came

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "came" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, typically to indicate arrival or occurrence in the past. Example: "She came to the party late but still managed to enjoy herself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I want to bring our country together, our United Kingdom together, not least by implementing as fast as we can the devolution that we rightly promised and came together with other parties to agree both for Wales and for Scotland.

The Guardian

Then came the civil war.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Then came 2008.

The New York Times

Then came the second world war and the horrors of the nuclear bomb.

The Guardian - Opinion

Keneally said her involvement in the proposal came at the "pointy end" and what was presented to her was a bad cabinet minute.

The Guardian

But any irony involved in a coalition government that came to power pledging to scrap identity cards introducing a system of foreign residence permits will be lost as the political parties indulge in "a race to the bottom" over immigration.

The Guardian

Among them is Holly Dolan, a "school healthcare educator," who came down from Pennsylvania because of her "frustration at the lack of understanding of the reforms".

The Guardian

Then came the Internet.

The New York Times

The alleged warning from Obeid would have came before – as Icac was previously told – a member of the former NSW energy minister Chris Hartcher's staff made an anonymous complaint levelling false allegations of corruption against Schott.

The Guardian

The news came as a surprise to nationalist colleagues, although Mr Mallon is a year older than Mr Hume, who is retiring on health grounds.

The Guardian

But it never came.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "came" to describe a past action of arriving, occurring, or originating. Ensure the context clearly indicates the subject's movement or the event's occurrence in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "come" when the past tense is required. "Come" is the base form; "came" is the past tense. For example, use "he came to the party" instead of "he come to the party".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "came" is to serve as the simple past tense of the verb "come", indicating an action of arriving, approaching, or happening that occurred in the past. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it connects a subject with a past action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "came" is the simple past tense of "come", indicating an action of arriving, approaching, or happening that occurred in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. Its prevalence in news and media sources like The Guardian and The New York Times underscores its neutral register. When writing, ensure you're using "came" to accurately represent past actions. While alternatives like "arrived" or "appeared" exist, "came" serves as a versatile and standard choice for most contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arrived

Focuses specifically on the act of reaching a destination, emphasizing the end point of a journey.

showed up

An informal way to say someone arrived, often used in casual conversation.

reached

Focuses on the accomplishment of arriving at a specific place or condition after some effort.

appeared

Suggests a sudden or unexpected entrance or manifestation, often implying a sense of surprise or novelty.

emerged

Implies a gradual process of becoming visible or known, often from a hidden or obscure state.

approached

Highlights the act of moving closer to a specific point or time, indicating an impending arrival or event.

materialized

Emphasizes the realization or occurrence of something that was previously uncertain or abstract.

occurred

Shifts the focus to the happening or taking place of an event, rather than physical movement.

transpired

Highlights the unfolding or development of a series of events over time, often with an element of surprise or intrigue.

presented itself

Indicates that an opportunity, problem, or situation became apparent or available.

FAQs

How do I use "came" correctly in a sentence?

"Came" is the past tense of "come" and should be used to describe actions that have already happened. For example, "She "came" to the meeting yesterday".

What are some alternatives to using "came" in my writing?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "arrived", "appeared", or "emerged" to add variety to your writing.

Is there a difference between "came" and "come"?

"Came" is the past tense form, while "come" is the base form or present participle. Use ""came"" for past events and "come" with auxiliary verbs like "has", "have", or "will". For example, "He has "come" to help".

When should I use "came" versus "coming"?

"Came" is the simple past tense, while "coming" is the present participle, often used with a form of "to be". For example, "She "came" to the party", versus "She is "coming" to the party".