Grammar-Quizzes › Verb Phrases › Verb Complements › Prepositional Phrases › By vs. With Practice

By vs. With (Practice)

State means, instrument or device

Method and Means — Getting There

BY + GERUND
A method of doing something can be expressed with a prepositional phrase that includes by + a gerund. (The prep. phrase is an "adjunct" to the main clause because the sentence can be considered complete without it.)
MAIN CLAUSE	ADJUNCT
CLAUSE	PP (P + GER CLS)
You can get there	by using a map.
You begin	by going to Google.com and using the map link.

WITH + NOUN PHRASE
A means (instrument) for doing something is expressed with a prepositional phrase that includes with + a noun phrase (the tool or instrument).
MAIN CLAUSE	ADJUNCT
CLAUSE	PP (P + NP)
You can get there	with a map.
You can get there	with a GPS device.

there (adv.) – see Adverbs–Object in Word Form

Review page: By + Gerund

Word Categories: N – Noun; V – Verb; Aux – Auxiliary; Adj – Adjective; Adv – Adverb; P –Preposition; Det –Determiner.

Phrasal Categories: NP – Noun Phrase; VP – Verb Phrase; AdjP – Adjective Phrase; AdvP – Adverb Phrase; PP – Prepositional Phrase; DP – Determinative Phrase.

Clausal Categories: Cls – clause; F – finite clause; NF – nonfinite clause (Ger – gerund; Inf – infinitive; PPart – past participle).

Word Functions: Subj – subject; Pred – predicate/predicator; Comp – complement: elements required by an expression to complete its meaning (DO – direct object; IO – indirect object); Adjunct – adjunct: elements not required by an expression to complete its meaning (Subord – subordinator; Coord – coordinator); Supl – supplement: a clause or phrase added onto a clause that is not closely related to the central thought or structure of the main clause.

Practice 1

How Do I Get There?

How do you get to the SFO airport from the College of San Mateo?

Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
Compare your responses to the feedback by clicking the "Check" or "Check 1-15" button.

Start by going south on CSM Dr. towards West Hillsdale Boulevard by left.

Feedback 1

Then left onto W. Hillsdale Blvd.

Feedback 2

Go east by EAST on the CA-92 ramp towards San Mateo/Hayward bridge.

Feedback 3

Head north by onto US-101 NORTH.

Feedback 4

Finally, right on the exit towards S F INTL AIRPORT.

Feedback 5

Practice 2

Methods - Using the Right Tool

Complete the sentence with a by or with prepositional phrase.

Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check 11-20" button at the bottom, or click the "Check" button to the left as you go.

How do you pull a wire out of a small place?

needlenose pliers

You pull it using needle nose pliers.

Feedback 6

How do you put a screw into a light cover?

You do it a screwdriver.

Feedback 7

How do you put a nail into wood ?

You pound it using a hammer.

Feedback 8

How do you unscrew a nut on a pipe?

wrench

You unscrew it a wrench.

Feedback 9

10.

How do you turn a small nut?

pliers

You turn it pliers.

Feedback 10

11.

How do you cut a small tree?

You cut it using a hacksaw.

Correct Incorrect

Feedback 11

12.

How do you measure something round?

a ruler

You measure it a tape measure.

Feedback 12

Practice 3

Means and Methods in the Office

Edit for Errors

Edit the sentence(s) in the text box.
Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check 21-30" button at the bottom, or click the "Check" button to the left as you go.

13.