What does 'by' add to here?
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What does 'by' add to here?
They walked along by the old canal.
meaning
asked Nov 24 at 15:28
Vitaly
2898
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
What does 'by' add to here?
They walked along by the old canal.
meaning
asked Nov 24 at 15:28
Vitaly
2898
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
What does 'by' add to here?
They walked along by the old canal.
meaning
asked Nov 24 at 15:28
Vitaly
2898
What does 'by' add to here?
They walked along by the old canal.
meaning
meaning
asked Nov 24 at 15:28
Vitaly
2898
asked Nov 24 at 15:28
Vitaly
2898
asked Nov 24 at 15:28
Vitaly
2898
asked Nov 24 at 15:28
Vitaly
2898
asked Nov 24 at 15:28
Vitaly
2898
2898
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
To denote that they walked adjacent to the canal, rather than along it.
The phrase could alternatively be written:
They walked along beside the old canal.
answered Nov 24 at 15:32
Lee Mac
1,469414
@Lambie The word adjacent in my answer is referring to the use of by (per the question), not the use of along. As you've correctly pointed out in your excellent answer, the use of along conveys a sense of ongoing leisurely strolling.
– Lee Mac
Nov 24 at 16:14
"Adjacent" is fine.
– BillJ
Nov 24 at 17:45
@BillJ "To denote they walked adjacent to the canal rather than along it": So that means that to walk adjacent to something and walk along something are different? I doubt that...they are the same thing.
– Lambie
Nov 24 at 18:47
1
@Lambie in the specific context of a canal, they do mean the same thing because there is normally no other way to walk along a canal. But if you replace "canal" with "road" there is a difference between walking along the road (which suggests actually on the road surface) and walking along beside the road (on the grass next to it, perhaps).
– Especially Lime
Nov 24 at 19:29
2
"Walk along the canal" sounds wrong to my (British English) ears, unless the canal is disused and dry. You can walk "along the tow-path", or "along the [canal] bank", but not "along the canal" itself, unless you can walk on water!
– alephzero
Nov 24 at 19:54
|
show 2 more comments
up vote
3
down vote
They |walked along| in silence. [right, we say along so it doesn't sound so abrupt and provides the idea of the ongoingness of the walking, no canal]
They walked |along the canal|. [right, means: the path or banks that are located beside the canal]
Here's the tricky bit:
They walked by the canal and into town**. [they passed it during their walk].
As in: They walked by the school to the park. [they passed it and reached the park].
However, they walked along [in silence] by the field or canal means:
They walked along [ongoingness idea] by the field or by the canal with nothing else, means: they were parallel to it and not walking past it.
walk along = to stroll, to walk unhurriedly in an ongoing manner
walk by [some thing] = [go by or go past something]
BUT: walk by [some thing] can also mean: along or beside some thing.
But both together can only mean: to stroll or walk along the length of a thing: a road or path that goes by a field, a river, or other structure.
answered Nov 24 at 16:09
Lambie
14.3k1331
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
Don't forget that by is a preposition which, besides its other numerous meanings, basically means this:
near or at the side of
So, what the quote in question is saying is that they were walking along the old canal and the walking process was happening very close to it (or, in other words, by it).
answered Nov 24 at 23:36
Michael Rybkin
26k10101222
Yes, but the tricky bit is along and by together.
– Lambie
Nov 25 at 17:37
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
To denote that they walked adjacent to the canal, rather than along it.
The phrase could alternatively be written:
They walked along beside the old canal.
answered Nov 24 at 15:32
Lee Mac
1,469414
@Lambie The word adjacent in my answer is referring to the use of by (per the question), not the use of along. As you've correctly pointed out in your excellent answer, the use of along conveys a sense of ongoing leisurely strolling.
– Lee Mac
Nov 24 at 16:14
"Adjacent" is fine.
– BillJ
Nov 24 at 17:45
@BillJ "To denote they walked adjacent to the canal rather than along it": So that means that to walk adjacent to something and walk along something are different? I doubt that...they are the same thing.
