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Unit 1: English In A Minute
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Session 11

Welcome to English In A Minute. Give us a minute and we'll give you a hot tip about English. Grammar, vocabulary... there's so much to learn! And all taught by your favourite BBC Learning English staff!

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    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

Come back vs go back

Do you have a minute to spare to learn some English? Here's Sam to explain the difference between come back and go back! Give us 60 seconds and we'll give you the English!

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Sam

Welcome back to BBC Learning English! I’m Sam and today we’re looking at the difference between come back and go back.

They both mean to return, but we use them differently.

We use come back when we return here. So, for example: I am in the BBC building now. Tonight I will go home, and tomorrow I will come back here - like a full circle.

We use go back to mean that we return there. For example: I am at work now, and tonight I will go back home. I am not at home now, but tonight I will go back – half the circle

So, please come back to BBC Learning English for more videos!

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Come back vs go back

Come back
When you come back, you leave and return to here - the place where you are when you speak. 

  • I need to leave, but I'll come back in 15 minutes.
  • Get out of my house and don't come back!
  • I'm sorry, she isn't here. But she's coming back tomorrow.

Go back
When you go back, you return there - to the place you were before.

  • I've had a lovely time, but I should go back home now.
  • There are only three more days before our holiday ends and we have to go back.
  • Stop stealing or you'll go back to prison.

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