Question
Updated on
26 Nov 2022
- Simplified Chinese (China)
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English (US)
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Japanese
Question about English (US)
If I can’t show up at Simon’s party, which sentence will be correct to say?
1. Sorry, I can’t *come* to the party.
2. Sorry, I can’t *go* to the party.
If I can’t show up at Simon’s party, which sentence will be correct to say?
1. Sorry, I can’t *come* to the party.
2. Sorry, I can’t *go* to the party.
1. Sorry, I can’t *come* to the party.
2. Sorry, I can’t *go* to the party.
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26 Nov 2022
Featured answer
- English (US)
Either one would work. However to me I look at it this way. If I'm talking directly to Simon I'd say, "Sorry I can't come to the party." (His party)
If I was speaking to someone else about the party I'd say, "Sorry, I can't to go the party." (Simon's party)
Highly-rated answerer
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- English (US)
Either one would work. However to me I look at it this way. If I'm talking directly to Simon I'd say, "Sorry I can't come to the party." (His party)
If I was speaking to someone else about the party I'd say, "Sorry, I can't to go the party." (Simon's party)
Highly-rated answerer
- Simplified Chinese (China)
@HebrewDane Thank you. What if it was a meeting? Which sentence would be correct?
1. Sorry, I can’t come to the meeting.
2. Sorry, I can’t go to the meeting.
If both are correct, explaining the difference a bit would be great.
1. Sorry, I can’t come to the meeting.
2. Sorry, I can’t go to the meeting.
If both are correct, explaining the difference a bit would be great.
- English (US)
@studiousboy In my previous answer I mixed up two words. I wrote "can't to go" and I meant "can't go to." Sorry, I type too fast sometimes.
If it was a meeting it would be pretty much the same. You could use either one. However, once more, if I was speaking to the person who perhaps is holding the meeting. I'd say can't come. If I was speaking with others who are supposed to attend the meeting I'd say, "can't go." But it's not carved in stone.
Highly-rated answerer
- Simplified Chinese (China)
@HebrewDane That’s fine. I can understand. What does that last sentence mean though?
“But it’s not carved in stone.”
“But it’s not carved in stone.”
- English (US)
@studiousboy Sorry. It's just a phrase. It means it's not definite. It's not a "must follow" rule. Carved in stone means that something is definite and cannot be changed. Like if you are carving letters or shapes in stone. Like a sculptor. If you carve something it is permanent. You can't erase something in stone. It's just a slang expression.
Highly-rated answerer
- Simplified Chinese (China)
@HebrewDane Ah, that makes sense. Thank you! I’d like to ask you another question. My English teacher said it’s incorrect to say “I go first” when we want to leave someone, we need to say “I have to go”. Is that true?
- English (US)
@studiousboy I'm not exactly sure what you mean here. The only time I'd say, "I go first" would be, perhaps, if people were taking turns at something. Like if I was waiting in line to pay for something at a store and had a friend with me. I migiht say, "I go first and then you can go." That's not a good example though. Say a friend and I were waiting to use the bathroom at a store. We both had to pee. But only one person could use the bathroom at a time. I could say, "I go first." Then my friend could go after I came out.
If I have to leave a place, or leave someone then I'd say, "I have to leave." Or "I must leave now." Something like that. I hope this makes sense. Let me know if it doesn't.
Highly-rated answerer
- Simplified Chinese (China)
@HebrewDane Thank you for the great example! So “I go first” is only used when only one of the two people has access to something and I want to do it first, right?
- English (US)
@studiousboy Yes, more or less. When it's a situation where more than one person wants to do something. For example we have a game here called Charades. You act out a name, a TV show name, movie name, etc. Only using gestures. No words. So say there are 4 people playing the game. And I want to be the first one. I would say, "Ill go first." It is my turn to go first. Got it, I hope? Ask me anything you want.
Highly-rated answerer
- Simplified Chinese (China)
@HebrewDane Thank you! So the future tense should be used in that situation. “I’ll go first.”
I’d like to ask, if I wanted to take a shower before someone else, which sentence would sound more natural?
1. I go first.
2. I’ll go first.
I’d like to ask, if I wanted to take a shower before someone else, which sentence would sound more natural?
1. I go first.
2. I’ll go first.
- English (US)
@studiousboy You could say "I go first" if you want and that's OK. You could also say "I'll go first" and it would mean the same. If you are basically telling the others, like you have made up your mind, you could say "I go first." If you are all deciding who might go first you could make a suggestion, I'll go first. But trust me. It's not a big deal. You can say it either way.
Highly-rated answerer
- Simplified Chinese (China)
@HebrewDane Thank you! In the shower situation, can you tell me if these sound natural too?
1. I take a shower first.
2. I go take a shower first.
3. I’ll take a shower first.
4. I’ll go take a shower first.
1. I take a shower first.
2. I go take a shower first.
3. I’ll take a shower first.
4. I’ll go take a shower first.
- English (US)
3 and 4 are the best. The first two aren't quite right. In addition to 3 and 4 you might also say something like, "Let me take my shower first." or "I'm going to shower first."
Again, there are often different ways to say the same thing. You don't have to use one specific way.
Highly-rated answerer
- Simplified Chinese (China)
@HebrewDane Thank you! So if I were to say a full sentence, using the present tense is not correct. But why “I go first” is correct? I thought only “I’ll go first” is correct in the shower situation.
- English (US)
@studiousboy The first two you wrote were not correct. "I take a shower first" and "I go take a shower first." You need to use "I will take a shower first" which is the same as "I'll take a shower first." I didn't mean to confuse you.
Highly-rated answerer
- Simplified Chinese (China)
@HebrewDane Yes, I know that. But you said “I go first” was correct in the same shower situation. I thought only “I’ll go first” is correct because I haven’t gone take a shower when I say that. So why is “I go first” correct but “I go take a shower first” is not? They both contain the present verb tense, right?
- English (US)
@studiousboy I see what you are referring to. What I meant when I said "I go first" is correct I mean in a situation like this. Say three of us are waiting to take a shower. There is only room for one in the shower at a time. So I say, "I got first, then you go second (pointing at one guy) and then you go last" (pointing at the last guy) But as we've discussed most of the time you would say, "I'll go first."
Highly-rated answerer
- Simplified Chinese (China)
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