Come out from vs. come out of

Question

I'm waiting for someone to come out from that building.I'm waiting for someone to come out of that building.1.  Suppose I'm waiting outside across the street, which of the above sentences is correct to say?2.  Is there any difference between them?3.  Also, which is natural?Please advise.  Thank you.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

I always say to come out of that building. Still, I don't see anything particularly objectionable about to come out from that building. It sounds a little strange to my ear, but I don't see anything ungrammatical about it. The meaning is the same either way.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you very much for the answers.

Another question, if I may ask, which of the sentences below is correct?
If both are reasonable, what is the difference?
Which is more likely said by a native speaker?

I'm waiting for someone at the building to come out there.
I'm waiting for someone in the building to come out there.

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymouswhich of the sentences below is correct?
If both are reasonable, what is the difference?
Which is more likely said by a native speaker?

I'm waiting for someone at the building to come out there.
I'm waiting for someone in the building to come out there.

There? Someone in the building would come out here, or just come out (no here, no there).

If a person is going to come out, he must be inside, so you're waiting for someone in the building to come out. Someone at the building would likely be waiting outside the building, so there would be no need for him to come out; he's already out.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for that explanation. It makes sense to me now.

CalifJimThere? Someone in the building would come out here, or just come out (no here, no there).

Is it not reasonable to use 'there' supposing I'm talking to someone at a place far from the building?

I'm waiting for someone in the building to come out there. (pointing at the door of the building)

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI'm waiting for someone in the building to come out there. (pointing at the door of the building)

Ah, yes. OK. (But you didn't provide a photo of yourself pointing at the door!

)

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

So in that case, "come out there" is fine. Thank you for that clarification.

Sorry if I didn't give a clear picture of myself when uttering the example sentence.

Again, thank you for your kind assistance.

LouiseT · Answer

If you are pointing at the building then I would say:-

I am waiting for someone to come out of there. / out of that building.
........to come out of the door

Note that this is how I would say it. Some people leave out the preposition

They are coming out of the building there. ( At that particular spot that I am pointing to.)

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, Louise, for sharing your thoughts on this.

LouiseTI am waiting for someone to come out of there. / out of that building.
..to come out of the door

Note that this is how I would say it. Some people leave out the preposition

Do you think this is one of the differences between American English (...to come out there) and British English (...to come out of there)?

Nevertheless, I think "to come out here" is always correct, but never "to come of here". Would you agree?

Also, I think the preposition 'of' in "come out of that building" and "come out of the door" is always required if I understood correctly CJ's response to my first post. Would you agree?

LouiseT · Answer

Yes I think this is a UK / US difference.

For me "in to" and "out of" are opposites so you go in to a building and you come out of a building. Out of as a preposition means no longer in.

When you are saying "Come out here" then the person you are talking to is not "in" here, so you would not say "out of".

Come out of the building and come here. (to where I am).
However if both people are in a place you can say "let's get out of here".

Imagine also a mother seeing her children in a room they are not supposed to be in. She enters the room, sees the children and say :-

Come on you two, out of here, you know you are not supposed to be here.

AnonymousAlso, I think the preposition 'of' in "come out of that building" and "come out of the door" is always required if I understood correctly CJ's response to my first post. Would you agree?

I agree.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, Louise, for your reponse and for that clarification. That was really helpful.

LouiseTCome on you two, out of here, you know you are not supposed to be here.

Just a question, is "out of here" in the example above just short for "get out of here"? If so, it can also be rewritten as follows:

Come on you two, (get) out of here, you know you are not supposed to be here.

Come out from vs. come out of

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