【问】 (A) By my watch it is ten o'clock.

(B) According to my watch it is ten o'clock.

by和according to都作“按照”、“依照”、“根据”解，它们是否可以互换?

【答】 只有指非常确定的事物(如the clock，the term(s)，the voice，the timetable，his appear-ance，the smell等)时，by和according to才是可以互换的。注意，用于此种含义的by不能用在指人的名词或代词之前(×by him)，但：by his(her，their) own admission[根据他(她、他们)自己的承认]。还要注意，according to只能表示来自其他人或来源的信息，而不能表示来自说话人本人的信息。可以说according to him，但不能说according to me。此外，according to还不能与opinion连用(×according to my opinion，应为：in my opinion)。请考察下列实例：

1.The road was some forty miles long according to my map. (EED)

按照我的地图，这条路大约有40英里长。

2. According to Dr Santos，the cause of death was drowning... (EED)

按照桑托斯的说法，死亡的原因是溺水……

3. According to John，there will be a meeting next week. (ELD)

据约翰说，下周有一个会议。

4. He is rich by Chinese standards. (EED)

按照中国标准他是个富人。

5. Do not judge a person by his looks.

不要以貌取人。