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N3

〜てくる: Change Up to Now

Learn how 〜てくる shows movement toward the speaker or change that has developed up to the present point.

Use 〜てくる for changes that reach the present.Recognize physical movement toward the speaker.Distinguish present-reaching 〜てくる from future-oriented 〜ていく.
Guided study

Core Meaning of 〜てくる

〜てくる often shows that a change has progressed up to now. It can also describe something that comes toward the speaker or current point of reference.

日本語がだんだん分かってきた。

I've gradually come to understand Japanese better.

The change has developed until now.

春らしい日が増えてきた。

Spring-like days have started to become more frequent.

The trend is reaching the present.

Practice guides for this lesson

Use these hub pages to connect this lesson with related reading practice and grammar paths.