Tool or means
What do we use to do it?
Significado
A tool or means is what someone uses to carry out an action. It can be an object, a body part, a way of traveling, or a way of sending information. Languages express this with separate words, endings, or context; some have no special marker for it. Tool or means identifies what is used, while How the tool is marked looks at the words or endings that connect it to the action.
Como identificar
Ask what is used to carry out the action, rather than who does it or who benefits from it.
Na tua língua materna
Com commonly introduces a physical tool or body part used to do something. Means of travel often use de, while channels of communication often use por. The choice depends on the kind of means and the established expression, rather than on one marker for everything used.
Cortei a manga com uma faca.
A gente vai ao trabalho de ônibus.
De ônibus names the means of travel and has no article.
Enviei o comprovante por e-mail.
Na tua língua de aprendizagem
English commonly uses with to name a physical tool. It often uses by for a way of traveling or sending information, as in by train or by email. The choice depends on how the tool or means is described, so there is no single preposition for every case.
Mia opened the door with a key.
With names the physical tool used to open the door.
Please send the photos by email.
By email names the way the photos are sent.
We got there by train.
By train describes the way of traveling; train has no article here.
Learners whose language uses the same marker for physical tools and travel may overuse with. Learners whose language uses endings may leave out the English preposition or choose one without checking the whole expression.