Instrument Link
Instrumental
Means
Comitative/instrumental marker
With what means?
extended
intermediate
Relations
Significado
The grammatical link that connects an action to the tool, method, channel, or means used.
Como identificar
Find the connector that means with, by, through, using.
Exemplos
Palavras
with|by|using|through
Frases
with a key|by bus|using the app
Frase
She opened the door with a key.
Visual guide
Basic shape
SHE --opened--> DOOR
↑
with a key
INSTRUMENT = tool/means
Ask: with what means?
Compare shape
Same means, many shapes: with a key (tool) by bus (method) using the app (means) through X (channel) key-INST open (case)
Vista por língua
Na tua língua
Portuguese (Brazilian)
Presença
strong
Importância
Instrument links are usually prepositional, especially com, por, de, or por meio de.
Ela abriu a porta com uma chave.
She opened the door with a key.
Na língua que estás a aprender
Vietnamese (standard)
Presença
strong
Dificuldade
Instrument and medium use bằng, qua, thông qua, qua điện thoại and related phrases.
Chúng tôi nói chuyện qua điện thoại.
we talk through telephone
Dificuldade comum de quem aprende
Learners may choose bằng for every instrument/medium relation.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.