“to go back” vs. “to come back”

“to go back” vs. “to come back”

These two phrasal verbs are often confused because they both mean “to return,” but they are used in different ways, so you have to be careful!

Basically, “to go back” means to return home (your house, your apartment, your country, your city, etc.). However, “to come back” means to go somewhere else, and then return to the same place where they were when they said the statement.

Here is an example:

“After I finish my studies at L.S.I., I will go back to Italy and see my family and friends again. I hope I can come back to Los Angeles someday, but I don’t know when I can do that,” said Claudio, an Italian student who is in L.A. right now.

So, in other words, “to go back” means to return home and stay there, usually for a long time.

“To come back” means to go to a different place (anywhere, it don’t have to be home) and return to the same area he/she is standing when the sentence was said.

Posted by Paul G.