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(met by chance, random encounter, randomly met, concidentally met) ... What is the best choice? I want to express that I met an old acquaintance today I had not seen for ages: o Today I met an old acquaintance by chance. o I had a random encounter with an old acquaintance today. o I randomly met an old acquaintance today. o I coincidentally met an old acquaintance today. What is the difference to "coincidental meeting"? Is it just a matter of more or less common use? Thank you for your effort.
Jan 14, 2018 11:18 AM
Answers · 19
1
Hi Ali! Your sentences are all grammatically correct. I guess a couple of things will help you determine which one is best: 1- the context: which expression is more relevant to what you are talking about? Your subject is "I"; therefore how does "I" usually speak? 2- level of language: somehow connected to the context too. What do you want to sound like? Formal, informal? Who are you talking to? Your best friend, your boss? This for sure will determine which expression you will pick. Regarding the use of "coincidental", it means "happening by coincidence / the result of coincidence". If you really wish to use this word/form, I suggest you use it on its own: "I ran into an old acquaintance today. It was totally coincidental." So no real answer here for you, except the above guidelines which you can apply to anything you say/write in English. Hope this helps! If you wish to discuss in more depth colloquialism and expressions, feel free to visit my teaching page and get in touch! Micha.
January 14, 2018
Soll ich es für dich korrigieren? Of course, I would prefere a private message if you allow. :-)
January 15, 2018
Ah, gut. So ich habe nicht alles vergessen.
January 15, 2018
.... jedes einzelne Wort! :-)
January 14, 2018
Ich wünsche ich hätte Zeit Deutch zu learnen. Ich habe am Schule Deutch studert, aber ich habe sehr viele Jahren nich Deutsch gesprochen oder geschriben. I habe sehr viele Vörter und Grammatik vergesst und ich bin sicher ich jetz mache sehr viele Fehler. Vieleicht will ich in der Zukunft Zeit haben, aber du weist wie es ist: man hasst immer nicht genug Zeit. Ich hoffe du verstehst was ich geschrieben habe.
January 14, 2018
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