[Grammar] in a few minutes

[dido4]

1. The bus will come in a few minutes.
2. The bus will come a few minutes later.

Q1. Are these 2 sentences correct?
Q2. What are the differences between these two sentences?
Q3. in a few minutes; a few minutes later
Are there any differences between these two phrases?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Right. For instance:

- Me: When will the bus be here? You: The bus will come in a few minutes.

- School will let out at 3 p.m. The bus will come a few minutes later.

 

[Disckstuckinfan]

Would it sound more natural to use arrive in place of come?

I'm neither a techer nor a native English speaker.

 

[Yankee]

No.

 

[Tarheel]

Would it sound more natural to use "arrive" in place of "come"?

I'm neither a teacher nor a native English speaker.

You can use italics or quote marks to highlight words.

 

[Disckstuckinfan]

Dear Yankee, is it wrong to say arrive in this context?

OK Tarheel, I will use italics.

 

[Tarheel]

is it wrong to say arrive in this context?

.

No, but it is not, I think, natural. I, for example, might say:

The bus will be here soon.

 

[Yankee]

As always choice of phrase/words depends on context and familiarity between speaker and listener. I would typically go with, as Tarheel said, "The bus will be here soon".

 

[bubbha]

Would it sound more natural to use "arrive" in place of "come"?

Not in ordinary speech.

However, you are likely to hear "arrive" in a formal announcement, such as over a bus station's PA system. "Attention all passengers. The bus to Springfield will arrive in three minutes."

 

[Tarheel]

Yep. That's the only time I've ever used arrive. (Never.)