“Where Do You Come From?” vs. “Where Are You Coming From?”: What’s the Difference?
Jun 8, 2023
Engram
The difference between “Where do you come from?” and “Where are you coming from?”
"Where do you come from?" asks about someone's place of origin or hometown, while "Where are you coming from?" asks about someone's immediate location before arriving at their current location.
"Where do you come from?" refers to a past event and assumes that the person being asked has already arrived at their current location, while "Where are you coming from?" refers to a current ongoing event indicating that the person is still on their way to the current location.
"Where do you come from?" is usually used when meeting someone for the first time, while "Where are you coming from?" is usually used in situations where the person has been expected to arrive.
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What is the definition of “Where do you come from?” and “Where are you coming from?”?
Where do you come from?
This question is used to ask about someone's place of origin or hometown.
The verb "come" suggests that the person being asked has already arrived at their current location.
This question is usually asked in the present tense.
Where are you coming from?
This question is used to ask about someone's location immediately prior to their current location.
The verb "coming" suggests that the person being asked is currently in the process of arriving at their current location.
This question is usually asked in the present progressive tense.
Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?
“Where do you come from?” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Where do you come from?
3,710,000 results on the web
Examples
"Where do you come from?" asked the immigration officer at the border.
"Do you know where your ancestors came from?" asked the genealogist.
Where are you coming from?
553,000 results on the web
Examples
"Where are you coming from?" asked the security guard at the airport.
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