encounter / encounter with

Question

Hi,Is there a subtle difference between 'encounter' and 'encounter with' or they are interchangeable?If they are interchangeable, then what is the reason for 'with' to come along? (e.g., idiom, flow of speech)I have seen 'with' appears with many verbs; and often I cannot tell any difference.Thx

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Is there a subtle difference between 'encounter' and 'encounter with' or they are interchangeable?

If they are interchangeable, then what is the reason for 'with' to come along? (e.g., idiom, flow of speech)

I have seen 'with' appears with many verbs; and often I cannot tell any difference.

Yesterday I encountered Tom. Correct.

Yesterday I encountered with Tom. Not correct.

Yesterday I had an encounter with Tom. Correct.

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Hello Clive,

Your comment: Yesterday I encountered with Tom. Not correct.

However, in 'Whispered Meanings', Simon O.Lesser wrote. "He stares at the young men he encounters with as much interest as at the old ones.."
So must I read that to be: He stares at the young men he encounters, with as much interest as at the old ones..
Then I also saw this:

"Eddie goes through six of the most common errors he encounters with the butterfly and follows with a drill for ..."
Is the use of 'with' in the above sentence incorrect? However, if I take 'with' away, the sentence does not sound right! I sense that 'with' was used to mean the errors with the butterfly. If my interpretation was correct, shouldn't the sentence be written as follows:
Eddie goes through six of the most common errors with the butterfly that he encounters and follows with a drill for ...

Thx

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Your comment: Yesterday I encountered with Tom. Not correct.

However, in 'Whispered Meanings', Simon O.Lesser wrote. "He stares at the young men he encounters with as much interest as at the old ones.."

So must I read that to be: He stares at the young men he encounters, with as much interest as at the old ones..

Yes. It's basically He stares (with as much interest as at the old ones) at the young men he encounters.

Then I also saw this:

"Eddie goes through six of the most common errors he encounters with the butterfly and follows with a drill for ..."

Is the use of 'with' in the above sentence incorrect? However, if I take 'with' away, the sentence does not sound right! I sense that 'with' was used to mean the errors with the butterfly.

Yes. It seems to mean "Eddie goes through (with the butterfly) six of the most common errors he encounters and follows with a drill for ..."

Best wishes, Clive

encounter / encounter with

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