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Vincent Teo Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Drowned in / into / by the waves

Can I say,

The boy drowned in / into / by the waves.
  

Top answer

Drown i s a peculiar verb. It can have an active meaning even with a passive structure. The preposition is usually in: The boy [was] drowned in the sea.

— Cool Breeze

  • Drown i s a peculiar verb.
  • It can have an active meaning even with a passive structure.
  • The preposition is usually in: The boy [was] drowned in the sea.
  • As the waves don't have an active role in the drowning, I would avoid by.
  • If a crime was committed, you have to say: The boy was drowned in the sea.
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2 Answers
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Drown is a peculiar verb. It can have an active meaning even with a passive structure. The preposition is usually in: The boy [was] drowned in the sea. As the waves don't have an active role in the drowning, I would avoid by.

If a crime was committed, you have to say: The boy was drowned in the sea.

CB
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Vincent TeoCan I say,

The boy drowned in / into / by the waves.
Only "in" works in your sentence.

You could possibly use "by" if you made the sentence passive:
- The boy was drowned by the waves.
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