Using Spanish verb venir a + infinitive to indicate approximation/end of a process (perífrasis verbal)

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In Spanish, to indicate either an approximation or the end of a process we can use this verbal structure:

Venir a (conjugated) + infinitive 

Venir a to express approximation

Los materiales vienen a costar de 100 a 150 euros.The materials cost approximately 100 to 150 euros.

Entonces, ese párrafo viene a decir que...So, that paragraph is pretty much saying that...

O sea, de una forma o de otra viene a ser lo mismo.So, one way or the other, it is basically/pretty much/more or less the same.

We can see in the examples above that the speakers are talking about something approximate ( "more or less" of something). 

Venir a to express the end of a process

Todos lo culparon pero el tiempo vino a darle la razón.They all blamed him but he was proven right in the end.

¡La pelota ha venido a parar en mi cara!The ball ended up in my face!

In these examples we can infer that something was going on and as a result the action expressed with venir a + infinitive occurred.

 

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Examples and resources

Los materiales vienen a costar de 100 a 150 euros.The materials cost approximately 100 to 150 euros.
O sea, de una forma o de otra viene a ser lo mismo.So, one way or the other, it is basically/pretty much/more or less the same.
Todos lo culparon pero el tiempo vino a darle la razón.They all blamed him but he was proven right in the end.
¡La pelota ha venido a parar en mi cara!The ball ended up in my face!
Entonces, ese párrafo viene a decir que...So, that paragraph is pretty much saying that...
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