When I speak in English, translating from my mother tongue, I tend to use the sentence "I will come now" quite a lot. But I never came across a native speaker using this in any English videos. Could you please let me know if this is a valid sentence (commonly used) and if not could you please suggest an alternative which would sound more natural?
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1Whether or not I will come now means I will soon be there depends entirely on the expected journey time (and the context-specific implications of "soon"). Speaker might be about to leave home to catch a train to the airport, but not arrive at his destination for another day or two.– FumbleFingersCommented Aug 2, 2023 at 11:00
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1Maybe adding some context would clarify things. Most people speaking my mother tongue would say I will come now when they are doing something, for example preparing food in the kitchen when somebody calls the person for some immediate help. Example: A: Have you seen my keys? B: Wait, I will come now.– ViniCommented Aug 2, 2023 at 11:21
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3As per @James' answer, we say I'm coming! if we're within earshot of addressee (in another room in the same house, for example). But that's for very imminent arrival - if you're traveling to get somewhere, I'm on my way is more likely.– FumbleFingersCommented Aug 2, 2023 at 11:58
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“I’m coming!” or just “Coming!” is also very commonly used from inside the house when someone rings the door bell, to indicate to the person at the door that you are on your way to open the door. And worth noting in addition to @FumbleFingers’ comment: if someone calls you and you say, “(I’m) coming!” and start moving towards them, and they then call you again before you get there – then you would either repeat yourself and say, “Yeah yeah, I’m coming!”, or you could say, “I’m on my way!”, even though you’re not actually ‘travelling’, just going from one room in the house to another.– Janus Bahs JacquetCommented Aug 2, 2023 at 21:44
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1 Answer
I'd be more likely to say "I'm coming". If you are doing it "now" you don't need a future tense, present continuous is more appropriate. And if you use present continuous, you don't need "now" except for emphasis.
So a short and natural utterance is "I'm coming".
Of course the fact you are coming means you will arrive at the end of your journey, which might be very short, or might be long. In context people would understand if this implies you will arrive soon.