– Lambie
Nov 24 at 18:47
1
@Lambie in the specific context of a canal, they do mean the same thing because there is normally no other way to walk along a canal. But if you replace "canal" with "road" there is a difference between walking along the road (which suggests actually on the road surface) and walking along beside the road (on the grass next to it, perhaps).
– Especially Lime
Nov 24 at 19:29
2
"Walk along the canal" sounds wrong to my (British English) ears, unless the canal is disused and dry. You can walk "along the tow-path", or "along the [canal] bank", but not "along the canal" itself, unless you can walk on water!
– alephzero
Nov 24 at 19:54
|
show 2 more comments
up vote
6
down vote
To denote that they walked adjacent to the canal, rather than along it.
The phrase could alternatively be written:
They walked along beside the old canal.
answered Nov 24 at 15:32
Lee Mac
1,469414
@Lambie The word adjacent in my answer is referring to the use of by (per the question), not the use of along. As you've correctly pointed out in your excellent answer, the use of along conveys a sense of ongoing leisurely strolling.
– Lee Mac
Nov 24 at 16:14
"Adjacent" is fine.
– BillJ
Nov 24 at 17:45
@BillJ "To denote they walked adjacent to the canal rather than along it": So that means that to walk adjacent to something and walk along something are different? I doubt that...they are the same thing.
– Lambie
Nov 24 at 18:47
1
@Lambie in the specific context of a canal, they do mean the same thing because there is normally no other way to walk along a canal. But if you replace "canal" with "road" there is a difference between walking along the road (which suggests actually on the road surface) and walking along beside the road (on the grass next to it, perhaps).
– Especially Lime
Nov 24 at 19:29
2
"Walk along the canal" sounds wrong to my (British English) ears, unless the canal is disused and dry. You can walk "along the tow-path", or "along the [canal] bank", but not "along the canal" itself, unless you can walk on water!
– alephzero
Nov 24 at 19:54
|
show 2 more comments
up vote
6
down vote
up vote
6
down vote
To denote that they walked adjacent to the canal, rather than along it.
The phrase could alternatively be written:
They walked along beside the old canal.
answered Nov 24 at 15:32
Lee Mac
1,469414
To denote that they walked adjacent to the canal, rather than along it.
The phrase could alternatively be written:
They walked along beside the old canal.
answered Nov 24 at 15:32
Lee Mac
1,469414
answered Nov 24 at 15:32
Lee Mac
1,469414
answered Nov 24 at 15:32
Lee Mac
1,469414
answered Nov 24 at 15:32
Lee Mac
1,469414
1,469414
@Lambie The word adjacent in my answer is referring to the use of by (per the question), not the use of along. As you've correctly pointed out in your excellent answer, the use of along conveys a sense of ongoing leisurely strolling.
– Lee Mac
Nov 24 at 16:14
"Adjacent" is fine.
– BillJ
Nov 24 at 17:45
@BillJ "To denote they walked adjacent to the canal rather than along it": So that means that to walk adjacent to something and walk along something are different? I doubt that...they are the same thing.
– Lambie
Nov 24 at 18:47
1
@Lambie in the specific context of a canal, they do mean the same thing because there is normally no other way to walk along a canal. But if you replace "canal" with "road" there is a difference between walking along the road (which suggests actually on the road surface) and walking along beside the road (on the grass next to it, perhaps).
– Especially Lime
Nov 24 at 19:29
2
"Walk along the canal" sounds wrong to my (British English) ears, unless the canal is disused and dry. You can walk "along the tow-path", or "along the [canal] bank", but not "along the canal" itself, unless you can walk on water!
– alephzero
Nov 24 at 19:54
|
show 2 more comments
@Lambie The word adjacent in my answer is referring to the use of by (per the question), not the use of along. As you've correctly pointed out in your excellent answer, the use of along conveys a sense of ongoing leisurely strolling.
– Lee Mac
Nov 24 at 16:14
"Adjacent" is fine.
– BillJ
Nov 24 at 17:45
@BillJ "To denote they walked adjacent to the canal rather than along it": So that means that to walk adjacent to something and walk along something are different? I doubt that...they are the same thing.
– Lambie
Nov 24 at 18:47
1
@Lambie in the specific context of a canal, they do mean the same thing because there is normally no other way to walk along a canal. But if you replace "canal" with "road" there is a difference between walking along the road (which suggests actually on the road surface) and walking along beside the road (on the grass next to it, perhaps).
