In the sentence ‘She decided to go a dentist on foot instead of by bicycle,’ the use of ‘instead of’ followed by ‘by’ may seem confusing at first. The question arises: Why is ‘by’ used in this case when we typically associate prepositions like ‘by’ with transportation modes (e.g., ‘by car,’ ‘by train’)? Let’s break it down to understand why this construction works and when it’s appropriate.
1. The Role of ‘Instead of’
‘Instead of’ is a preposition used to show a replacement or an alternative action. It’s often followed by a noun or noun phrase, such as ‘instead of a car,’ ‘instead of a bicycle,’ or ‘instead of pizza.’ However, when talking about modes of transportation or how something is done, ‘by’ is commonly used with transportation means, which helps explain its presence after ‘instead of.’
2. Prepositions and Their Flexibility in English
English prepositions are often flexible and can take on different forms depending on the context. In this sentence, ‘by bicycle’ is a standard prepositional phrase meaning ‘using a bicycle.’ The preposition ‘by’ is necessary here because it indicates the mode of transportation. The phrase ‘on foot’ follows the same structure, where ‘on’ is the preposition and ‘foot’ is the noun representing the method of walking.
Thus, ‘instead of’ functions as a connector that links these two different actions, each requiring a preposition: ‘on foot’ for walking and ‘by bicycle’ for riding a bicycle. These are grammatically acceptable, even though they may seem repetitive at first glance.
3. Why Is This Construction Allowed?
While it’s true that prepositions generally work with nouns, phrases like ‘on foot’ and ‘by bicycle’ are set expressions that follow the general rule. The repetition of prepositions in such structures (‘instead of by’ and ‘on’) helps provide clarity and structure, allowing both actions to be compared or contrasted effectively. This kind of structure can be found in many sentences where different actions or methods are being compared.
4. Example Sentences Using ‘Instead of’ and Prepositions
To understand the usage better, here are a few examples:
- ‘He decided to travel by plane instead of by train.’
- ‘They chose to stay at a hotel instead of in a hostel.’
- ‘I walked to work instead of taking the bus.’
In each of these examples, ‘instead of’ links the alternative actions, and the prepositions (‘by,’ ‘in’) indicate the methods of transportation or accommodation.
5. Conclusion
The use of ‘by’ after ‘instead of’ in the sentence ‘She decided to go a dentist on foot instead of by bicycle’ is grammatically correct. The structure works because ‘instead of’ is used to compare two different methods of action, with prepositions clarifying the mode of transportation. In this case, ‘by’ and ‘on’ are simply following the rules of English preposition use, and the construction is entirely natural for native speakers of the language.
コメント