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carnac

Grammatically, psycholingistically, however you want to look at it, is there a difference in meaning in these two sentences?
a) I came to see you yesterday, but you weren't home.
b) I went to see you yesterday, but you weren't home.
We know that "go" and "come" are antonyms, but here they are used semi-synonymously. How is this possible?
Is there a subtle difference in shading of meaning undetectable to most people? Is there a big difference? Would you, as the reciepient of either of these utterances, detect any difference? I have my own hesitant answer, but I would enjoy hearing opinions that differ from my own.
Thanks...

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Depends on where the speaker is speaking. "Came" designates here - this place. "I came (here) to see you."
"Went" indicates somewhere different. "I went (to your house) to see you."

carnac · Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:00 pm Post subject:

Thank you, Spiral.
Does this mean you believe that if you are at a different location, speaking to the person being visited, one must not say "I came to visit you...", but rather "I went etc"? But one can say "I came" only if physically located at the object destination? It's an interesting interpretation, and I will think about it.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I second Spiral on that - location helps define the two. However, would the conversation being over the telephone make any difference to it?

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Yeah, Guy...interesting thought. I still think 'came' would be used only when the speaker is currently in the location he/she visited yesterday. Which would mean that it probably would be rare in a phone conversation. That would be an interesting little research project for someone with too much free time!!

Remember that old phrase "he/she/they came and went?" I think it clearly demonstrates the difference that I feel in the two words.

But I'm not The English God - there could be other opinions on this one!

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Or should that be "The God of English?"" Very Happy

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I was thinking that it gets fuzzy when the phone is involved, and even fuzzier when you think of where someone is from when calling. An American in Mexico (let's call him Mr. Osbourne) calls home to mom and says 'Momma, I'm coming home!'.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

It's Friday night. I'll probably have a few beers and later on in the evening I will say. 'I need a taxi, I'm going home'... back to the flat where I live. However if the mrs phones me up and says 'where the @#^% are you' my response is 'on the way, I'm coming home'. as said before it's all about location, location, location.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

So maybe 'coming' is different from 'came' in some fundamental way I can't identify on Friday night...will consider the issue further on a working day!!

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Possibly related loosely to the 'going to' future to express plans? This would apply in both the cases cited: Mr. Osburne (who is HE??!!) and dmb in the pub as well.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Sorry, I'm slow tonight - obviously Ozzie.

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

I don't care what anybody says. This guy's definitely coming.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

It's a plan, eh? Shocked

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I'm disOriented by Ozzie & Co! Will consider on Monday...
But, hey, thanks to carnac for an interesting and amusing question!!