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Mr. Tom Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

They sleep by day and hunt by night.

Hi

Do you find this sentence natural? If yes, then please shed some light on the use of "by".

They sleep by day and hunt by night.

Thanks,

Tom

PS: Why not: They sleep during the day and hunt at night.
  

Top answer

Yes, " They sleep by day and hunt by night" is perfectly natural. " I'm not really sure why you can use " by" in this case, but it gives me more of an idea that this is the nature of whoever "they" might be. Example: Owls sleep by day and hunt by night.

— Chalkbrd

  • Yes, " They sleep by day and hunt by night" is perfectly natural.
  • " I'm not really sure why you can use " by" in this case, but it gives me more of an idea that this is the nature of whoever "they" might be.
  • Example: Owls sleep by day and hunt by night.
  • If you say, "They sleep during the day and hunt at night," it is not necessarily part of their nature to do that.
  • It could be, but it also could be something they are doing now for a time.
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4 Answers
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Yes, " They sleep by day and hunt by night" is perfectly natural. It means the same as " They sleep during the day and hunt at night."

I'm not really sure why you can use " by" in this case, but it gives me more of an idea that this is the nature of whoever "they" might be. Example: Owls sleep by day and hunt by night.

If you say, "They sleep during the day and hunt at night
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Mr. TomDo you find this sentence natural?
Yes.
Mr. Tomplease shed some light on the use of "by"
by day and by night are common phrases that mean during the day and during the night.
Mr. TomWhy not: They sleep during the day and hunt at night.
Why not They sle
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My sincere thanks to both of you!

So, is it a fixed phrase "by day and by night" or can I break it?

These days I am working by night.

[is it OK?

Tom
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Yes. By day, by night, by dawn's early light, and by the light of the moon are all separate phrases.
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