Meaning Trap.
10 (C) coming
Why it is correct: You are telling the listener you are moving toward their table.
Mistake Analysis: (A) “going” is the Common Mistake. (B) “to come” is a Structural Error. (D) “leaving” is a Meaning Trap.
11 (B) coming
Why it is correct: Reassuring the listener while moving toward them.
Mistake Analysis: (D) “going” is the Common Mistake. (C) “come” is a Structural Error. (A) “walking” is a Meaning Trap (you are in a taxi, not walking).
12 (A) coming
Why it is correct: “I am coming” is the standard phrase to show you are hurrying to the listener.
Mistake Analysis: (B) “going” is the Common Mistake. (C) “comes” is a Structural Error. (D) “moving” is a Meaning Trap.
13 (D) coming
Why it is correct: Moving up to the door where the listener is looking.
Mistake Analysis: (C) “going” is the Common Mistake. (A) “to come” is a Structural Error. (B) “driving” is a Meaning Trap.
14 (C) come
Why it is correct: In a time clause after “when” referring to the future, use the present simple base verb.
Mistake Analysis: (A) “go” is the Common Mistake. (B) “coming” is a Structural Error. (D) “reach” is a Meaning Trap (“reach close to you” is grammatically awkward).
15 (B) coming
Why it is correct: You are updating the person waiting for you at the cinema.
Mistake Analysis: (A) “going” is the Common Mistake. (D) “come” is a Structural Error. (C) “arriving” is a Meaning Trap (“arriving to” is wrong).
16 (A) go / coming
Why it is correct: First action: you tell the listener NOT to leave their spot to move to a third location (the street) = “go out to the street”. Second action: you promise to move directly toward them = “coming right to the lobby”.
Mistake Analysis: (B) “come / going” is the Common Mistake (reversing the directions). (C) and (D) are Structural Errors.
17 (C) coming
Why it is correct: The taxi is moving toward the street where the listener is waiting.
Mistake Analysis: (D) “going” is the Common Mistake. (A) “come” is a Structural Error. (B) “returning” is a Meaning Trap (“returning back” is redundant).
18 (A) coming
Why it is correct: Moving down the hill directly toward the listener.
Mistake Analysis: (B) “going” is the Common Mistake. (D) “to come” is a Structural Error. (C) “walking” is a Meaning Trap (you are in a vehicle).
19 (D) go / coming
Why it is correct: First action: traveling away from the listener to your house = “go back to my house”. Second action: traveling toward the listener now = “coming to you”.
Mistake Analysis: (C) “come / going” is the Common Mistake. (A) and (B) are Structural Errors.
20 (B) go / coming
Why it is correct: First action: you tell the listener NOT to leave for a new location = “Don’t go to another cafe”. Second action: you assure them you are moving toward them = “I am coming”.
Mistake Analysis: (D) “come / going” is the Common Mistake. (A) and (C) are Structural/Meaning Errors.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- COME (Moving Towards the Listener): When you are traveling to meet someone, and you are texting or calling them, you are moving towards their location. Therefore, you must always use “I am coming.” This is the most natural way to reassure someone that you will arrive soon.
- GO (Moving Away): You only use “go” if you are moving away from the person you are talking to. If you tell the person waiting for you to move to a different street, you would say, “Can you go to the next street?”
- The Trap: In many languages, learners translate the idea of “traveling to a destination” literally into English as “I am going to you.” This is incorrect. Because your destination is the exact place where the listener is standing, you must use “coming.” Never say “I am going” to someone who is waiting for you!