Relative pronoun that
I was doing a composition and I had to use the relative pronoun in the pair of sentences.
This is the path.
He came by this path.
And its answer was This is the path by which he came.
But is this grammatically correct to say?
This is the path that he came by.
pronouns relative-pronouns
edited Jan 4 at 18:45
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
asked Jan 4 at 18:14
Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh
3079
add a comment |
I was doing a composition and I had to use the relative pronoun in the pair of sentences.
This is the path.
He came by this path.
And its answer was This is the path by which he came.
But is this grammatically correct to say?
This is the path that he came by.
pronouns relative-pronouns
edited Jan 4 at 18:45
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
asked Jan 4 at 18:14
Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh
3079
add a comment |
I was doing a composition and I had to use the relative pronoun in the pair of sentences.
This is the path.
He came by this path.
And its answer was This is the path by which he came.
But is this grammatically correct to say?
This is the path that he came by.
pronouns relative-pronouns
edited Jan 4 at 18:45
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
asked Jan 4 at 18:14
Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh
3079
I was doing a composition and I had to use the relative pronoun in the pair of sentences.
This is the path.
He came by this path.
And its answer was This is the path by which he came.
But is this grammatically correct to say?
This is the path that he came by.
pronouns relative-pronouns
pronouns relative-pronouns
edited Jan 4 at 18:45
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
asked Jan 4 at 18:14
Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh
3079
edited Jan 4 at 18:45
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
asked Jan 4 at 18:14
Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh
3079
edited Jan 4 at 18:45
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
edited Jan 4 at 18:45
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
edited Jan 4 at 18:45
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
10.4k53159
asked Jan 4 at 18:14
Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh
3079
asked Jan 4 at 18:14
Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh
3079
asked Jan 4 at 18:14
Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh
3079
3079
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
This is the path that he came by.
Yes this makes sense, and personally sounds better than the answer you gave. ( That sounds a little bit literary for me, I wouldn't say that in real life probably).
However this sentence also has an additional meaning. It can also mean that he ( the person) could have been walking, and stumbled upon/ found a path.
Ex.
Bob was walking in the forest and happened to come by a path.
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
bobbinbobbin
813
I think it's worth pointing out that the usage to come by something (by chance) has massively declined relative to come across it over the past couple of centuries.
– FumbleFingers
Jan 4 at 19:25
@FumbleFingers for sure, I see it in fiction books quite a bit though. I would never say it in real life sounds awkward
– bobbin
Jan 4 at 19:36
This second meaning of "came by" is almost always used with a qualifier stating when or what he was doing, as in your example sentence. You wouldn't normally say just "He came by this path." So it's an extremely unlikely interpretation of the sentence in the question; in that context, it almost certainly means the OP's interpretation.
– Barmar
Jan 4 at 20:05
add a comment |
This is the path by which he came - fine
This is the path which he came by - fine
This is the path that he came by - fine
This is the path he came by - fine
This is the path by that he came - NOT VALID
The first four all mean exactly the same, and it's a bit meaningless to say that any of them are "better" or "worse" than any others. The same principle applies to other prepositions in similar constructions...
This is the house in which he lives, ...which he lives in, etc., but NOT in that he lives
This is the company for which I work, ...which I work for, etc.... but NOT for that I work
...
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
FumbleFingersFumbleFingers
43.8k154117
I feel like "This is the path by that he came" is something that would be said in an old book from the 1500's and 1600's though. Sounds like something you would hear in a shakespear play lol
– bobbin
Jan 4 at 19:29
I just checked Google Books for all written instances of by that before 1810. There are only a couple of pages, and not one of those where I can read the context is relevant to the usage here.
– FumbleFingers
2 days ago
oh yes it most definitely is not valid, but it sounds archaic for some reason to me.
– bobbin
yesterday
add a comment |
It is correct.
You could also say:
This is the path he came by
This is the path he came on
This is the path he walked on
answered Jan 4 at 18:18
Daniil ManokhinDaniil Manokhin
1,467117
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
This is the path that he came by.
