Arrive vs. Come vs. Get
These three verbs are all about reaching a place, but they have different focuses and rules.
- Arrive focuses on the moment of reaching a destination. It’s usually more formal and used with prepositions like at or in.
- Come is about movement toward the speaker or a specific point. It’s more general and can be used in many contexts, including figurative ones.
- Get is the most informal and flexible. It means “to reach” or “to move” but can also imply effort or difficulty.
By understanding these differences, you can choose the right verb to make your meaning clear and natural.
Arrive
Arrive means to reach a destination or a specific place. It focuses on the moment of arrival itself, without mentioning the action of coming or going.
- Used mainly for physical places or scheduled events (e.g., train, meeting).
- Often followed by prepositions at (for specific places) or in (for cities, countries).
- More formal and less common in everyday conversation.
Arrive Example Table
| Arrive Example | English Meaning |
|---|---|
| The train arrives at 9 PM. | The train reaches the station at 9 PM. |
| We arrived in Paris last night. | We reached Paris last night. |
| She arrived at the meeting on time. | She reached the meeting on time. |
Arrive Tips
- Use arrive at for specific places or events: “arrive at the airport,” “arrive at the party.”
- Use arrive in for larger areas: “arrive in New York,” “arrive in Canada.”
- Do not use arrive with an object directly (e.g., incorrect: arrive the station).
Can you use “arrive” with an object directly (e.g., “arrive the station”)?
No, you must use a preposition like “at” or “in” before the place.
“Arrive” requires a preposition (usually “at” or “in”) before the place. Saying “arrive the station” is incorrect; you should say “arrive at the station.”
Come
Come means to move toward the place where the speaker or listener is, or toward a specific point. It’s about the direction of movement and can be used literally or figuratively.
- Used to indicate movement toward a reference point (usually where the speaker is).
- Can be used in invitations or requests: “Come here,” “Come with us.”
- More flexible and common in everyday speech.
Come Example Table
| Come Example | English Meaning |
|---|---|
| Can you come to my house tonight? | Can you move toward my house tonight? |
| She came into the room quietly. | She moved into the room quietly. |
| Come with me to the store. | Move with me to the store. |
Come Tips
- The reference point is often the speaker’s location: “come home,” “come to me.”
- Can be combined with other words to show direction: “come in,” “come up,” “come over.”
- Used in more abstract senses too: “come to a decision,” “come true.”
Get
Get means to reach, arrive at, or come to a place, but it also implies the process or effort involved. It’s more informal and widely used in spoken English.
- Can mean “arrive,” “go,” or “reach,” depending on context.
- Often used with prepositions: get to, get home, get there.
- Implies movement or travel, sometimes with difficulty or delay.
Get Example Table
| Get Example | English Meaning |
|---|---|
| I got home late last night. | I arrived home late last night. |
| How do you get to the station? | How do you travel/reach the station? |
| We got to the airport just in time. | We arrived at the airport just in time. |
Get Tips
- Use get to [place] to mean “arrive at”: “get to school,” “get to work.”
- Get home and get there are very common informal expressions.
- Can also be used in phrasal verbs: “get up,” “get along,” “get off.”
Comparing Arrive, Come, and Get
| Aspect | Arrive | Come | Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Reach a destination (focus on arrival) | Move toward a point (usually speaker) | Reach a place (focus on movement/effort) |
| Form | More formal; used with at, in | More general; flexible direction | Informal; can imply effort/difficulty |
| Usage | Arrival time/schedule, formal contexts | Invitations, movement toward speaker | Everyday speech, travel, effort involved |
| Examples | “Arrive at the station”<br>“Arrive in London” | “Come here”<br>“Come to the party” | “Get home”<br>“Get to work” |
Quick Usage Tips
- Use arrive for formal contexts or when emphasizing the exact time/place of arrival.
- Use come when speaking about movement toward yourself or when inviting someone.
- Use get for informal situations, especially when talking about the journey or effort to reach somewhere.
Common Phrases
| Phrase | Explanation |
|---|---|
| arrive late/early | Emphasizes timing of arrival |
| come here/come over | Invitation or movement toward speaker |
| get home/get there | Informal arrival, often after travel |
| arrive at the airport/in Tokyo | Correct prepositions for arrive |
| come with me/come inside | Movement along with someone or into a place |
| get to the station/get to work | Focus on reaching the place |
Summary
- Arrive = reach a place (focus on arrival, formal, specific prepositions)
- Come = move toward speaker/place (general direction, flexible usage)
- Get = reach a place (focus on movement/effort, informal)
Understanding these differences helps you choose the right verb for clarity and tone.
Flashcards (1 of 9)
- Arrive Example: The train arrives at 9 PM.
- English Meaning: The train reaches the station at 9 PM.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
