pencils

with a pencil, in pencil

这两个短语都是“用铅笔”的意思。它们的区别是：

1.with pencil强调“工具”; in pencil强调“材料”或“状态”。例如:

He is drawing a cat with a pencil.他在用铅笔画猫。

Shall I sign the paper in pencil?我应该用铅笔签署这个文件吗?

2.with a pencil在句中通常只用作状语,而in pencil除作状语外,还可作后置定语。例如:

She gave me her photo, with a few words in pencil on its back.她把她的照片给了我,背后有几个铅笔字。

3.在介词with后pencil可用单数形式,前面加不定冠词a,也可用复数形式; 但在介词in后pencil则不可有复数形式,且无不定冠词。例如:

All the corrections are made in red pencil.所有的修改都是用红笔写的。

Mary colored her picture with pencils.玛丽用彩色铅笔给她的图画上色。