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Phrasal Verbs  ›  COME

COME

10 essential phrasal verbs with COME — meanings, examples & practice

come back · come in · come up · come out · come over · come along · come across · come down with · come up with · come off
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Separable Object can go in the middle or after the particle.
Inseparable Object always goes after the particle — never in the middle.
Intransitive No object needed — the verb stands alone.
Phrasal verbs with COME
come backIntransitive
To return to a place after being away.
"She came back from vacation looking very relaxed."
come inIntransitive
To enter a room or building; to arrive (especially used as an invitation).
"Come in! The door is open — don't knock."
come upIntransitive
Something unexpected arises or happens; a topic is mentioned in conversation.
"Something came up at work and I couldn't leave early."
come outIntransitive
To be released or published; to exit; a result becomes known.
"Her new novel comes out next month."
come overIntransitive
To visit someone at their home.
"Why don't you come over for dinner on Saturday?"
come alongIntransitive
To join or accompany someone somewhere; to make progress.
"We're going to the market — do you want to come along?"
come acrossInseparable
To find or meet someone/something by chance; to give a certain impression.
"I came across an old letter while cleaning my room."
come down withInseparable
To become ill with a sickness or disease.
"He came down with the flu and had to stay home all week."
come up withInseparable
To think of or create an idea, plan, or solution.
"She came up with a brilliant idea to save the project."
come offIntransitive
To succeed or happen as planned; to detach from something.
"The event came off perfectly — everyone had a great time."
⚠️ "Come up" vs "Come up with" — very different meanings!
✓ "Something came up." → An unexpected situation arose. (intransitive — no object)
✓ "She came up with a great idea." → She thought of / invented an idea. (inseparable — needs object)
✗ "She came up a great idea." → WRONG — you must include "with."
Reading: Ana's Hometown Visit

📖 Ana's Hometown Visit

Ana had been living in San José for two years when she decided to come back to her hometown of Liberia for a long weekend. She missed her family deeply.

When she arrived, her mother called out: "Come in, the food is ready!" That afternoon, her childhood friend Valeria decided to come over and surprise her. It felt wonderful.

The next morning, something unexpected came up: Ana's little brother Rodrigo had come down with a bad cold and couldn't leave his room. Ana sat with him and they talked for hours.

Later, Valeria invited Ana to come along to the local market. There, Ana came across a woman selling the same handmade jewelry she had admired as a child. She bought a bracelet. A new Costa Rican film had just come out, so the friends went to see it that evening.

On her last day, Ana came up with a plan: she would visit every two months. The weekend had come off beautifully — much better than she had expected. She said goodbye to her mother and began the long drive back to the city, her heart full.

Reading comprehension — 10 questions