A detailed explanation of how to use the phrasal verb 'come across' correctly like a native speaker, with lots of examples in context.
Hello and welcome to my website all about English phrasal verbs! Read on to learn more about the phrasal verb 'come across'....
'Come across' is a really common English phrasal verb and is a great one for you to master and have in your active English vocabulary. You may have come across this website online and I sincerely hope it comes across well! So without further ado, let's go....don't forget to leave a comment!
COME ACROSS: KEY INFORMATION
MEANINGS
Usage | Common |
Number of Meanings | 3 |
Separable? | No |
Past tense forms | Came across / come across |
For more explanation of the terms in the table above, click here
MEANING 1: Literal
CEFR Language Level | B1 - Intermediate |
Usage | Medium |
Separable | No |
Potential synonyms | To come over, to cross |
Before we look at the different ways that 'come across' can be used idiomatically, let's look at the basics and consider its individual components to understand its literal meaning.
Firstly, we have the verb 'to come', meaning to move from a place in the direction of where the speaker is. As you will know, 'to come' is an extremely common English verb that most you be very familiar with, so let's move on.
The second part of the construction is the prepositional particle 'across', meaning from one side of something to the other.
So, the literal meaning of 'to come across' is therefore to move from one side of something to the other side (where the speaker is). This could be a road, a field, a city, a room, a bridge a building, or anything else that a person or an object can move across from one side to the other.
Examples in usage....
She came across the room to tell me something.
I've come across the city especially to see you.
The horse is coming across the field towards me.
Although the literal meaning of 'come across' is used relatively often by native speakers, we often use the synonym 'come over' instead.
So now we have looked at the basic components of 'come across', what it means in a literal sense and how we use it, it's time to look at how we use it idiomatically....
MEANING 2 : To find something unexpectedly
CEFR Language Level | B2 - Upper Intermediate |
Usage | Common |
Transitive or Intransitive? | Intransitive (no direct object) |
Separable | No |
Potential synonyms | To find, to run into, to discover, to stumble across |
Perhaps the most common usage of 'to come across' in English is with the meaning to find something by chance or by accident, i.e. without wanting, trying or meaning to find it.
In other words, we use it when we want to express that we had no intention of finding what we found. There is neither a positive nor a negative feeling attached to this; it is simply used to talk about an experience.
It is also common to come across someone, rather than something and in this case it usually means that we meet them by chance (not find them, although this could also be possible!).
It can be used in this way in both business and general English and also in both formal and informal situations.
In a negative sense, we use it to express that we have not seen or heard of something before, for example when you find a new word in a language for the first time or find a blog online when you were searching for something else (like this one 😉).
Examples of usage....
I've lost my wallet somewhere in the office today. If you come across it, please can you let me know.
I was going through my emails today and I came across an important one from my boss that I had missed from last week.
After my father died, my mother and I were clearing out his things and we came across some old photos of him from when he was a young man.
I have not come across this word before; I will make sure that I memorise it!
In my entire career, I have never come across anyone whose behaviour is as bad as yours!
MEANING 3 : To seem
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Transitive or Intransitive? | Intransitive (no direct object) |
Separable | No |
Potential synonyms | To seem, to appear, to come over |
The next idiomatic meaning of 'to come across' that we are going to look at in this post has a very similar meaning to the verb 'to seem' and is used to express how someone or something is perceived by another person.
When used this way, the conjunction 'as' should be used before the noun or adjective. You can also use a verb in this construction, however it must be in the gerund form.
Examples of usage....
He comes across as a good guy but in reality he is not at all!
The solicitor came across as professional. I
John comes across as being highly motivated.
It is common for native speakers to use 'come across' when expressing their first impressions of another person, especially if the first impression is a little controversial.
Alternatively, it is also used to talk about how someone was perceived in a particular situation, such as giving a presentation.
Examples of usage....
I haven't spoken to my new manager much yet but to be honest he comes across as a bit arrogant!
Well done, you have got the job. I have had some really good feedback from the interviewers who said that you came across really well in the interview!
I had a date with a guy last night and he came across as a bit strange, so I don't think I want to see him again.
EXTRA INFORMATION TO SOUND LIKE A NATIVE
If you really want to use 'come across' in an advanced way, then you should know that we also use it to express how emotions or ideas that are expressed in speech, music or films are felt or perceived by people.
Used in this way, there is no direct object and so for this we neither require the conjunction 'as' nor a noun or adjective to follow afterwards.
Examples of usage....
When the King was talking about the death of his mother, his sadness came across in his voice.
He is a passionate teacher and that comes across when he is in the classroom.
SPEAK LIKE A NATIVE: TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF HOW 'TO COME ACROSS' IS USED BY NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS
If you can memorise some of the sentences below and use them in a conversation, it will help your English to come across as more natural and like that of a native speaker:
I've never come across [noun] before.
I came across your [noun] online
He / she comes across as [adjective] / a [noun].
If you go to [place], you're sure to come across.......
This is the best [noun] I have ever come across.
This is the worst [noun] I have ever come across.
EXERCISE
Re-write the following sentences using 'to come across'....
I was scrolling through my social media feed when I saw a post from my friend announcing the birth if their baby.
I can't believe he was so rude to you. He seemed like a lovely guy when I met him!
She's heading over here to this office later for a meeting.
What does the word "punctilious" mean in English? This is the first time that I have ever seen it! *
Helen was walking to work one morning when she noticed an injured bird by the side of the road.
It is clear that he cares a lot about his country as you can hear clearly it when he speaks.
* Punctilious means to show great attention to detail or to procedure
POTENTIAL IELTS QUESTIONS
Describe the most polite person you have come across in your life
What type of noise do you come across in your daily life?
Discuss some of the most interesting people you have come across in your life
EXERCISE ANSWERS (other variations may be possible)
I was scrolling through my social media feed when I came across a post from my friend announcing the birth if their baby.
I can't believe he was so rude to you. He came across as a lovely guy when I met him!
She's coming across to this office later for a meeting.
What does the word "punctilious" mean in English? This is the first time that I have ever come across it!
Helen was walking to work one morning when she came across an injured bird by the side of the road.
It is clear that he cares a lot about his country as it comes across clearly when he speaks.
This brings us to the end of the post, so thanks for reading. Now it is YOUR turn. Leave a comment on the blog post with your own sentence using 'come across'....don't be shy!
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If you found the post useful, please share it on social media, so together we can help as many English learners as possible to understand and master these tricky phrasal verbs. See you next time! James 😀
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