Today write sentences with "come by"

Question

Hello everyone. I think phrasal verbs are some of the most difficult to many English learners because most of them do not have a literal translation. So I have decided to learn one or two phrasal verbs every day.

I know you can help me with that, but you also need to learn Spanish, so please write the sentence in English using the PV then try it in Spanish. Then I will correct your sentence (the Spanish sentence, of course); we will help each other out.

If you´re not sure about how to translate your sentence, just explain (in English) what your Pv means and I will help with your translation.

Today let's write sentences using the phrasal verb:

"Come by"

The two main meanings are: to visit & to gain possession of or to acquire

Thank you so much dear Kiwi, you´re helping me a lot with this thread. - luisssito, Jul 6, 2012

My pleasure Luis :) You're doing a good job. - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 6, 2012

Answer 1

We have paper money because gold is a little hard to come by.

Tenemos dinero de papel porque el oro es un poco difícil de conseguir.

Right now, all money is hard to come by! - Noetol, Jul 6, 2012

Your Spanish version sounds perfect, but according to the meaning of "come by", the closest word for it should be "conseguir" instead of "encontrar".Remember it doesn´t mean that "encontar" is not good, it also works good, "conseguir" is just closer. - luisssito, Jul 6, 2012

estoy de acuerdo :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 6, 2012

Gracias Luis!! :):):) - rac1, Jul 6, 2012

Answer 2

Thanks for coming by yesterday. / Gracias por venir ayer.

The waiter came by with a tray of bottles. / Pasó el camarero con una bandeja con botellas.

Jobs are hard to come by these days. / En estos tiempos es difícil conseguir un trabajo.

How did you come by that scratch on your cheek? / ¿Cómo te has hecho ese arañazo en la mejilla?

If you come by the office tomorrow, I'll have it ready for you. / Si te pasas mañana por la oficina, te lo tendré listo.

I can't believe that drugs are so easily come by nowadays. / = obtener / de conseguir

Answer 3

If I come by four, will that be soon enough?

¿Si vengo antes a las cuatro, va a ser bastante pronto?

Hey Katy, I'm not sure if this is really a case of the phrasal verb 'come by' - if you said, If I come by at around 4 ... or something like that it would be :) But for your given sentence perhaps llegar would be good? - 'si llego' - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 6, 2012

Thanks Katy,good try Katy. Thanks Kiwi. - luisssito, Jul 6, 2012

The sentence should be: ¿Si llego antes de las cuatro, será lo suficientemente temprano? - luisssito, Jul 6, 2012

Answer 4

Por favor, pase el hospital y visitar a un amiga enferma.

Please come by the hospital and visit a sick friend.

I´m not sure I used the Spanish verb, pasarse, correctly? - bandit51jd, Jul 6, 2012

I think it would be fine if you used it with 'por' - pase por el hospital ... and don't forget that visitar should also be in the command form rather than the infinitive - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 6, 2012

Good try, Bandit. And thank you Kiwi, you´re right. - luisssito, Jul 6, 2012

Answer 5

Do you think you could come by a little later? I'm really busy right now.

¿Crees que podrías venir a visitar un poco más tarde? Estoy bien occupado en este momento.

Suggestion - gracias a Luis: ¿Crees que podrías venir a visitarme más tarde? Estoy bastante ocupado en este momento.

ok nice, thanks Luis :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 6, 2012

Good job Kiwi, just a small comment. Sounds a bit better to say.....venir a visitarme....estoy bastante(or muy) ocupada/o(it just depends on the sex of the person). - luisssito, Jul 6, 2012

Sorry, accidentally, I deleted. - luisssito, Jul 6, 2012

lol no worries :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 6, 2012

come by - JoyceM, Jul 6, 2012

ups thanx Joyce :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 6, 2012

Answer 6

Mi hija acaba de llamarme para ir a su casa y ver los nietos.

My daughter just called me to come by her house and see the grandkids.

I think you would use 'ir' instead of 'venir' there Noetol, just think of it as directional, away from way you are has to be ir, to where you are would be venir :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 6, 2012

Thank you Noe, and thank you ,Kiwi , you´re right.It should be "ir". - luisssito, Jul 6, 2012

Thanks! - Noetol, Jul 6, 2012

Answer 7

Plums are difficult to come by during the winter.

Las ciruelas son difíciles de conseguir durante el invierno.

........... during THE winter is probably more correct Juliss :) - ian-hill, Jul 6, 2012

Well it sounds better in England. - ian-hill, Jul 6, 2012

Thank you ian. I will fixt it now :) - Juliss, Jul 6, 2012

That's true, it sounds better here too. - rac1, Jul 6, 2012

fix* :D - Juliss, Jul 6, 2012