介词 in 和 with 表示“用”的区别:
1. in 一般只用在说话、书写、绘画等特殊场合;with 则强调使用的工具和手段。例如:
Fill in the form in pen. 用钢笔填写表格。
The boy used to write his exercises with a pencil, but now he does them with a pen. 这个男孩过去常用铅笔做练习,现在他用钢笔做。
第一句中 in pen 强调纸上书写的结果,而第二句则强调工具。
2. in 强调“在......中”的概念;with 则仅表示“用”。例如:
We saw her holding a baby in her arm. 我们看见她把孩子抱在怀里。
We saw her holding a basket with her arm. 我们看见她用胳膊挎着篮子。
注:在下面一句中,in 不宜改成 with:
And there's some hot water on the stove to wash your face in. 火炉上有热水,你可以用它洗脸。
——以上摘自《薄冰英语惯用法词典》p.410
3. 在语言名词前面用 in ,例如:
in English 用英语
4. in words of one syllable (= using very simple language) 用简单的语言
Could you say that again in words of one syllable? 你能用简单的语言再说一遍吗?(摘自《牛津英语搭配词典》第2版英汉双解版)