Deal with Bokks

[notletrest]

According to an English-Chinese dictionary , " deal v.i. 1. 2. buy and sell (followed by with or in).", it seems to me that we can say "The shop deals with books." Am I right?
Thanks!

[Raymott]

According to an English-Chinese dictionary , " deal v.i. 1. 2. buy and sell (followed by with or in).", it seems to me that we can say "The shop deals with books." Am I right?
Thanks!

"The shop deals in books."

[notletrest]

"The shop deals in books."

According to you , the dictionary here is wrong. Is that so?
Thank!

[5jj]

According to you , the dictionary here is wrong. Is that so?
Thank!

Raymott did not say that! His post dealt with the 'buy and sell' meaning of deal, which involves the preposition 'in'.

[BobK]

As 5jj says, the dictionary entry is right - in that both 'deals in' and 'deals with' are possible in different contexts. The mistake is not the dictionary's. Rather, it is the belief that a dictionary can give reliable meanings regardless of context - this is particularly important with little dictionaries (without much space for contextual guidelines) and those little digital things (which are impressive, but often misleading). The bookseller deals in books; s/he also deals with (among other things) problems.

According to you , the dictionary here is wrong. Is that so?
Thank!

b

[TheParser]

the dictionary here is wrong. Is that so?

REMINDER: NOT A TEACHER


(1) Moderator Bob has given us learners a very thoughtful answer.

(2) May I add something that I found in Funk & Wagnalls New Practical Standard

Dictionary of the English Language (1956):

To have dealings; do business; trade with a person, or in an article.

(a) So that is why we might say that a bookstore deals with many publishers and deals in grammar books.

[notletrest]

REMINDER: NOT A TEACHER


(1) Moderator Bob has given us learners a very thoughtful answer.

(2) May I add something that I found in Funk & Wagnalls New Practical Standard

Dictionary of the English Language (1956):

To have dealings; do business; trade with a person, or in an article.

(a) So that is why we might say that a bookstore deals with many publishers and deals in grammar books.

Thank all the above teachers who answered my foolish question and please excuse me for not quoting every answering post to express my ffeelings of thanks!

[BobK]

Thank all the above teachers who answered my foolish question and please excuse me for not quoting every answering post to express my ffeelings of thanks!

You're welcome, and it wasn't foolish.

b