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Questions & Answers about Komm doch morgen vorbei.
What grammatical form is Komm?
It’s the imperative for du (addressing one person informally). The other imperatives are:
- Kommt (informal plural, addressing several people).
- Kommen Sie (formal, polite singular or plural). All three can take the rest of the sentence: Komm/Kommt/Kommen Sie doch morgen vorbei.
What does the little word doch add here?
Doch is a modal particle that softens or encourages the imperative. It turns a bare command into a friendly invitation or suggestion, similar to English nuances like “do come,” “come on,” or “why don’t you.” Depending on tone and context, it can also show mild impatience, but here it’s typically warm and inviting.
Why is vorbei at the end and separated from komm?
Because vorbeikommen is a separable verb. In main-clause imperatives, the verb stem (komm) goes first and the separable prefix (vorbei) goes to the end: Komm … vorbei. The dictionary form is one word: vorbeikommen.
Does vorbeikommen mean “to pass by” or “to stop by for a visit”?
In this sentence, it means “to stop by / come over (for a visit).” If you want “to pass by without stopping,” you typically use constructions like an etwas/jemandem vorbeigehen/fahren (e.g., am Haus vorbeigehen).
Where can morgen go in the sentence?
Common placements include:
- Komm doch morgen vorbei. (neutral and very natural)
- Morgen komm doch vorbei. (fronting time for emphasis)
- Komm morgen doch vorbei. (also fine) Keep vorbei at the end, since it’s the separable part.
How formal is this sentence?
Komm addresses one person informally (with implied du). For polite/formal address, say Kommen Sie doch morgen vorbei. For several people informally, Kommt doch morgen vorbei.
Can I add bitte to be more polite?
Yes. Natural options include Bitte komm doch morgen vorbei or Komm doch bitte morgen vorbei. Both sound friendly; bitte can be placed near the verb or at the start.
Do I need an exclamation mark with an imperative?
It’s optional. Komm doch morgen vorbei! looks a bit more like an invitation with energy; Komm doch morgen vorbei. reads as a gentler suggestion. Both are fine in everyday writing.
How do I say “Don’t come by tomorrow”?
Say Komm morgen nicht vorbei. This negates the act of coming by tomorrow. If you say Komm nicht morgen vorbei, you’re stressing “not tomorrow (but maybe another day).” Use the placement to control the emphasis.
Are there synonyms for vorbeikommen?
Yes:
- vorbeischauen (very common, casual: “stop by”)
- reinkommen / komm rein (come in, i.e., enter)
- rüberkommen (come over/cross over, often across a street/space) Each has slightly different imagery; vorbeikommen and vorbeischauen are the go-to verbs for “drop by.”
Does morgen here mean “tomorrow” or “morning”?
Lowercase morgen is the adverb “tomorrow.” Capitalized der Morgen means “morning.” Compare Morgen komm ich vorbei (Tomorrow I’ll come by) with Am Morgen (In the morning).
How would this look as a statement or a question instead of an imperative?
- Statement: Ich komme morgen vorbei. (present used for near future)
- Yes/no question: Kommst du morgen vorbei? Both are very natural alternatives to an imperative invitation.
How is vorbeikommen conjugated, and which auxiliary does it take in the perfect?
It’s conjugated like kommen and takes sein in the perfect:
- Present: ich komme vorbei, du kommst vorbei, …
- Perfect: ich bin vorbeigekommen, du bist vorbeigekommen, …
- Subclause: …, dass ich morgen vorbeikomme. (not separated)
- Infinitive with zu: vorbeizukommen
Is this doch the same word used to contradict a negative statement?
Yes, same word, different function. In answers, Doch! can mean “Yes it is!” (contradicting a negative). In our sentence, doch is a modal particle softening/encouraging the invitation.
Can I add mal for a more casual tone?
Absolutely: Komm doch mal morgen vorbei. Mal (from einmal) softens the request further and sounds very natural in spoken German. Doch mal often appears as a friendly pair in imperatives.
Can I include a place like “at my place”?
Yes: Komm doch morgen bei mir vorbei. Note the dative mir after bei. Time typically precedes place in German main clauses (time–manner–place), and vorbei remains at the end.