Come or Came: Understanding the Past Tense of “Come”
Quick Answer
The past tense of come is came. With “have,” “has,” or “had,” use come again (not “came”).
Every day: I come home at six.
Yesterday: I came home late.
Many times: I have come home late before.
Come, Came, Come — See the Pattern
Read these sentences. Look at how the verb changes:
- They come to class every morning. (now — it happens every day)
- She came to the party last night. (past — it is finished)
- He has come to visit us many times. (past with “has”)
Did you see the pattern? The word “come” is used two times — for now AND with have/has/had. Only the past tense changes to came.
| When? | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Now / every day | come | They come here often. |
| In the past | came | She came early. |
| With have / has / had | come | He has come back. |
When to Use Came and When to Use Come
This is the part that confuses many learners. Here is the simple rule:
Use “came” when you talk about the past — something that is finished:
- My friend came to see me yesterday.
- The bus came late this morning.
Use “come” when there is a helping word before it — have, has, or had:
- She has come to every meeting this year. (with “has”)
- They have come a long way since last year. (with “have”)
- He had come home before the rain started. (with “had”)
Easy way to remember: If you see have, has, or had before it, use come. If you are just talking about the past, use came. And there is no such word as “comed” — ever.
The Rule in One Line: have/has/had → come. No have → came. Never “comed.”
How to Use Come and Came in Everyday English
Here are sentences you might use every day:
- She came to work early today. (past — it is finished)
- The letter has finally come. (with “has” — use come)
- We came home and made dinner. (past — it is finished)
- Have you ever come to London before? (with “have” — use come)
- The children came running when they heard the music. (past — it is finished)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With Come
Even advanced learners mix up “came” and “come” sometimes — so if you get confused, you are not alone. Even native speakers’ children say “I comed” when they are learning to talk.
Mistake 1: Saying “comed” instead of “came”
✗ She comed to the shop with me.
✓ She came to the shop with me.
Mistake 2: Using “came” with have/has/had
✗ He has came home early.
✓ He has come home early.
Mistake 3: Using “come” for the past without have/has/had
✗ They come to visit us last weekend.
✓ They came to visit us last weekend.
How to remember: “Come” is special — the word comes back to itself with have/has/had. Think: “I have come back.” The word literally comes back!
Other verbs like this: become → became → become, overcome → overcame → overcome.
Test Yourself: Come, Came, or Comed?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. She _______ home late last night.
2. They have _______ to visit us every summer.
3. The bus has already _______.
4. My friends _______ to my party last weekend.
5. He had _______ to the office before anyone else.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned come, came, come. That is one more irregular verb you will never get wrong again.
But here is something interesting. “Come” and go are opposites — but “go” does something much stranger in the past. It does not just change a letter. It becomes a completely different word: went. And the form with have/has/had? That is gone — not “go” again. So why does “come” go back to itself, but “go” turns into something totally different?
Next lesson: Went or Gone — What Is the Past Tense of Go?
Source
Conjugation of come — Reverso Conjugator
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
