disfrutar, disfrutar de, disfrutar con
I was studying SpanDict's defintion of disfrutar. I'm confused, as is apparent by what follows.
The definition says that "disfrutar" can be used transitively or intransitively (that is, either taking or not taking a direct object). Examples of intransitive uses include the following : 1) Juan disfruta con el buen cine, which is translated as Juan enjoys good films. 2) Tú sabes disfrutar de la vida, which is translated as you know how to live.
An example of the transitive use of disfrutar is the following: 1) Espero que disfrutes tus vacaciones, which means I hope you enjoy your vacation.
So, here are a few questions:
1) If "disfrutar de" and "disfrutar con" both can be translated as to enjoy something doesn't that signify that disfrutar is being used transitively, i.e., the thing that is enjoyed is the direct object? In other words, in the sentence "Juan disfruta con el buen cine," isn't "el buen cine" the direct object since it receives the action of "disfruta"? How is that different than the example of a transitive use of disfrutar: "Espero que disfrutes tus vacaciones"? In one example the something that is enjoyed is good films; in the other, vacations. 2) Leaving aside the question of transitive or intransitive, are "disfrutar de" and "disfrutar con" interchangeable? Could we say Juan disfruta de el buen cine? Or Tú sabes disfrutar con la vida? 3) are "de" or "con" essential to the meaning? Would it be all the same to say Juan distruta el buen cine?, Espero que disfrutes de (or con) tus vacaciones?
3 Answers
Hello.
Both are interchangeables, but there is a little nuance.
Disfrutar con , is more interactive. I mean you are part active into the action. It is more close to action verbs.
Disfruto jugando al futbol con mis amigos. Disfruto con mis amigos jugando al futbol. I enjoy playing football with my friends.
Disfruto con la pintura. (painting).
Disfruto con una copa de vino (drinking it)
Disfruto con el paseo. ( I like the exercise, the movement, the action of walk)
Disfrutar de , is more passive, is more the effect that something ore someone causes on you.
Disfruto de mis amigos. I have nothing to do to enjoy , only their presence is necessary.
Disfruto de la pintura ( seeing a picture).
Disfruto de una copa de vino (it taste, the pleasure that it provides me, the relax that it provides me afther a hard day)
Disfruto del paseo ( I like see the trees, It relaxes me,all the things that it provides me , not the action of walk.
sorry about my English, correct me please, I know it is necesary.
According to this WordReference link, there's a prescriptive difference between "disfrutar" and "disfrutar de" (meaning some sources of formal grammar, like the RAE distinguish between the two), but in everyday speech there isn't one.
And back to the original question. The only difference that I see between "quiero disfrutar el día para ir a pescar" and "quiero disfrutar del día para ir a pescar" is in the way they are syntactically constructed: the former with a direct object ("el día") and the latter with a prepositional phrase/complemento de régimen ("del día"). In this, however, "el día," as direct object, is more closely linked to the verb than "del día;" but this rather precise distinction at the syntactic level is of no importance at the semantic level, for both sentences mean the same thing
Regarding "disfrutar con",
This Reddit link (from a native Argentinian) says that "disfrutar con X" means you're enjoying in the company of "X".
Astotxua, First, thank you for your help. I understand what you're saying though at my level of Spanish, the nuances are a little beyond me. It is nonetheless very helpful to know that there are nuances, whether or not I fully understand them. The main point I'm getting is that the different ways of using disfrutar are more or less interchangeable, so I need not worry too much about whether I'm being 100% correct.
Second, you asked me to correct your English. I'll give it a try:
1) Both are interchangeable. You said,"Both are interchangeables." Interchangeable should be singular.
2) I mean you play (or have) an active part (or role) in the action. Your sentence ("I mean you are part active into the action") is understandable, but a little awkward.
3) I like the exercise, the movement, the action (or act) of walking. After "Disfruto con el paseo," you said "the action of walk." You could also say this: I like exercising, moving, walking.
4)The effect that something or someone has on you. There is something awkward about your sentence "the effect that something or someone causes on you."
Anyway, those are just a few observations. Generally, your English is very good so there is not much to correct.
