What Does โCome of doing sthโ Mean?
โCome of doing sthโ means the result or outcome of doing something. It often refers to what happens or what you get from a particular action or effort.
Introduction
The phrase โcome of doing sthโ is a common English expression used to talk about the result or consequence of an action. When you want to ask about or explain what happens after someone does something, this phrase is very useful. For example, if you want to know if studying hard will lead to good grades, you might ask, โWhat will come of studying every day?โ Understanding the โcome of doing sth meaningโ helps learners to express outcomes clearly and naturally in conversation and writing. This phrase is often used in both casual and formal contexts, making it versatile for many situations.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: come of doing something
- Type: Intransitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: The result or outcome of doing something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โCome of doing sthโ is an inseparable phrase. It follows this pattern:
- come + of + doing something
Note that โdoing somethingโ is usually a gerund (verb + -ing) describing the action.
Example pattern: What will come of + [verb]-ing?
How to Use โCome of doing sthโ?
Use โcome of doing sthโ when you want to talk about what happens as a result of an action. It is often used in questions and statements about outcomes, especially when the result is uncertain or being considered.
For example, you can ask, โWhat will come of her decision to move abroad?โ or say, โNothing good came of their argument.โ
Examples
- What will come of working so hard every day?
- Nothing good came of ignoring the warnings.
- She wondered what would come of her efforts to learn English.
- Hard work often comes of practicing regularly.
- We donโt know what will come of the new project yet.
These examples show โcome of doing sth in a sentenceโ used naturally to discuss results.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: What will come from to do this?
- Correct: What will come of doing this?
- Incorrect: Nothing comes of to try hard.
- Correct: Nothing comes of trying hard.
Remember to use the gerund (-ing form) after โcome of.โ
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include โresult from,โ โcome from,โ and โfollow from,โ but they differ slightly:
- Come of doing sth: Focuses on the outcome of an action, often uncertain or unknown.
- Result from sth: Shows a direct cause-effect relationship.
- Come from sth: Refers to origin rather than outcome.
Example: โWhat comes of studying hard?โ is about the result. โSuccess results from studying hardโ shows cause and effect clearly.
Common Collocations
- come of doing something important
- come of making a decision
- come of taking a risk
- come of ignoring advice
- come of trying hard
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of come of doing sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Iโm worried about starting a new job. What do you think will come of it?
Ben: I believe good things will come of your hard work.
Anna: I hope so! I want to see some results soon.
Ben: Just keep trying; usually, success comes of persistence.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form:
What will _____ of studying every day?
- a) come
- b) comes
- c) coming
- d) came
Answer: a) come
FAQs
- Q: Can I use โcome of doing sthโ in formal writing?
A: Yes, it is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. - Q: Is โcome of doing sthโ always about positive results?
A: No, it can refer to positive, negative, or neutral outcomes. - Q: What verb form follows โcome ofโ?
A: A gerund (verb + -ing) always follows โcome of.โ - Q: Is โcome ofโ separable in a sentence?
A: No, โcome ofโ is inseparable. - Q: Can โcome ofโ be used with nouns instead of verbs?
A: Usually, it is followed by a gerund, but you can use a noun phrase that describes an action.

