which one is correct “complete the sentences by using ser/estar” or “complete the sentences using ser/estar”? and what’s the difference is both of them are correct?
In most situations, the difference between “by using” and “using” is not important. They mean something similar enough that it does not matter which one you use. In your case, the meaning of the sentences is clear. In either one, you need to use ser and estar to finish the sentence.
The only thing that you have to be careful of is whether there is another way that something could be interpreted by someone else. This could make the use of the word “by” significant. For example, take the following example:
- I enjoy myself finishing my work before the deadline.
- I enjoy myself by finishing my work before the deadline.
These two sentences could be used to convey the same meaning. Basically, if you finish your work before the deadline that you have to meet, you will be able to enjoy yourself.
However, they might explain why you enjoy yourself in different ways. For example, take the first sentence. If you say “I enjoy myself finishing my work before the deadline”, it means that you enjoy yourself when you finish your work earlier than you need to.
If you say the second sentence, the implication is slightly different. Rather than just feeling good every time you are able to finish work before a deadline, you enjoy yourself only or mainly by finishing my work before the deadline.
Take another example:
- An on-screen keyboard allows people with mobility impairments to type data using a joystick or a pointing device.
- An on-screen keyboard allows people with mobility impairments to type data by using a joystick or a pointing device.
These two sentences could mean the same thing. However, it could also be interpreted differently in the way that the joystick or pointing device is used.
For the first sentence, people with mobility impairments might use the joystick and pointing device in order to operate the on-screen keyboard.
For the second sentence, the on-screen keyboard is the one that uses the joystick or pointing device to allow impaired people to type data. So in these cases, there is a little difference whether you choose to say “by using” or simply say “using”.
