1. Sometimes you keep something even though you don't need it at the time but because you think in the future it might 'come in useful'.
- Keep that. It might come in useful one day.
- I don't like learning English but it will come in useful when I get a job.
2. When something is falling, you can say that it is 'coming down'.
- The football match was stopped because the rain was coming down so heavily.
- Don't buy an Ipod yet. The prices will be coming down soon.
3. When a book is published, it 'comes out'.
- The magazine comes out once a month.
- My new book comes out in August.
4.If you 'come on to' a particular topic or idea, you start discussing it.
- Can we come on to the subject of parking?
- Before we come on to that, does anybody have any comments?
5. If you 'come across' something, you find it by accident.
- I came across these old photos when I was cleaning out my cupboard.
- She came across Richard in the middle of Oxford.
6. If a feeling 'comes over you', it affects you, often in an uncharacteristic way.
- I'm sorry for shouting. I don't know what came over me.
- A look of pleasure came over her face.
7. If a problem or situation 'comes up' it happens. (We can also say 'crops up'.)
- A big problem came up at work.
- Something has come up and I can't meet you.
8. If you 'come up with' a plan or idea, you think of it or suggest it.
- Peter came up with a good idea today.
- Can anybody come up with a solution?
9. If somebody 'comes across' as having a particular characteristic, they have given you the impression that they are like this.
- When you first meet Susan, she comes across as a shy person but in fact she is quite self-confident.
- Do you know that you come across as very arrogant?
10. When you are talking about the results of a situation, you can talk about what 'comes of' the situation.
- I'll let you know what comes of the meeting.
- No great harm came from it.
11. If an event or action 'comes off', it is successful or effective.
- I hope this high risk strategy comes off for us.
- I don't think it is going to come off.
12. If an idea 'comes upon' you, it develops without your really being aware of it.
- The idea came upon me when I was out walking the dog.
- I came upon the solution by pure chance.
exercise 1