てきた tense/translation

お金がなくなっ てきた
I have continued to lose money.

Why does てきた result in the translation of “continued” here?

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てくる is a grammatical construction which means that something is continuing to happen. That’s it, really. If it’s not a grammar point on BP already then it should be, probably at N3 level.

This sentence is from Bunpro. Actually, I think it’s the present perfect that’s throwing me off. I can’t really figure out why てきた would result in “have continued”. Sorry for the pretty brief questions/explanations. I’m like half asleep as I’m writing these.

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くる means movement to the speaker.
いく means movement from the speaker.

Verb[て[ + くる/いく (when the verb describes some change that goes on for some time like losing money in this case, typical verbs are なる、増える etc) means that the change is continuing in relation to the present.
In case of てくる it is change happening to the present moment(from some point in past), and ていく from the present moment(to the future future).

So, お金がなくなっ てきた
Means that from some point in past, until now I have continued to lose money, something along “I have come to not have any money/The money run out” since it is in past tense.

And that’s right! The corresponding grammar point is in plans, not sure if it will be done after N2 will be finished or before it :grinning:

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