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Well Wisher Posted 20 years ago
Vocabulary

nice seeing you vs nice to see you

What is the difference between the following two sentences when used in conversation:

It was nice seeing you.

It is nice to see you.

Do we use them at the beginning or at the end of a conversation?
  

Top answer

Normally both expressions are used when you see/meet someone that you haven't seen for some time. It is nice to see you. - this would be used at the start of the conversation when you meet each other It was nice seeing you.

  • Normally both expressions are used when you see/meet someone that you haven't seen for some time.
  • It is nice to see you.
  • - this would be used at the start of the conversation when you meet each other It was nice seeing you.
  • - This would be used at the end of the conversation as you say goodbye.
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18 Answers
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Normally both expressions are used when you see/meet someone that you haven't seen for some time.

It is nice to see you. - this would be used at the start of the conversation when you meet each other

It was nice seeing you. - This would be used at the end of the conversation as you say goodbye.
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Hmm, sounds logical. What I wanted to ask about is, what about:

"It was nice to see you?" at the end of the conversation as you say goodbye???
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It's ok. "It was nice (has been nice) seeing you" is much more common.
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Well WisherWhat is the difference between the following two sentences when used in conversation:

It was nice seeing you.

It is nice to see you.

Do we use them at the beginning or at the end of a conversation?

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This is how one book explained it: (1) Yes, both are about the same. (2) Some people feel that "It was nice seeing you" is more immediate, vivid, emotional. If you meet a good friend whom you haven't seen for five years, you might end the conversation wth: "Wow! It was really great SEEING you! We have to get together soon." (3) On the other hand, if you meet someone whom you never really liked,
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I agree that -ing is warmer, to is more aloof.
This is completely consistent with the idea that we often use to when just meeting someone we don't yet know, and -ing after we've had a chance to "warm up" to them.

CJ
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how proper is this??

nice to have seen you
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what is the difference between nice to see you! and nice to meet you!
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It was nice seeing you is at the end of a conversation and It is nice to see you at the beginning of a conversation.
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Seeing you yesterday was pretty amazing!

is that ok?????

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