coming
HighNeutral
Definition
Meaning
The act of moving towards or arriving at a place; approaching or forthcoming.
Used figuratively to indicate emergence, development, or future occurrence, such as in contexts like 'the coming of a new era' or 'an up-and-coming talent'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
'Coming' functions primarily as the present participle of the verb 'come', but also as an adjective (e.g., 'the coming storm') and occasionally as a noun (e.g., 'the coming of spring'). It often implies imminence or future relevance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning, spelling, or pronunciation. Minor variations may occur in colloquial phrases.
Connotations
Generally neutral or positive, depending on context (e.g., 'coming events' vs. 'coming trouble').
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
come + adverb/preposition (e.g., coming from London)come + to-infinitive (e.g., coming to understand)come + adjective (e.g., coming alive)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “coming apart at the seams”
- “coming to light”
- “coming of age”
- “coming to grips with”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in projections or announcements, e.g., 'The coming fiscal year looks promising.'
Academic
Often in historical or futuristic discussions, e.g., 'The coming of the Digital Age transformed communication.'
Everyday
Common in daily conversation, e.g., 'Dinner is coming in five minutes.'
Technical
Rare; may appear in logistics or timing contexts, e.g., 'Data coming from the server needs processing.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I am coming to the meeting shortly.
- The parcel is coming via royal mail.
American English
- She's coming over for coffee.
- The results are coming in now.
adverb
British English
- He finished the race coming first.
- Coming quickly, she avoided the obstacle.
American English
- Coming right up, your order will be ready.
- Coming fast, the car startled everyone.
adjective
British English
- The coming weekend will be rainy.
- He is a coming force in the art world.
American English
- We anticipate the coming elections.
- She's an up-and-coming journalist.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I am coming to school today.
- The taxi is coming now.
- She is coming to the concert with us.
- The coming holiday excites the children.
- With the coming of dusk, the city lights up.
- He is coming to realise the importance of honesty.
- The coming economic shifts require careful planning.
- Coming from a scientific background, he approaches problems analytically.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Link 'coming' to 'welcome' – both involve arrival, helping remember its core meaning of approach or arrival.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS MOVEMENT (e.g., 'the coming years' treats time as entities moving towards us).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'приходящий' for all contexts; use 'предстоящий' for future events.
- Confusion between verb and adjective uses; in Russian, different words may be required (e.g., 'приход' for noun, 'грядущий' for adjective).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'coming' as a noun where 'arrival' is more appropriate (e.g., 'the coming of the train' vs. 'the train's arrival').
- Overusing 'coming' in formal writing where 'forthcoming' or 'upcoming' might be preferable.
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'the coming decades', what does 'coming' imply?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'coming' can be a verb (present participle), adjective, or noun, depending on context.
Pronounce it as /ˈkʌmɪŋ/ in both British and American English, with stress on the first syllable.
Yes, but it is often neutral; for more formality, synonyms like 'forthcoming' or 'imminent' may be used.
It is an idiom referring to reaching adulthood or a period of maturation and new responsibility.
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