John is his son to/by his wife Maria

[milan2003_07]

Dear friends,

When a man has had several wives in his life he might have several children born by different wives. Which preposition or particle should I use to say this: "to" or "by"?

John is his son to/by his wife Maria

Thanks

[SoothingDave]

How about "with"?

[milan2003_07]

How about "with"?

Thanks!!!

Never heard about "with" in this context. You suggest "John is his son with his wife Maria"? How about "to" and "by" instead of "with"?

[bhaisahab]

Thanks!!!

Never heard about "with" in this context. You suggest "John is his son with his wife Maria"? How about "to" and "by" instead of "with"?

If they are together use "with", as SoothingDave suggests. If Maria is a former wife and John has other children with his present wife, I'd use "by".

[milan2003_07]

If they are together use "with", as SoothingDave suggests. If Maria is a former wife and John has other children with his present wife, I'd use "by".

It's all clear now. I was speaking about the situation when he and his wife has already divorced and he has another woman now. Tell me please does the sentence "John is his son to his wife Maria" make any sense to you or it's grammatically incorrect?

Thanks

[bhaisahab]

It's all clear now. I was speaking about the situation when he and his wife has already divorced and he has another woman now. Tell me please does the sentence "John is his son to his wife Maria" make any sense to you or it's grammatically incorrect?

Thanks

If John has a son called John "by" is correct.

[SoothingDave]

Even when there's an ex-wife, you still had the son "with" her. (Unless that is why you are divorced!)

I think "by" is OK for ex-wives, but don't think "with" is wrong.

[milan2003_07]

Even when there's an ex-wife, you still had the son "with" her. (Unless that is why you are divorced!)

I think "by" is OK for ex-wives, but don't think "with" is wrong.

Now I can make a conclusion that both "with" and "by" are grammatically correct, but I think they still mean different things.

John is his son by his wife Maria
John is his son with his wife Maria

What's the difference?

[SoothingDave]

I don't see any difference in meaning. As long as you're talking about parentage and not location. Obviously if you point over there and say "that's my son by my wife" that's a whole different thing.

[sunsunmoon]

by
— used to indicate the husband or wife who is the parent of someone's child
▪ He had two daughters by his first wife and a son by his second wife. [=his first wife was the mother of his two daughters and his second wife was the mother of his son]
▪ She has two children by her first husband.