Question about preposition 'de'

Question

In the following example from the Prepositions reference page:

to indicate cause (from, with)

• Estoy cansada de correr. (I am tired from running.)
• Estamos contentos de nuestro hijo. (We are happy with our son.)

Why is it not: 'Estamos contentos con nuestro hijo.' ?

I don't really understand how this example "indicates cause."

Anyone??

Answer 1

This is a difficult question even for native Spanish speakers. Both sentences are grammatically correct and of common usage and there might be a subtle difference of meaning.

¨Estamos contentos con nuestro hijo¨ sounds more like ´ We´re satisfied with our son. He could have done better, but we´re fine´

While,

¨Estamos contentos de nuestro hijo¨ sounds more like ´We are proud of our son´

I find it hard to give a linguistic support to my assumption. However, ´con´ does not indicate ´ cause´ but ´relationship´.

Thanks for clarifying that they are both grammatically correct - I thought I was losing my mind. Makes sense - thanks again! - popej, Jan 16, 2010

glad to help! - mediterrunio, Jan 16, 2010

Thanks for the clarification. - Goyo, Jan 16, 2010

Answer 2

So - grammatically speaking - what is the difference between using con and de in this particular situation (if any)??

if you use `de`, the son is the cause of the parent´s happiness. With ´con´ the happiness derives merely from their relationship. I think usage is the key in this case. - mediterrunio, Jan 17, 2010

Answer 3

I am from Guatemala.

Estamos contentos con nuestro hijo = we are happy with our son

Estamos orgullosos de nuestro hijo = We are proud of our son

Answer 4

"Estamos contentos con nuestro hijo" is fine.

Answer 5

Their son is the cause of their happiness.

This makes a lot more sense than English, which says, "We are happy with our son", making it sound as if all are happy together, parents and children alike. That makes no sense but that's the way we say it in English.

In Spanish, they say de. Now that makes sense.