did not come

USAGE SUMMARY

"did not come" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that someone has not arrived at a certain location. For example, "John did not come to the party last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Literature

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And did not come.

The New York Times

It did not come.

The New York Times

It apparently did not come.

The New York Times

Many did not come cheap.

The Economist

It did not come cheaply.

The New York Times - Sports

He did not come close.

The New York Times - Sports

Muhannad did not come back.

The New Yorker

Solzhenitsyn did not come by.

The New Yorker

He did not come back.

The New York Times

That moment did not come.

The New York Times

But that did not come.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "did not come" to clearly and directly state that someone or something was absent or failed to arrive. This phrase is versatile and easily understood in most contexts.

Common error

While alternatives like "did not transpire" exist, they can sound overly formal in everyday conversation. Stick to "did not come" or simpler alternatives like "did not happen" for clarity and naturalness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not come" functions as a negative past tense form of the verb "come". It expresses that an action or event of arriving, occurring, or materializing did not happen in the past. Ludwig confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sports

15%

Literature

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "did not come" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to express absence, failure to arrive, or non-occurrence. Ludwig's AI confirms its validity and common usage. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, Sports, and Literature contexts. While alternatives exist, "did not come" is often the clearest and most direct option, suitable for both formal and informal communication. It is important to consider the specific context and desired nuance when choosing between "did not come" and alternatives like "failed to arrive" or "did not happen".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to arrive

Emphasizes the failure to reach a destination or expected point.

never materialized

Focuses on the idea that something planned or expected did not happen.

did not happen

A general way to express that an event did not occur.

was absent

Highlights the lack of presence of someone or something.

did not appear

Focuses on the lack of visibility or emergence.

never came to be

Emphasizes that something did not reach a state of existence.

fell through

Indicates that a plan or agreement failed to be completed.

did not transpire

A more formal way of saying that something did not occur.

was not present

Similar to "was absent", emphasizing the lack of presence.

did not attend

Specifically refers to the absence from a planned event.

FAQs

How can I use "did not come" in a sentence?

You can use "did not come" to indicate absence or failure to arrive. For example, "The package "did not come" today" or "She "did not come" to the meeting".

What are some alternatives to "did not come"?

Alternatives include "failed to arrive", "was absent", or "did not appear", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is "did not come" grammatically correct?

Yes, "did not come" is grammatically correct. It uses the auxiliary verb "did" with "not" to negate the past tense of the verb "come".

What's the difference between "did not come" and "never came"?

"Did not come" implies a specific instance where someone or something was expected but didn't arrive. "Never came" suggests a longer period or repeated absence. For example, "He "did not come" to the party last night," versus "Success "never came" easily to him".