Yes this makes sense, and personally sounds better than the answer you gave. ( That sounds a little bit literary for me, I wouldn't say that in real life probably).
However this sentence also has an additional meaning. It can also mean that he ( the person) could have been walking, and stumbled upon/ found a path.
Ex.
Bob was walking in the forest and happened to come by a path.
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
bobbinbobbin
813
I think it's worth pointing out that the usage to come by something (by chance) has massively declined relative to come across it over the past couple of centuries.
– FumbleFingers
Jan 4 at 19:25
@FumbleFingers for sure, I see it in fiction books quite a bit though. I would never say it in real life sounds awkward
– bobbin
Jan 4 at 19:36
This second meaning of "came by" is almost always used with a qualifier stating when or what he was doing, as in your example sentence. You wouldn't normally say just "He came by this path." So it's an extremely unlikely interpretation of the sentence in the question; in that context, it almost certainly means the OP's interpretation.
– Barmar
Jan 4 at 20:05
add a comment |
This is the path that he came by.
Yes this makes sense, and personally sounds better than the answer you gave. ( That sounds a little bit literary for me, I wouldn't say that in real life probably).
However this sentence also has an additional meaning. It can also mean that he ( the person) could have been walking, and stumbled upon/ found a path.
Ex.
Bob was walking in the forest and happened to come by a path.
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
bobbinbobbin
813
I think it's worth pointing out that the usage to come by something (by chance) has massively declined relative to come across it over the past couple of centuries.
– FumbleFingers
Jan 4 at 19:25
@FumbleFingers for sure, I see it in fiction books quite a bit though. I would never say it in real life sounds awkward
– bobbin
Jan 4 at 19:36
This second meaning of "came by" is almost always used with a qualifier stating when or what he was doing, as in your example sentence. You wouldn't normally say just "He came by this path." So it's an extremely unlikely interpretation of the sentence in the question; in that context, it almost certainly means the OP's interpretation.
– Barmar
Jan 4 at 20:05
add a comment |
This is the path that he came by.
Yes this makes sense, and personally sounds better than the answer you gave. ( That sounds a little bit literary for me, I wouldn't say that in real life probably).
However this sentence also has an additional meaning. It can also mean that he ( the person) could have been walking, and stumbled upon/ found a path.
Ex.
Bob was walking in the forest and happened to come by a path.
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
bobbinbobbin
813
This is the path that he came by.
Yes this makes sense, and personally sounds better than the answer you gave. ( That sounds a little bit literary for me, I wouldn't say that in real life probably).
However this sentence also has an additional meaning. It can also mean that he ( the person) could have been walking, and stumbled upon/ found a path.
Ex.
Bob was walking in the forest and happened to come by a path.
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
bobbinbobbin
813
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
bobbinbobbin
813
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
bobbinbobbin
813
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
bobbinbobbin
813
813
I think it's worth pointing out that the usage to come by something (by chance) has massively declined relative to come across it over the past couple of centuries.
– FumbleFingers
Jan 4 at 19:25
@FumbleFingers for sure, I see it in fiction books quite a bit though. I would never say it in real life sounds awkward
– bobbin
Jan 4 at 19:36
This second meaning of "came by" is almost always used with a qualifier stating when or what he was doing, as in your example sentence. You wouldn't normally say just "He came by this path." So it's an extremely unlikely interpretation of the sentence in the question; in that context, it almost certainly means the OP's interpretation.
– Barmar
Jan 4 at 20:05
add a comment |
I think it's worth pointing out that the usage to come by something (by chance) has massively declined relative to come across it over the past couple of centuries.
– FumbleFingers
Jan 4 at 19:25
@FumbleFingers for sure, I see it in fiction books quite a bit though. I would never say it in real life sounds awkward
– bobbin
Jan 4 at 19:36
This second meaning of "came by" is almost always used with a qualifier stating when or what he was doing, as in your example sentence. You wouldn't normally say just "He came by this path." So it's an extremely unlikely interpretation of the sentence in the question; in that context, it almost certainly means the OP's interpretation.