– Especially Lime
Nov 24 at 19:29
2
"Walk along the canal" sounds wrong to my (British English) ears, unless the canal is disused and dry. You can walk "along the tow-path", or "along the [canal] bank", but not "along the canal" itself, unless you can walk on water!
– alephzero
Nov 24 at 19:54
@Lambie The word adjacent in my answer is referring to the use of by (per the question), not the use of along. As you've correctly pointed out in your excellent answer, the use of along conveys a sense of ongoing leisurely strolling.
– Lee Mac
Nov 24 at 16:14
@Lambie The word adjacent in my answer is referring to the use of by (per the question), not the use of along. As you've correctly pointed out in your excellent answer, the use of along conveys a sense of ongoing leisurely strolling.
– Lee Mac
Nov 24 at 16:14
"Adjacent" is fine.
– BillJ
Nov 24 at 17:45
"Adjacent" is fine.
– BillJ
Nov 24 at 17:45
@BillJ "To denote they walked adjacent to the canal rather than along it": So that means that to walk adjacent to something and walk along something are different? I doubt that...they are the same thing.
– Lambie
Nov 24 at 18:47
@BillJ "To denote they walked adjacent to the canal rather than along it": So that means that to walk adjacent to something and walk along something are different? I doubt that...they are the same thing.
– Lambie
Nov 24 at 18:47
1
1
@Lambie in the specific context of a canal, they do mean the same thing because there is normally no other way to walk along a canal. But if you replace "canal" with "road" there is a difference between walking along the road (which suggests actually on the road surface) and walking along beside the road (on the grass next to it, perhaps).
– Especially Lime
Nov 24 at 19:29
@Lambie in the specific context of a canal, they do mean the same thing because there is normally no other way to walk along a canal. But if you replace "canal" with "road" there is a difference between walking along the road (which suggests actually on the road surface) and walking along beside the road (on the grass next to it, perhaps).
– Especially Lime
Nov 24 at 19:29
2
2
"Walk along the canal" sounds wrong to my (British English) ears, unless the canal is disused and dry. You can walk "along the tow-path", or "along the [canal] bank", but not "along the canal" itself, unless you can walk on water!
– alephzero
Nov 24 at 19:54
"Walk along the canal" sounds wrong to my (British English) ears, unless the canal is disused and dry. You can walk "along the tow-path", or "along the [canal] bank", but not "along the canal" itself, unless you can walk on water!
– alephzero
Nov 24 at 19:54
|
show 2 more comments
up vote
3
down vote
They |walked along| in silence. [right, we say along so it doesn't sound so abrupt and provides the idea of the ongoingness of the walking, no canal]
They walked |along the canal|. [right, means: the path or banks that are located beside the canal]
Here's the tricky bit:
They walked by the canal and into town**. [they passed it during their walk].
As in: They walked by the school to the park. [they passed it and reached the park].
However, they walked along [in silence] by the field or canal means:
They walked along [ongoingness idea] by the field or by the canal with nothing else, means: they were parallel to it and not walking past it.
walk along = to stroll, to walk unhurriedly in an ongoing manner
walk by [some thing] = [go by or go past something]
BUT: walk by [some thing] can also mean: along or beside some thing.
But both together can only mean: to stroll or walk along the length of a thing: a road or path that goes by a field, a river, or other structure.
answered Nov 24 at 16:09
Lambie
14.3k1331
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
They |walked along| in silence. [right, we say along so it doesn't sound so abrupt and provides the idea of the ongoingness of the walking, no canal]
They walked |along the canal|. [right, means: the path or banks that are located beside the canal]
Here's the tricky bit:
They walked by the canal and into town**. [they passed it during their walk].
As in: They walked by the school to the park. [they passed it and reached the park].
However, they walked along [in silence] by the field or canal means:
They walked along [ongoingness idea] by the field or by the canal with nothing else, means: they were parallel to it and not walking past it.
walk along = to stroll, to walk unhurriedly in an ongoing manner
walk by [some thing] = [go by or go past something]
BUT: walk by [some thing] can also mean: along or beside some thing.
