PDA

View Full Version : Preposition.

ming
07-17-2005, 12:58 AM
Dear teacher!
I don't know how to use prepositions in these two sentences. Please help.
1. It's easy to find a book by the title.
2. These cards are in alphabetical order and by author.
Please give me your idea.
Thanks.
Rusty
07-17-2005, 06:07 AM
Dear teacher!
I don't know how to use prepositions in these two sentences. Please help.
1. It's easy to find a book by the title.
2. These cards are in alphabetical order and by author.
Please give me your idea.
Thanks.

Both sentences are correct. By can be used in several ways. The definitions below apply to your sentences.

by: preposition indicates creator, author, or artist: used to indicate the person who wrote or created something such as a written piece or work of art.
"….written by A. A. Milne."

by: in conformity with.
"I know him by sight."
"This is a bad movie by any standards."
ming
07-17-2005, 04:01 PM
Dear teacher.
Thank you a lot for your help.
Ferdie
07-16-2009, 03:07 PM
Hi,

Can you tell me the meaning of by in this sentence:

What do you mean by that?

Can we say it in different way without losing the meaning.


Many thanks.
Marius Hancu
07-16-2009, 04:46 PM
What is the meaning contained in your words?
What did you want to say by that?
Ferdie
07-16-2009, 08:34 PM
Let's say, someone tells me something that I cannot understand his words.

I may ask him " What do you mean by that?"
Marius Hancu
07-17-2009, 03:20 AM
No,
Would you mind repeating that?
Sorry, I am a beginner at English, would you mind spell that word for me?
Rusty
07-17-2009, 04:24 PM
What do you mean by that?

The definition of by that seems best suited in this sentence is: in respect to.
What do you mean in respect to/reference to that? = What does that mean?
Ferdie
07-21-2009, 10:18 AM
The definition of by that seems best suited in this sentence is: in respect to.
What do you mean in respect to/reference to that?

I just want to clarify if the sentences below are interchangeable.

What do you mean by that? = What does that mean?

Thanks in advance.
Rusty
07-21-2009, 04:15 PM
I just want to clarify if the sentences below are interchangeable.

What do you mean by that? = What does that mean?

Thanks in advance.
Although the meaning is basically the same, you usually use the expressions differently.
What do you mean by that? "That" usually refers to something that the other person has said. You want him to explain what he is thinking. The emphasis is on his insinuation.
What does that mean? You are refering to something that both of you are seeing or hearing. The emphasis is on "that."