[Grammar] Thereby

[kite]

Hi teachers,

I have a problem with understanding the use of the word "thereby" in sentences but I can feel or understand the meaning as I have looked it up in dictionaries. I see that the verb that comes after "thereby" in a sentence is an ing formed verb most of the time. For ex: "The bill finally received the Royal Assent on 7 June 1832, thereby becoming law." "Inhibition of one activates the other, thereby maintaining tumor cell survival." Also I have noticed that "thereby" is preceded by not only ing formed verb but also another formed verbs. For ex: "She could be thereby covertly influenced to buy the item of clothing or jewelry." "Marriage is encouraged and thereby incentivised through lower rates of taxation."

I still cannot make a sentence with this verb but it makes sense to me. I see there is a specific rule for this verb and I am unable to understand that rule by myself.


Please help me.

 

[Grumpy]

Think of the word "thereby" as replacing the phrase "as a result of that". Thereby, the words surrounding it fall into place.

 

[kite]

I workout every morning, thereby gaining muscle.
I work all the day, thereby caring of my mom.
We consume food, thereby living longer.

Are these sentences correct with the word "thereby"?

 

[MikeNewYork]

I workout every morning, thereby gaining muscle.
I work all the day, thereby caring of my mom.
We consume food, thereby living longer.

Are these sentences correct with the word "thereby"?

The first is OK, but the verb should be "work out" (2 words).
The second makes no sense.
The third is not natural. It is only true in the sense that it prevents death by starvation. Nobody would say or write that.

 

[Raymott]

"Thereby" means "and by this (means/ method/technique...)"
Similarly, "Whereby" means "by which (means/method/technique...)"

"He shot the tiger, thereby killing it." = "He shot the tiger, and by this means, killed it."
"He shot the tiger, whereby he killed it." = "He shot the tiger, by which means, he killed it."