he was coming

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was coming" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is in the process of arriving or approaching a location. Example: "As the party was getting started, we heard that he was coming, and everyone was excited to see him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He was coming.

The New Yorker

"He was coming at us".

Independent

He was coming awake.

The New Yorker

He was coming to the protest.

The New York Times

Did they know he was coming?

Independent

He was coming to what pleased him.

The New Yorker

Routh said that he was coming by.

The New Yorker

I thought he was coming for me.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

"I didn't know he was coming back," Bates said.

The Guardian - Business

"He was coming to make a living".

The New York Times

"He was coming for medical treatment.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he was coming" to describe an action in progress, indicating someone's approach or arrival to a specific place or situation. Be mindful of the context to ensure clarity about the destination or outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "he was coming" when a simple past tense like "he came" is more appropriate. The progressive aspect implies a continuing action, so ensure the context supports this meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was coming" functions as a verb phrase employing the past progressive tense. It describes an action that was in progress at a specific point in the past. As Ludwig confirms, its grammatical structure is acceptable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he was coming" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe an action of approaching or arriving that was in progress in the past. As Ludwig highlights, this phrase appears frequently in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, it's crucial to understand the progressive aspect to avoid tense confusion. Understanding alternatives like "he was arriving" or "he was on his way" can enrich your writing and provide greater clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was arriving

Replaces "coming" with a more formal synonym, "arriving".

he was approaching

Emphasizes the action of getting closer, similar to "coming".

he was on his way

Indicates that someone has started their journey and is en route.

he was heading here

Specifies direction, implying movement toward a particular location.

he was en route

Formal way of saying someone is on the way.

he was getting near

Highlights the progressive reduction in distance.

he was drawing closer

Suggests a gradual and continuous decrease in distance.

he was about to arrive

Indicates an imminent arrival, suggesting the event is very near.

his arrival was imminent

Shifts the focus to the arrival itself, rather than the action of coming.

he'd be here soon

An informal way of saying that someone will arrive in a short amount of time.

FAQs

How can I use "he was coming" in a sentence?

Use "he was coming" to indicate that someone was in the process of arriving or approaching a location. For example: "I heard that "he was coming" to the meeting, so I waited for him."

What are some alternatives to "he was coming"?

Alternatives include "he was arriving", "he was approaching", or "he was on his way", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "he was coming" or "he came"?

Both are correct, but they have different meanings. "He came" indicates a completed action, while "he was coming" suggests an action in progress at a particular time.

What's the difference between "he was coming" and "he is coming"?

"He was coming" refers to a past action in progress, while "he is coming" refers to a present action in progress or a future plan. For example, "he is coming to the party tonight" indicates a future event.