both came

USAGE SUMMARY

"both came" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use "both came" when you want to describe two people or things arriving or arriving together. Example: The twins were inseparable, so it was no surprise that both came to the party dressed in matching outfits.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Besiktas' goals both came from Cenk Tosun.

The Guardian - Sport

Stephen Daldry and Danny Boyle both came from regional theatre.

The Guardian

Ambition and carelessness both came naturally to me.

The New Yorker

Both came early in overtime.

The New York Times

Both came to nothing.

The Guardian - Opinion

They both came true.

The New York Times - Sports

Both came up trumps.

The Guardian - Books

Both came back?

The Guardian - Film

Both came off in the 35th minute.

The New York Times - Sports

They both came from politically ambitious families.

The New York Times - Books

Both came to Boston for the event.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "both came" to clearly indicate that two distinct entities or sources were involved in an action or arrival.

Common error

Avoid using "both come" when referring to a past event; use "both came" to maintain correct tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "both came" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of two entities arriving, originating, or resulting from something. As Ludwig AI shows, the phrase is used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "both came" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, mainly appearing in news and media contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability for indicating that two entities originated, arrived, or resulted in something. While alternatives like "they both arrived" or "both appeared" exist, "both came" provides a concise way to convey this information. It's crucial to maintain correct tense by using "both came" for past events, rather than the present tense "both come".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they arrived together

Replaces "came" with "arrived" and specifies that the arrival was simultaneous.

both appeared

Substitutes "came" with "appeared", emphasizing the act of becoming visible or noticeable.

they both emerged

Replaces "came" with "emerged", highlighting a gradual process of becoming apparent.

both resulted

Changes the focus to the outcome, indicating that something was produced or caused.

the two arose

Employs "arose" in place of "came", suggesting the commencement or origin of something.

they both materialized

Replaces "came" with "materialized", implying that something appeared suddenly or unexpectedly.

both originated

Changes the focus to the origin, suggesting the initial source or cause.

the pair turned up

Informal alternative to indicate that the two showed up.

the two presented themselves

Replaces the verb to came with a more formal expression indicating that the pair appeared.

both surfaced

Substitutes "came" with "surfaced" indicating that something was hidden before.

FAQs

How can I use "both came" in a sentence?

You can use "both came" to indicate that two subjects arrived or originated from something. For example, "The ideas "both came" from different sources".

What are some alternatives to "both came"?

Alternatives include "they both arrived", "both appeared", or "they both emerged", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. See more alternatives "they arrived together".

Is it grammatically correct to say "both come" instead of "both came"?

No, "both come" is present tense, while "both came" is past tense. Use "both came" when referring to a past event.

What's the difference between saying "both came" and "they both came"?

The difference is minimal. "Both came" is slightly more concise, while "they both came" explicitly states who is being referred to, adding emphasis.