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 yesterday
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
asked yesterday
Kshitij Singh
1979
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 yesterday
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
asked yesterday
Kshitij Singh
1979
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 yesterday
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
asked yesterday
Kshitij Singh
1979
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 yesterday
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
asked yesterday
Kshitij Singh
1979
edited yesterday
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
asked yesterday
Kshitij Singh
1979
edited yesterday
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
edited yesterday
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
edited yesterday
ColleenV♦
10.4k53159
10.4k53159
asked yesterday
Kshitij Singh
1979
asked yesterday
Kshitij Singh
1979
asked yesterday
Kshitij Singh
1979
1979
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 yesterday
bobbin
812
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
yesterday
@FumbleFingers for sure, I see it in fiction books quite a bit though. I would never say it in real life sounds awkward
– bobbin
yesterday
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
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 yesterday
FumbleFingers
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
yesterday
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
21 hours ago
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 yesterday
Daniil Manokhin
1,467117
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "481"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f191862%2frelative-pronoun-that%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
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 yesterday
bobbin
812
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
yesterday
@FumbleFingers for sure, I see it in fiction books quite a bit though. I would never say it in real life sounds awkward
– bobbin
yesterday
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
yesterday
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 yesterday
bobbin
812
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
yesterday
@FumbleFingers for sure, I see it in fiction books quite a bit though. I would never say it in real life sounds awkward
– bobbin
yesterday
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
yesterday
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 yesterday
bobbin
812
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 yesterday
bobbin
812
answered yesterday
bobbin
812
answered yesterday
bobbin
812
answered yesterday
bobbin
812
812
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
yesterday
@FumbleFingers for sure, I see it in fiction books quite a bit though. I would never say it in real life sounds awkward
– bobbin
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
@FumbleFingers for sure, I see it in fiction books quite a bit though. I would never say it in real life sounds awkward
– bobbin
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
@FumbleFingers for sure, I see it in fiction books quite a bit though. I would never say it in real life sounds awkward
– bobbin
yesterday
@FumbleFingers for sure, I see it in fiction books quite a bit though. I would never say it in real life sounds awkward
– bobbin
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
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 yesterday
FumbleFingers
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
yesterday
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
21 hours ago
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 yesterday
FumbleFingers
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
yesterday
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
21 hours ago
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 yesterday
FumbleFingers
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 yesterday
FumbleFingers
43.8k154117
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
FumbleFingers
43.8k154117
answered yesterday
FumbleFingers
43.8k154117
answered yesterday
FumbleFingers
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
yesterday
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
21 hours ago
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
yesterday
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
21 hours ago
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
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
yesterday
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
21 hours 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
21 hours ago
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 yesterday
Daniil 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 yesterday
Daniil 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 yesterday
Daniil 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 yesterday
Daniil Manokhin
1,467117
answered yesterday
Daniil Manokhin
1,467117
answered yesterday
Daniil Manokhin
1,467117
answered yesterday
Daniil Manokhin
1,467117
1,467117
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language Learners Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f191862%2frelative-pronoun-that%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
