Cool MateCome vs Reach
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Come
High-frequency chunkA1verb
Reach
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
| Come | Reach | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kʌm/","/kʌmz/","/keɪm/","/ˈkʌmɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kʌm/","/kʌmz/","/keɪm/","/ˈkʌmɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/riːtʃ/","/ˈriːtʃɪz/","/riːtʃt/","/ˈriːtʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/riːtʃ/","/ˈriːtʃɪz/","/riːtʃt/","/ˈriːtʃɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To move to a place or to arrive. | to stretch out your hand to grab something or to arrive at a place |
| Example | Please come to the party this Saturday. | I can reach the top shelf if I stand on my tiptoes. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | come home, come together, come here, come back, come to an agreement | eventually, finally, easily, attempt to, try to, be expected to, eventually, finally, easily, attempt to, try to, be expected to, eventually, finally, easily, attempt to, try to, be expected to, eventually, finally, easily, attempt to, try to, be expected to, gingerly, hesitantly, tentatively, for, inside, into, easily, almost, nearly, can, easily, almost, nearly, can |
| Antonyms | go, leave | withdraw, recede |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'go' - 'come' implies arriving at the speaker's location, while 'go' means to leave., Incorrectly using 'com' in phrases instead of 'come'., Using the wrong tense, e.g., 'comed' instead of 'came'. | Confused with 'preach' — mixing up meanings during speech., Using 'reach' without an object when it's needed, like saying 'I will reach' instead of 'I will reach the goal'. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts. 'Come' is appropriate in conversation and writing but can be vague without additional context (e.g., 'come here' is more specific). Avoid using it in highly technical or formal documents. | Use 'reach' when talking about getting to a destination or getting something physically. Avoid in overly formal writing; use alternatives like 'arrive' or 'achieve'. |
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Frequently asked questions: Come vs Reach
What's the difference between Come and Reach?
Come: To move to a place or to arrive. Reach: to stretch out your hand to grab something or to arrive at a place
Which is more advanced: Come and Reach?
Reach is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Come and Reach the same CEFR level?
Come: A1, Reach: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Come and Reach?
Come: verb, Reach: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Come: Please come to the party this Saturday. Reach: I can reach the top shelf if I stand on my tiptoes.
Can I use Come and Reach interchangeably?
Not always. Come and Reach are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.