What Does “Live by doing sth” Mean?
“Live by doing sth” means to earn your living or survive by doing a particular activity or job.
Introduction
The phrase live by doing sth is commonly used to describe how someone supports themselves financially or sustains their life through a specific action or profession. Understanding the live by doing sth meaning helps learners express how people make a living or depend on certain activities. For example, you might say, “She lives by teaching English,” which means teaching is her main source of income. This phrasal verb is useful in everyday English when talking about jobs, habits, or ways people maintain their lifestyle.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: live by doing something
- Type: Intransitive
- Level: B1
- Short meaning: To earn a living or survive through a specific activity.
Structure (Grammar Rules)
The phrasal verb “live by doing sth” is inseparable, meaning you cannot separate the verb from the preposition. The common structure is:
- Subject + live(s) + by + verb-ing (doing sth)
- Example: He lives by selling handmade crafts.
Note that “doing sth” is always in the gerund (-ing) form after “by.”
How to Use “Live by doing sth”?
Use “live by doing sth” when you want to explain how someone earns money or sustains their life through an activity. It often refers to jobs, hobbies, or skills that provide income or support. You can use it in both formal and informal contexts to talk about careers, side jobs, or even ethical principles someone follows.
Examples
People often talk about their jobs or ways they earn money using this phrase. For instance:
- She lives by writing novels and articles.
- Many artists live by selling their paintings.
- He lives by fishing in the nearby lake.
- They live by farming and raising animals.
- Some freelancers live by doing online work.
Here, “live by doing sth in a sentence” clearly shows how a person depends on an activity to make a living.
Common Mistakes
It’s common to see mistakes in verb form or word order with this phrase. For example:
- Incorrect: She lives by write books.
- Correct: She lives by writing books.
- Incorrect: They live doing fishing.
- Correct: They live by fishing.
Remember to use the gerund (-ing) form after “by” and do not separate “live” and “by.”
Differences / Synonyms
Other phrases like “make a living by,” “earn a living through,” or “support oneself by” have similar meanings. However, “live by doing sth” often emphasizes the continuous or habitual nature of the activity. For example:
- “She makes a living by teaching” and “She lives by teaching” both mean she earns money from teaching, but “live by” can imply a lifestyle.
- “Earn a living through” is more formal and focuses on income.
Choose “live by doing sth” when you want to highlight how the activity supports life or identity.
Common Collocations
People often use “live by doing sth” with various verbs related to work or skills. Common collocations include:
- Live by teaching – earning money through teaching
- Live by fishing – surviving through fishing
- Live by selling – making a living by selling goods
- Live by writing – supporting oneself by writing
- Live by trading – earning income through trading
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of live by doing sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using the phrase:
Anna: How does your brother support himself?
Ben: He lives by repairing computers. It’s his full-time job.
Anna: That’s great! It’s good to have a skill you can live by.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences below with the correct form of the verb in parentheses:
- She ______ (live) by ______ (teach) yoga classes.
- Many people ______ (live) by ______ (sell) handmade products online.
- He ______ (live) by ______ (write) articles for magazines.
Answers:
- lives / teaching
- live / selling
- lives / writing
FAQs
- What does “live by doing sth” mean? It means to earn a living or support oneself by performing a specific activity.
- Is “live by doing sth” formal or informal? It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
- Can I use “live by” without “doing sth”? Usually, it is followed by “doing” + verb to explain how someone earns a living.
- What verb form follows “live by”? The gerund (-ing) form of the verb follows “live by.”
- Can “live by doing sth” refer to habits or morals? Yes, it can also mean following certain principles or habits that guide life.
