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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Came vs. went

1. Suppose I go to a hotel in the morning and book a room for that night, and then, I come back in the afternoon to check in. The receptionist asks me how I booked (whether online or through phone). Which of the following should I say to her?

A. I came here this morning and personally booked a room.
B. I went here this morning and personally booked a room.

2. If both are OK, what is the difference between came and went in the example?
3. Can I also say "and booked a room in person" instead of "and personally booked a room"? Do they mean the same? Which is more natural?
  

Top answer

When you have "here" or "there" in a sentence, it's easy. It's always come/came here and go/went there . You booked the room in person -- you were actually standing there at the time, instead of doing it by phone or email.

— Khoff

  • When you have "here" or "there" in a sentence, it's easy.
  • It's always come/came here and go/went there .
  • You booked the room in person -- you were actually standing there at the time, instead of doing it by phone or email.
  • You personally booked the room -- no one else did it for you.
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11 Answers
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When you have "here" or "there" in a sentence, it's easy. It's always come/came here and go/went there.

You booked the room in person -- you were actually standing there at the time, instead of doing it by phone or email.
You personally booked the room -- no one else did it for you.
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Thank you very much for your explanation especially the tip for "come here" and "go there".
khoffYou booked the room in person -- you were actually standing there at the time, instead of doing it by phone or email.
You personally booked the room -- no one else did it for you.
In my example, which is appropriate: personally or in person?

Another exa
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Several days ago, I peeked on a book in a library about the common misuse of words and phrases. I've read this one:

You have to go here.

which is, according to the book, incorrect.

I've search on the Internet, and this is what I've learned: It depends on the location of the one you're talking to.

If you're talking to someone to come on your location, use
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AnonymousIn my example, which is appropriate: personally or in person?

Another example, if I may ask, which of the following is correct?

C. Can I go with her to the fitting room to see if the dress looks good on her?

D. Can I come with her to the fitting room to see if the dress lookds good on her?

If both are OK, what is the differen
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Thank you, de guzman. I appreciate it.
de guzmanBut if you're going to visit the fitting room is where the girl at, use come.
I was probably talking to the sales lady in this example. Don't you think 'go' is still the one appropriate here because the fitting room I'm visiting, where the girl is at, is a location other than my and the sales lady's curre
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Since the receptionist asked how you booked the room (rather than something like "Was the reservation made by a travel agent?), I would say "I booked the room in person is the better answer.

As far as the dressing room question, I would say that "go" is the better choice. However, I would add that some cases (where you don't have either "here" or "there" in the sent
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AnonymousC. Can I go with her to the fitting room to see if the dress looks good on her?
D. Can I come with her to the fitting room to see if the dress lookds good on her?
You go to (into) places. You come from (out of) places. Use C.

Note the contrast: I came out of the fitting room with her.

CJ
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AnonymousThank you, de guzman. I appreciate it.
de guzmanBut if you're going to visit the fitting room is where the girl at, use come.
I was probably talking to the sales lady in this example. Don't you think 'go' is still the one appropriate here because the fitting room I'm visiting, where the girl is at, is a location other than my
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Thank you, khoff, CJ, and de guzman, for your helpful responses.

I was wondering if "come there" or "go here" would really sound incorrect. Is it absolutely not correct to say the following?

I'll come there (to your house) on Friday. -- Suppose they are on the phone and the listener is at his home, is it not correct to speak from the listener's point of view (ie.
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In the contexts you describe, the examples you give sound perfectly fine (at least to me). Most usage rules are general rules, not absolute. The context is always important.
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