2

Is there any difference between with and by in sentences below?

You can buy better one by an extra payment of $400.

You can buy better one with an extra payment of $400.

When I use these preposition I know what “with” means here. But I couldn’t understand what “by” means . Is it used like “with” or “by making extra payment”?

5
  • [an extra $400 payment = better here]
    – Lambie
    Feb 29, 2020 at 20:15
  • @Lambie Google ngrams says "payment of $100" is used more frequently than "$100 payment". books.google.com/ngrams/…
    – CJ Dennis
    Feb 29, 2020 at 20:42
  • In this context (with buy) neither by nor with would be a complement of the verb, so they both have their ordinary meaning, that is essentially the same: "by means of". As Paul Tannenbaum points out, buy can take a complement phrase for the price with for, so that is a better choice than either here.
    – Colin Fine
    Jul 5, 2020 at 9:13
  • @CJDennis Google ngrams does not "say anything". It reproduces written texts. Anyway, the entire thing needs rewriting. "You can buy a better one by paying an extra $400. Now, it's correct.
    – Lambie
    Mar 3, 2021 at 18:33
  • 1
    @Lambie Please show me an anti-definition that says "say" can't be used that way.
    – CJ Dennis
    Mar 3, 2021 at 21:10

1 Answer 1

1

By would mean, "by making."

(And you probably mean "a better one.")

(And a better way to put it is "for an additional payment of.")

2
  • Yes I missed. Does both sentence mean the same ? I mean can use also “with”?
    – user90151
    Jan 18, 2020 at 19:18
  • 1
    I'd advise against your first. Your second is OK, but far more natural sounding is any of, "for an additional payment of $400," "for another $400," or "for $400 more." Jan 18, 2020 at 19:24

You must log in to answer this question.