Question
Updated on
23 May 2022
- Korean
-
English (US)
Question about English (US)
What is the difference between my finger was cut by a knife and my finger was cut on the knife and my finger was cut with a knife ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
What is the difference between my finger was cut by a knife and my finger was cut on the knife and my finger was cut with a knife ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
Answers
23 May 2022
Featured answer
- English (US)
"My finger was cut by a knife" sounds the most natural, and implies that it was an accident that you cut your finger. No one says "my finger was cut on the knife". "My finger was cut with a knife" implies that someone (or yourself) intentionally cut it.
Was this answer helpful?
Read more comments
- English (US)
"My finger was cut by a knife" sounds the most natural, and implies that it was an accident that you cut your finger. No one says "my finger was cut on the knife". "My finger was cut with a knife" implies that someone (or yourself) intentionally cut it.
Was this answer helpful?
- English (US)
My finger was cut by a knife.
My finger was cut on the knife.
My finger was cut with a knife.
All of these are correct and all are used every day.
Prepositions are tricky things with slippery, overlapping meanings.
There are subtle differences.
My finger was cut by a knife. -- Might imply that knife was moving, that there was some action.
My finger was cut on the knife. -- Sounds more like the knife was not moving, but the finger was.
My finger was cut with a knife. -- Sounds more like the person was using the knife and cut their own finger.
Highly-rated answerer
Was this answer helpful?
- Korean
- English (US)
[News] Hey you! The one learning a language!
Do you know how to improve your language skills❓ All you have to do is have your writing corrected by a native speaker!
With HiNative, you can have your writing corrected by native speakers for free ✍️✨.
With HiNative, you can have your writing corrected by native speakers for free ✍️✨.
Sign up
Recommended Questions
- What is the difference between May I turn on the air conditioner? and Could I turn on the air con...
- What is the difference between vague and fuzzy ?
- What is the difference between "the clinic" and "the doctor's office" ?
- What is the difference between I got a good score in English. and I got a good grade in English. ?
- What is the difference between The book where we can look up telephone numbers is a telephone dir...
Topic Questions
- What is the difference between Could have and Should have ?
- What is the difference between "I'm counting for" and "I'm looking forward to" ?
- What is the difference between I can't help ~ and I can't help but ~ ?
- What is the difference between "the clinic" and "the doctor's office" ?
- What is the difference between May I turn on the air conditioner? and Could I turn on the air con...
Newest Questions
- What is the difference between directly and immediate ?
- What is the difference between Do you have a rough idea? and Do you have a rough image? ?
- What is the difference between moved and touched ?
- What is the difference between Disappointedly and Disappointingly ?
- What is the difference between lawn work and lawn care ?
Previous question/ Next question
Thank you! Rest assured your feedback will not be shown to other users.
Thank you very much! Your feedback is greatly appreciated.