Learn English – “Where are you coming from” is the sentence correct

grammarprepositionssentence-construction

I was taught that where are you going to is incorrect.

But if I use:

Where are you coming.

It seems to be ambiguous.

Can I say:

Where are you coming from.

Please Explain.

Best Answer

Where are you going to?

is not "incorrect"; it's merely a bit redundant. Your teachers probably want you to say "Where are you going?" for that reason, and you should take their advice in this but only with a grain of salt.

But you can't use the naked "Where are you coming?" You have to indicate the direction with from:

Where are you coming from?

English used to use the adverbs whither and whence to indicate motion to or from a location:

Whither are you going? [Whither goest thou?]

meant "Where are you going [to]?" and

Whence come you? [Whence comest thou?]

meant "Where are you coming from?"

These were handy additions to the vocabulary, but unfortunately they are now obsolete. You can't use them without sounding strange, ironic, or supercilious.

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