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 'Lead Up To': Meaning and Historical Use

"To truly understand life's journey, observe what leads up to each moment, for the path enlightens the destination."

📖 Definition

The phrasal verb 'lead up to' refers to the time or events preceding a particular moment or development, often signifying gradual progression.

Examples in context

The activities in the park led up to the grand fireworks display.
The clues pieced together led up to uncovering the hidden treasure.
Intense training sessions led up to the team's championship victory.

📖 Definition

The phrasal verb 'lead up to' refers to the time or events preceding a particular moment or development, often signifying gradual progression.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

Yes

The verb can separate its object, e.g., 'lead events up' or 'lead up to events'.

Neutral

Used in both informal and formal contexts without changing meaning.

Transitive

Yes

Requires a direct object, typically an event or a situation.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	lead up to	The events lead up to a thrilling finale.
Past Simple	led up to	Yesterday's discussions led up to the agreement.
Present Continuous	leading up to	We are leading up to a crucial meeting.
Present Perfect	have led up to	The negotiations have led up to a successful deal.

💡 When to Use

Before significant events

Use when discussing activities or situations that happen before major occurrences to indicate buildup.

Example: "The rehearsals led up to the opening night."

Explaining cause and effect

Use to show how earlier actions result in later outcomes, emphasizing progression.

Example: "His studies led up to his graduation success."

Narrating chronological events

Utilize when outlining the sequence of events leading to a moment, highlighting time flow.

Example: "The days led up to their long-awaited vacation."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Wrong tense usage

❌ Wrong: They leaded up to a conclusion.

✅ Correct: They led up to a conclusion.

💡 Tip: Remember 'lead' becomes 'led' in the past tense.

Using without an object

❌ Wrong: We will lead up to.

✅ Correct: We will lead up to the main discussion.

💡 Tip: Always specify the event or outcome following 'lead up to'.

Incorrect separable use

❌ Wrong: Lead the meeting up to.

✅ Correct: Lead up to the meeting.

💡 Tip: Ensure the phrasal verb correctly relates to its object.

Practice

LEAD UP 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

The activities in the park led up to the grand fireworks display.
Words In The Wind
2
Listen to example

The clues pieced together led up to uncovering the hidden treasure.
Words In The Wind
3
Listen to example

Intense training sessions led up to the team's championship victory.
Words In The Wind

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

precede culminate in

Antonyms

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"The events that ___ a major change often go unnoticed."

lead down to

lead up to

lead across to

lead away from

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Lead Up To

What is the origin of lead up to?

The term 'lead up to' originates from the concept of guiding or directing towards a certain outcome, with 'lead' historically meaning to direct or guide a course.

Can lead up to be used in formal and informal contexts?

'Lead up to' is a versatile expression fitting both informal and formal contexts, offering a neutral tone suitable for both casual conversations and official communications.

What is the difference between lead up to and precede?

'Lead up to' implies progression towards an event with potential causation, while 'precede' simply indicates happening before without necessary progression.

Browse All Words In The Wind 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

LEAD UP TO - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Quick Check

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Lead Up To

Related Phrasal Verbs

Alessandra Nóbrega