Phrasal verb
come about
Definition
phrasal verb. to happen or take place, especially when you did not plan for it.
phrasal verb. to happen or occur; often used to describe the genesis or development of a situation or event.
Examples
“How did this change come about?”
“The opportunity to work in Japan came about through a chance meeting at a conference.”
“Historians are still debating how such a radical shift in public opinion could have come about in such a short period of time.”
Examples
simple
“How did this change come about?”
contextual
“The opportunity to work in Japan came about through a chance meeting at a conference.”
complex
“Historians are still debating how such a radical shift in public opinion could have come about in such a short period of time.”
Usage
intransitive; it does not take a direct object.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'happen' by explaining that 'come about' often implies a process or a series of events led to the result.
Pitfall
How did the accident come about it?
How did the accident come about?
this phrasal verb is intransitive and cannot take an object.
Phrasal verb
Particles
about
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
subject + come + about
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/come-about