Come out x get out

[Metamorfose]

That's from another forum, is there any difference in using come out and get out in the sense of leaving something like in the examples below:


1- The man is coming out of the airplane.

2- The man is getting out of the truck.


I'd really appreciate your feedback.

José

[barista]

I don't there is too much difference since they both describe exiting or leaving something. I think it is mostly to do with the context and how the author uses language.

In speech, come out is an invitation ("Come out and play"), while get out is an order ("Get out of here").

In your examples, I think I would use coming out to describe leaving a building ("He's coming out of the house"), but use getting out to describe exiting a mode of transportation ("She's getting out of the car").

[lolwhites]

In the context of Meta's question, I think the main difference is the position of the speaker. In (1), he or she is outside the plane as come implies movement towards the speaker. If the speaker were inside the plane I don't think you would expect to hear The man is coming out.... In (2), the speaker could be either outside or inside - get doesn't provide this information.

What's more interesting is that if it were a car or taxi rather than a plane in (1), you'd be less likely to use come. I suspect that to come out of something, it has to be big enough for you to stand up; does anyone else have any other ideas?

[Lorikeet]

In the context of Meta's question, I think the main difference is the position of the speaker. In (1), he or she is outside the plane as come implies movement towards the speaker. If the speaker were inside the plane I don't think you would expect to hear The man is coming out.... In (2), the speaker could be either outside or inside - get doesn't provide this information.

What's more interesting is that if it were a car or taxi rather than a plane in (1), you'd be less likely to use come. I suspect that to come out of something, it has to be big enough for you to stand up; does anyone else have any other ideas?

Hmm I use that distinction for "in" or "on" the taxi, bus, car, plane, but I can say, "He's coming out of the car."

[lolwhites]

I guess there's nothing actually wrong with He's coming out of the car, but I think I'd be more likely to use getting, though maybe that's just a personal preference. There's oil coming out of the car sounds absolutely fine though, and There's oil getting out... is just awful - as if the oil had a mind of its own.

So maybe get also implies volition, whereas come emphasises movement toward where the speaker is, regardless of whether the movement is voluntary. What do others think?

[barista]

There's oil coming out of the car sounds absolutely fine though, and There's oil getting out... is just awful - as if the oil had a mind of its own.

I agree, it does sound awkward.

Another example is a person would get out of bed not come out of bed. I don't think the latter works very well, and although a person could come out of the bedroom, saying they got out of the bedroom sounds odd.

It sometimes might depend on where the speaker is compared to the subject. A parent might tell their children to Go to bed, but they would invite their spouse to Come to bed (if he or were already in bed and wished for his or her spouse). I think that is just a matter of expanding on Go there and Come here, but I think I'm digressing a bit too much.