– Barmar
Jan 4 at 20:05
I think it's worth pointing out that the usage to come by something (by chance) has massively declined relative to come across it over the past couple of centuries.
– FumbleFingers
Jan 4 at 19:25
I think it's worth pointing out that the usage to come by something (by chance) has massively declined relative to come across it over the past couple of centuries.
– FumbleFingers
Jan 4 at 19:25
@FumbleFingers for sure, I see it in fiction books quite a bit though. I would never say it in real life sounds awkward
– bobbin
Jan 4 at 19:36
@FumbleFingers for sure, I see it in fiction books quite a bit though. I would never say it in real life sounds awkward
– bobbin
Jan 4 at 19:36
This second meaning of "came by" is almost always used with a qualifier stating when or what he was doing, as in your example sentence. You wouldn't normally say just "He came by this path." So it's an extremely unlikely interpretation of the sentence in the question; in that context, it almost certainly means the OP's interpretation.
– Barmar
Jan 4 at 20:05
This second meaning of "came by" is almost always used with a qualifier stating when or what he was doing, as in your example sentence. You wouldn't normally say just "He came by this path." So it's an extremely unlikely interpretation of the sentence in the question; in that context, it almost certainly means the OP's interpretation.
– Barmar
Jan 4 at 20:05
add a comment |
This is the path by which he came - fine
This is the path which he came by - fine
This is the path that he came by - fine
This is the path he came by - fine
This is the path by that he came - NOT VALID
The first four all mean exactly the same, and it's a bit meaningless to say that any of them are "better" or "worse" than any others. The same principle applies to other prepositions in similar constructions...
This is the house in which he lives, ...which he lives in, etc., but NOT in that he lives
This is the company for which I work, ...which I work for, etc.... but NOT for that I work
...
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
FumbleFingersFumbleFingers
43.8k154117
I feel like "This is the path by that he came" is something that would be said in an old book from the 1500's and 1600's though. Sounds like something you would hear in a shakespear play lol
– bobbin
Jan 4 at 19:29
I just checked Google Books for all written instances of by that before 1810. There are only a couple of pages, and not one of those where I can read the context is relevant to the usage here.
– FumbleFingers
2 days ago
oh yes it most definitely is not valid, but it sounds archaic for some reason to me.
– bobbin
yesterday
add a comment |
This is the path by which he came - fine
This is the path which he came by - fine
This is the path that he came by - fine
This is the path he came by - fine
This is the path by that he came - NOT VALID
The first four all mean exactly the same, and it's a bit meaningless to say that any of them are "better" or "worse" than any others. The same principle applies to other prepositions in similar constructions...
This is the house in which he lives, ...which he lives in, etc., but NOT in that he lives
This is the company for which I work, ...which I work for, etc.... but NOT for that I work
...
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
FumbleFingersFumbleFingers
43.8k154117
I feel like "This is the path by that he came" is something that would be said in an old book from the 1500's and 1600's though. Sounds like something you would hear in a shakespear play lol
– bobbin
Jan 4 at 19:29
I just checked Google Books for all written instances of by that before 1810. There are only a couple of pages, and not one of those where I can read the context is relevant to the usage here.
– FumbleFingers
2 days ago
oh yes it most definitely is not valid, but it sounds archaic for some reason to me.
– bobbin
yesterday
add a comment |
This is the path by which he came - fine
This is the path which he came by - fine
This is the path that he came by - fine
This is the path he came by - fine
This is the path by that he came - NOT VALID
The first four all mean exactly the same, and it's a bit meaningless to say that any of them are "better" or "worse" than any others. The same principle applies to other prepositions in similar constructions...
This is the house in which he lives, ...which he lives in, etc., but NOT in that he lives
This is the company for which I work, ...which I work for, etc.... but NOT for that I work
...
