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Contestar vs. ResponderAsk about definitions or translations for Spanish or English words. |
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#1
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Contestar vs. Responder
It's my impression that these two words are very similar in meaning. My students (mostly Central American and Mexican) tell me that I should use "contestar" more often when we're talking about answering a question that they have about the mathematics.
Anyway, I just did an exercise in my workbook that required me to translate a sentence using the command form for ustedes. The setting is a boss giving a training session to new hotel employees, telling them how to treat guests. English sentence: Answer their questions. My translation: Contesten sus preguntas. The book's answer: Respondan a sus preguntas. So my questions are: 1) Is my use of contestar here okay, too? 2) Does contestar require "a"? Should I have written "Contesten a sus preguntas"? Thank you!!
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- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias! |
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#3
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At least for me responder = contestar
I think around here we usually don't use "a". In the example you gave I would say it without "a", but both ways are ok. "2. Cuando significa ‘dar respuesta a la pregunta, llamada o comunicación de alguien’, puede construirse con complemento directo o con un complemento precedido de la preposición a: «Jamás contestó las preguntas que hacían sobre su vida» (Azuela Casa [Méx. 1983]); «El procesado contestó a sus preguntas» (País [Esp.] 3.6.97); «La gerencia del Wyndham no contestó las llamadas de este diario» (NDía [P. Rico] 23.10.97); «Nadie contestaba a las llamadas del timbre» (Mundo [Esp.] 15.1.96)."
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Please, don't hesitate to correct my English. 'Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.' M.A.
Last edited by ookami; November 25, 2010 at 08:18 AM. |
#4
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Contestar takes a direct object. It doesn't need to be followed by the preposition, but it is in certain circumstances, like when a question you asked has gone unanswered and you command "contesten a mi pregunta".
Responder doesn't take a direct object. |
#5
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Thanks, all - that's very helpful!
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- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias! |
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