Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Understanding the Phrasal Verb: Leave To

📖 Definition

To defer or entrust responsibility, decision, or outcome to another person or to fate, often when unsure of the result.

Examples in context

When stressed, I leave to meditation for finding peace.
They left to the coach to decide the team's strategy.
She’s leaving to him to make the final call on the project.

📖 Definition

To defer or entrust responsibility, decision, or outcome to another person or to fate, often when unsure of the result.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

The verb and particle cannot be split by an object.

Neutral

Can be used in both formal and informal contexts without tonal issues.

Transitive

Yes

Requires an object to complete its meaning.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	leave to	They leave the planning to their parents.
Past Simple	left to	She left the decision to her manager.
Present Continuous	leaving to	He is leaving to the experts to solve the issue.
Present Perfect	have left to	We have left the details to our lawyer.

💡 When to Use

Delegating responsibility

Use it when entrusting a task or duty to someone else, making it their responsibility.

Example: "She decided to leave the arrangements to her assistant."

Surrendering to fate

Apply it when outcomes are uncertain and you decide to let fate take its course.

Example: "We should leave to chance how this unfolds."

Indicating uncertainty

Use when you're uncertain about a situation and decide to let others decide.

Example: "I’ll leave to you to choose the movie."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Using separable form

❌ Wrong: Leave to them the decision.

✅ Correct: Leave the decision to them.

💡 Tip: Remember: 'leave to' is inseparable.

Incorrect tense

❌ Wrong: I leave to her advice yesterday.

✅ Correct: I left to her advice yesterday.

💡 Tip: Ensure past actions are in the past tense.

Missing object

❌ Wrong: He left to.

✅ Correct: He left the planning to us.

💡 Tip: Don't forget the object in sentences.

Practice

LEAVE TO - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

When stressed, I leave to meditation for finding peace.
How National Parks Came to Be
2
Listen to example

They left to the coach to decide the team's strategy.
How to Become a Hiker
3
Listen to example

She’s leaving to him to make the final call on the project.
Bringing Animals Back to Life

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

entrust to assign to

Antonyms

retain

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"He decided to ___ to his colleague for a fresh perspective."

left

leave to

leaved

living

"To truly find peace, one must sometimes leave to chance what the heart cannot control and the mind cannot comprehend."

In Context

In 1492, Christopher Columbus embarked on a voyage that would forever alter the course of history. Setting sail from Spain, his journey was driven by a singular determination to reach Asia by traveling westward across the Atlantic Ocean. Columbus had to leave to fate whether this uncharted path would lead to triumph or disaster. As the voyage stretched on and the supplies dwindled, his crew's anxiety grew. Columbus had to leave to his leadership skills to maintain their faith and perseverance. On October 12, 1492, after weeks without sight of land, they finally arrived at an island in what is now The Bahamas. This landfall marked one of humanity's great turning points, although Columbus initially believed he had reached the outskirts of Asia. He left to return to Spain, heralded as a hero for 'discovering' what he thought was the western route to Asia, although he had reached an entirely new continent. Columbus’s journeys paved the way for European exploration and colonization of the Americas. Yet, these voyages had profound and often devastating impacts on indigenous populations. The legacy of Columbus is thus a complex one, a testament to a man who left to chance the navigation of unknown seas, forever altering the course of human history.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Leave To

What is the origin of leave to?

The phrase 'leave to' originates from Middle English, where 'leave' meant to entrust or bequeath. Over time, it evolved to draw on the same concept of entrusting decisions or tasks to others, cementing its place in modern English usage.

Can leave to be used in formal and informal contexts?

Yes, 'leave to' is a neutral phrase that can be comfortably used in both formal and informal contexts. It’s suited for professional dialogues, casual conversations, and written forms without the risk of sounding out of place.

What is the difference between leave to and entrust to?

While 'leave to' and 'entrust to' both involve transferring responsibility, 'leave to' often implies faith in an outcome, sometimes surrendering to chance, whereas 'entrust to' emphasizes confidence in the competence or trustworthiness of the person tasked.

Browse All National Parks Phrasal Verbs

About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey

📖 Definition

📖 Definition

📝 Grammar Info

📊 Conjugation Table

💡 When to Use

⚠️ Common Mistakes

LEAVE TO - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Quick Check

In Context

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Leave To

Related Phrasal Verbs

Alessandra Nóbrega