Page 128 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

- I killed the spider by hitting it. (Note the -ing form after by.) I killed the spider with a shoe. (NOT • • . by I i sooe.)
- I got where I am by hard work. -No you didn't. You got there with your wife's money.
Without is the opposite of both by and with in these cases. Compare:
- I got her to listen by shouting.
It's difficult to get her to listen without shouting.
- We'll have to get it out with a screwdriver.
We can't get it out without a screwdriver.
By is also used to refer to means of transport (by bus, by train etc). See 70.1.
2 passive clauses
In passive clauses, by introduces the agent - the person or thing that does the action (see 413).
I was interviewed by three directors.
My car was damaged by a falling branch.
We generally prefer with to refer to a tool or instrument used by somebody. Compare:
He was killed by a heavy stone. (This could mean 'A stone fell and killed him'.)
He was killed with a heavy stone. (This means 'Somebody used a stone to kill him'.)
120 call
Call (with no object) can mean both 'telephone' and 'visit'. This sometimes causes confusion.
Alice called this morning. - You mean she came round or she phoned?
121 can and could (1): introduction 1 grammar
a
b
c
d
Can and could are modal auxiliary verbs (see 353-354). There is no -s in the third person singular.
She can swim very well. (NOT She CliflS •••)
Questions and negatives are made without do.
Can you swim? (NOT fJrJ ytJtt Clin swim?)
I couldn't understand her. (NOT I didn't oottid ...)
After can and could, we use the infinitive of other verbs, without to. I can speak a little Arabic. (NOT ) Clin f6 SfJeIi/t; • ••)
Do you think she can still be working? It's very late.
Can and could have no infinitives or participles (16 Clirl, Clirlnirlg, { httflt: oottid do not exist). When necessary, we use other words, for example forms of be able (see 3) or be allowed (see 42).
I'dliketobeabletostayhere.(NOT ••• 16Milstay...) You'll be able to walk soon. (NOT l'6tt'll Clin ...)
call 120
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