What Does โCome by sthโ Mean?
โCome by sthโ means to obtain or get something, often something rare or hard to find.
Introduction
The phrase โcome by sthโ is a common English phrasal verb used to describe the act of obtaining or acquiring something. When someone says they โcame byโ an item or information, it usually means they found it, received it, or got hold of it, often with some effort or luck. The phrase โcome by sth meaningโ is important because it helps learners understand how to express getting something in a natural and idiomatic way. This phrasal verb is frequently used in both spoken and written English, especially when talking about things that are not easy to find or when explaining how one obtained something.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: come by something
- Type: Intransitive (often followed by an object)
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To get or obtain something, usually something rare or valuable
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โCome by sthโ is generally inseparable, meaning you cannot put the object between โcomeโ and โby.โ
- Correct: come by something
- Incorrect: come something by
The typical pattern is:
- Subject + come(s) + by + object
- Example: She came by a rare book at the market.
How to Use โCome by sthโ?
Use โcome by sthโ when you want to talk about obtaining something, especially if it was not easy to get. It is often used for things that are rare, valuable, or unusual. You can use it in past, present, or future tenses depending on the situation.
Example contexts include: finding a hard-to-get item, receiving important information, or obtaining resources.
Examples
- Itโs hard to come by fresh vegetables in this small town.
- She came by an old letter while cleaning the attic.
- Where did you come by that antique watch?
- Good opportunities like this donโt often come by.
- He managed to come by the missing documents just in time.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I came the book by yesterday.
Correct: I came by the book yesterday. - Incorrect: She comes by it easy.
Correct: She comes by it easily. - Incorrect: Can you come it by?
Correct: Can you come by it?
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include โget,โ โfind,โ and โobtain.โ However, โcome byโ often implies more difficulty or rarity.
- Get: General word for receiving something. Less emphasis on difficulty.
- Find: Focuses on discovering something, often by chance.
- Obtain: Formal, means to get something through effort.
- Come by: Informal, suggests acquiring something that is not easy to get.
Common Collocations
- come by information
- come by a rare item
- come by a chance
- come by resources
- come by an opportunity
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of come by sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: How did you come by that vintage camera?
Ben: I found it at a flea market last weekend. It was a lucky find!
Anna: Thatโs amazing! Those are hard to come by these days.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of โcome byโ:
- Itโs difficult to _______ good advice in a stressful situation.
- Where did you _______ that old map?
- Rare books like this donโt often _______.
FAQs
- Q: Can โcome byโ be used for people?
A: No, it is used for things or information, not people. - Q: Is โcome byโ formal or informal?
A: It is mostly informal but acceptable in many contexts. - Q: Can I say โcome byโ for something easy to get?
A: Yes, but it usually implies something is not easy to get. - Q: Is โcome byโ separable?
A: No, it is inseparable; the object comes after โby.โ
