Which one is correct? (Usage of "reach" vs. "arrive")

Question

The boys are about to reach.

The boys are about to arrive.

When should I use reach and when should I use arrive?

"The boys are about to reach." sounds wrong because it is missing the location they are reaching. ('reach' requires a direct object). 'arrive' implicitly refers usually to 'here' (the location of the speaker, or the location in the context. — Mitch, Commented Mar 26, 2011 at 22:35

snumpy · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-26 19:10:24Z

8

Reach is transitive when referring to a destination, meaning it needs a direct object. So you want to say

The boys are about to arrive.

Or, you could say

The boys are about to reach their destination.

answered Mar 26, 2011 at 19:10

snumpy

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"The plane arrived on time"or "The plane reached on time"
– aliya
Commented Mar 26, 2011 at 19:17
3

"The plane arrived on time," or "the plane reached the terminal on time," not, "the plane reached on time."
– snumpy
Commented Mar 26, 2011 at 19:26
3

When you use reach, you most always need to follow it with the place (the "where") that the subject reached: it reached the terminal, he reached the finish line, etc.
– mgkrebbs
Commented Mar 26, 2011 at 20:56
3

@aliya: In the context of a plane arriving, "on time" refers to it getting there at its scheduled time (It was due to arrive at six o'clock, and it arrived on time). "In time" means "with enough time for (something)" - for example, The plane arrived in time for us to reach the theatre before the start of the show.
– psmears
Commented Mar 27, 2011 at 10:10
1

There is also a subtle nuance of perspective. To a person at the origin, the boys leave and then reach their destination. To a person at the destination, the boys arrive.
– fixer1234
Commented Mar 24, 2017 at 6:50

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