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Interventizio Posted 10 years ago
Vocabulary

Live in/by

"The two cats used to live BY the harbor". Is the phrase ok? With "by" I intend to say that the cats of course didn't have a proper residence but they used to hang around waiting for the fishermen to come back and give them fish.
I prefer "by" here in place of "at" or "in", but maybe I'm wrong. Opinions?
  

Top answer

By is fine. At would also be acceptable. In the harbor would suggest they lived in the water, so that would be more appropriate for seals than cats.

— Blue Jay

  • By is fine.
  • At would also be acceptable.
  • In the harbor would suggest they lived in the water, so that would be more appropriate for seals than cats.
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3 Answers
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By is fine. At would also be acceptable. In the harbor would suggest they lived in the water, so that would be more appropriate for seals than cats.
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To me, 'by' could mean eg in a house beside the harbour,
I'd consider eg They lived around the harbour. This suggest more clearly no fixed place.
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