But both together can only mean: to stroll or walk along the length of a thing: a road or path that goes by a field, a river, or other structure.
answered Nov 24 at 16:09
Lambie
14.3k1331
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
They |walked along| in silence. [right, we say along so it doesn't sound so abrupt and provides the idea of the ongoingness of the walking, no canal]
They walked |along the canal|. [right, means: the path or banks that are located beside the canal]
Here's the tricky bit:
They walked by the canal and into town**. [they passed it during their walk].
As in: They walked by the school to the park. [they passed it and reached the park].
However, they walked along [in silence] by the field or canal means:
They walked along [ongoingness idea] by the field or by the canal with nothing else, means: they were parallel to it and not walking past it.
walk along = to stroll, to walk unhurriedly in an ongoing manner
walk by [some thing] = [go by or go past something]
BUT: walk by [some thing] can also mean: along or beside some thing.
But both together can only mean: to stroll or walk along the length of a thing: a road or path that goes by a field, a river, or other structure.
answered Nov 24 at 16:09
Lambie
14.3k1331
They |walked along| in silence. [right, we say along so it doesn't sound so abrupt and provides the idea of the ongoingness of the walking, no canal]
They walked |along the canal|. [right, means: the path or banks that are located beside the canal]
Here's the tricky bit:
They walked by the canal and into town**. [they passed it during their walk].
As in: They walked by the school to the park. [they passed it and reached the park].
However, they walked along [in silence] by the field or canal means:
They walked along [ongoingness idea] by the field or by the canal with nothing else, means: they were parallel to it and not walking past it.
walk along = to stroll, to walk unhurriedly in an ongoing manner
walk by [some thing] = [go by or go past something]
BUT: walk by [some thing] can also mean: along or beside some thing.
But both together can only mean: to stroll or walk along the length of a thing: a road or path that goes by a field, a river, or other structure.
answered Nov 24 at 16:09
Lambie
14.3k1331
answered Nov 24 at 16:09
Lambie
14.3k1331
answered Nov 24 at 16:09
Lambie
14.3k1331
answered Nov 24 at 16:09
Lambie
14.3k1331
14.3k1331
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
Don't forget that by is a preposition which, besides its other numerous meanings, basically means this:
near or at the side of
So, what the quote in question is saying is that they were walking along the old canal and the walking process was happening very close to it (or, in other words, by it).
answered Nov 24 at 23:36
Michael Rybkin
26k10101222
Yes, but the tricky bit is along and by together.
– Lambie
Nov 25 at 17:37
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
Don't forget that by is a preposition which, besides its other numerous meanings, basically means this:
near or at the side of
So, what the quote in question is saying is that they were walking along the old canal and the walking process was happening very close to it (or, in other words, by it).
answered Nov 24 at 23:36
Michael Rybkin
26k10101222
Yes, but the tricky bit is along and by together.
– Lambie
Nov 25 at 17:37
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Don't forget that by is a preposition which, besides its other numerous meanings, basically means this:
near or at the side of
So, what the quote in question is saying is that they were walking along the old canal and the walking process was happening very close to it (or, in other words, by it).
answered Nov 24 at 23:36
Michael Rybkin
26k10101222
Don't forget that by is a preposition which, besides its other numerous meanings, basically means this:
near or at the side of
So, what the quote in question is saying is that they were walking along the old canal and the walking process was happening very close to it (or, in other words, by it).
answered Nov 24 at 23:36
Michael Rybkin
26k10101222
edited Nov 24 at 23:42
answered Nov 24 at 23:36
Michael Rybkin
26k10101222
answered Nov 24 at 23:36
Michael Rybkin
26k10101222
answered Nov 24 at 23:36
Michael Rybkin
26k10101222
26k10101222
Yes, but the tricky bit is along and by together.
– Lambie
Nov 25 at 17:37
add a comment |
Yes, but the tricky bit is along and by together.
– Lambie
Nov 25 at 17:37
Yes, but the tricky bit is along and by together.
– Lambie
Nov 25 at 17:37
Yes, but the tricky bit is along and by together.
– Lambie
Nov 25 at 17:37
add a comment |
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