Lesson article
Spot the signal, compare it, then read it in context
Read all 3 sections in order. Notice the target form, compare it with the nearby alternative, then use the reading and practice below to check the meaning in context.
Section 1 of 3
Core movement verbs
行く means “go,” 来る means “come,” and 帰る means “return.” Read the destination first, then decide whether the movement is away from the speaker, toward the speaker, or back to a home base.
Target signal
七時に学校へ行きます。
I go to school at seven.
行く shows movement away from the speaker or the reference point.
Vocabulary notes
- 行きます
- go
- ます
- polite verb ending
- 七時
- seven o’clock
Compare in context
友だちは九時にうちへ来ます。
My friend comes to my house at nine.
来る shows movement toward the speaker’s side.
Vocabulary notes
- 友だち
- friend
- 来ます
- come (polite)
- うち
- home; our place
Compare in context
六時にうちへ帰ります。
I return home at six.
帰る is used for returning to home or another base place.
Vocabulary notes
- うち
- home; our place
- ます
- polite verb ending
- 六時
- 6 o'clock
Section 2 of 3
Point of view and destination
The same place can take 行く or 来る depending on the speaker’s point of view. Ask yourself where the “home base” is in the sentence, and the verb choice becomes easier.
Target signal
あした先生が教室に来ます。
The teacher is coming to the classroom tomorrow.
The classroom is the point of reference here, so 来ます fits naturally.
Vocabulary notes
- あした
- tomorrow
- 来ます
- come (polite)
- した
- did
Preview
土曜日に店へ行きます。
I go to the shop on Saturday.
The speaker is going somewhere else, so 行きます is the natural choice.
Vocabulary notes
- 行きます
- go
- 土曜日
- Saturday
- ます
- polite verb ending
Preview
仕事のあとでうちへ帰ります。
I go home after work.
仕事のあと often pairs naturally with 帰る.
Vocabulary notes
- あとで
- later; afterward
- あと
- after; later
- うち
- home; our place
Section 3 of 3
Reading in short exchanges
In short dialogue, the destination is sometimes omitted because everyone already knows it. Look at the speaker’s side and the final verb to understand the movement quickly.
Target signal
A: 田中さんは来ますか。 B: はい、来ます。
A: Is Tanaka coming? B: Yes, he is.
The short answer repeats the movement verb.
Vocabulary notes
- 田中さん
- Tanaka
- 来ます
- come (polite)
- さん
- Mr.; Ms.; polite name suffix
Preview
A: 今日は学校へ行きますか。 B: いいえ、うちへ帰ります。
A: Are you going to school today? B: No, I am going home.
The reply changes the destination and switches to 帰る.
Vocabulary notes
- 行きます
- go
- いいえ
- no
- いい
- good; nice; okay
Preview
友だちは図書館へ行って、わたしはうちへ帰ります。
My friend goes to the library, and I go home.
Two different movement verbs can appear in one sentence when the speakers move to different places.
Vocabulary notes
- わたし
- I; me
- 友だち
- friend
- 図書館
- library