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What better way to show him you're interested in him than by getting him a present?

What better way to show him you're interested in him than with a present?

Do both the sentences mean the same thing?

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    The two sentences do mean the same thing; In the second the 'with' sort of implies the act of getting and giving the present. I'll wait and see if anyone can give a more technical answer!
    – 13509
    Aug 14, 2017 at 7:46

2 Answers 2

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The sentences don't mean the exact same thing but do have a certain equality. The first sentence has a distinct action while the second one can either mean what the first sentence means or something completely different.

As a non-native speaker I'd rephrase the sentences. However, aa TRomano states it's perfectly correct the way it is:

  1. What better way is there to show him you're interested in him other than by getting him a present?
  2. What better way is there to show him you're interested in him other than with a present?
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  • You started out fine, but the answer went south. OP's two sentences are perfectly idiomatic. BTW, the action is "to show him you are interested", not "to interest him".
    – TimR
    Aug 14, 2017 at 11:15
  • This construction is very common in product ads, especially around gift-giving holidays: What better way to tell him you love him than with a box of stainless steel nails from Acme Building Products?
    – TimR
    Aug 14, 2017 at 11:18
  • @Tᴚoɯɐuo I didn't know that. Without is there it seems completely wrong. Aug 14, 2017 at 11:20
  • google.com/…
    – TimR
    Aug 14, 2017 at 11:22
  • @Tᴚoɯɐuo Indeed, thnx. Strangely, it still feels very awkward. I prefer What better way is there to Aug 14, 2017 at 11:27
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Both sentences are grammatical and are practically synonymous though grammatically slightly different.

They open with a rhetorical question "What better way [exists] to {do something} than {instrumental phrase}.

Instrumental phrases using with or by:

show ... by {doing} something
show ... with {something}

You can show your teacher you're a serious student by studying.

You can show your teacher you're a serious student with study.

What better way to show your teacher you're a serious student than by studying?

What better way to show your teacher you're a serious student than with study?

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