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
FumbleFingersFumbleFingers
43.8k154117
This is the path by which he came - fine
This is the path which he came by - fine
This is the path that he came by - fine
This is the path he came by - fine
This is the path by that he came - NOT VALID
The first four all mean exactly the same, and it's a bit meaningless to say that any of them are "better" or "worse" than any others. The same principle applies to other prepositions in similar constructions...
This is the house in which he lives, ...which he lives in, etc., but NOT in that he lives
This is the company for which I work, ...which I work for, etc.... but NOT for that I work
...
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
FumbleFingersFumbleFingers
43.8k154117
edited Jan 4 at 18:28
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
FumbleFingersFumbleFingers
43.8k154117
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
FumbleFingersFumbleFingers
43.8k154117
answered Jan 4 at 18:20
FumbleFingersFumbleFingers
43.8k154117
43.8k154117
I feel like "This is the path by that he came" is something that would be said in an old book from the 1500's and 1600's though. Sounds like something you would hear in a shakespear play lol
– bobbin
Jan 4 at 19:29
I just checked Google Books for all written instances of by that before 1810. There are only a couple of pages, and not one of those where I can read the context is relevant to the usage here.
– FumbleFingers
2 days ago
oh yes it most definitely is not valid, but it sounds archaic for some reason to me.
– bobbin
yesterday
add a comment |
I feel like "This is the path by that he came" is something that would be said in an old book from the 1500's and 1600's though. Sounds like something you would hear in a shakespear play lol
– bobbin
Jan 4 at 19:29
I just checked Google Books for all written instances of by that before 1810. There are only a couple of pages, and not one of those where I can read the context is relevant to the usage here.
– FumbleFingers
2 days ago
oh yes it most definitely is not valid, but it sounds archaic for some reason to me.
– bobbin
yesterday
I feel like "This is the path by that he came" is something that would be said in an old book from the 1500's and 1600's though. Sounds like something you would hear in a shakespear play lol
– bobbin
Jan 4 at 19:29
I feel like "This is the path by that he came" is something that would be said in an old book from the 1500's and 1600's though. Sounds like something you would hear in a shakespear play lol
– bobbin
Jan 4 at 19:29
I just checked Google Books for all written instances of by that before 1810. There are only a couple of pages, and not one of those where I can read the context is relevant to the usage here.
– FumbleFingers
2 days ago
I just checked Google Books for all written instances of by that before 1810. There are only a couple of pages, and not one of those where I can read the context is relevant to the usage here.
– FumbleFingers
2 days ago
oh yes it most definitely is not valid, but it sounds archaic for some reason to me.
– bobbin
yesterday
oh yes it most definitely is not valid, but it sounds archaic for some reason to me.
– bobbin
yesterday
add a comment |
It is correct.
You could also say:
This is the path he came by
This is the path he came on
This is the path he walked on
answered Jan 4 at 18:18
Daniil ManokhinDaniil Manokhin
1,467117
add a comment |
It is correct.
You could also say:
This is the path he came by
This is the path he came on
This is the path he walked on
answered Jan 4 at 18:18
Daniil ManokhinDaniil Manokhin
1,467117
add a comment |
It is correct.
You could also say:
This is the path he came by
This is the path he came on
This is the path he walked on
answered Jan 4 at 18:18
Daniil ManokhinDaniil Manokhin
1,467117
It is correct.
You could also say:
This is the path he came by
This is the path he came on
This is the path he walked on
answered Jan 4 at 18:18
Daniil ManokhinDaniil Manokhin
1,467117
answered Jan 4 at 18:18
Daniil ManokhinDaniil Manokhin
1,467117
answered Jan 4 at 18:18
Daniil ManokhinDaniil Manokhin
1,467117
answered Jan 4 at 18:18
Daniil ManokhinDaniil Manokhin
1,467117
1,467117
add a comment |
add a comment |
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