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Encontrarse a / conThis is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish. |
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#1
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Encontrarse a / con
Siempre me encuentro a los vecinos por las mañanas:
I think this one means that you see them from a distance, but you don't say hello. A translation might be: - I always 'spot' my neighbours in the mornings. Siempre me encuentro con los vecinos por las mañanas: I think this one means that you see them, and that you also say hello to them i.e., you greet them. A possible translation: - I always 'bump into' my neighbours in the mornings. Clarification on this would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance. |
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#2
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The explanations for the examples you gave are correct.
The 'encontrarse a' structure means seeing someone, maybe from a distance, but not stopping to talk with them. You spotted someone. The intransitive construction, with 'con', means that you said something to someone that you saw. You're face-to-face. |
#3
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I agree with Rusty, but I'll add a note:
In Mexican colloquial speech, "siempre me encuentro a mis vecinos" may include interaction between you and your neighbors (you may or not greet or talk to them), but you didn't plan that meeting; in this case, it simply means that you all leave your homes at the same time, and the coincidence makes you see one another. => I always see my neighbours / I always bump into them. "Siempre me encuentro con los vecinos" may be a synonymous sentence, but depending on the context, you may have planned those meetings. => I always meet my neighbours (with a purpose) / I always bump into them.
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#4
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Many thanks!
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