Recently, I saw this example.
Marc poussait le ballon du pied.
What's the difference between that sentence and this one?
Marc poussait le ballon avec son pied
Is de then typically used in this manner or is it only employed in certain verb constructions? Additionally, is there any name/grammatical term for this usage of de?
Also, on a side note, would the above sentence be translated differently if I used à instead?
Marc poussait le ballon à pied
1/ In the particular example chosen, the relation is not "manner" (in other words, "way"), but instead "means". You can replace "de" by "by means of" (the meaning of "de").
This is a construction that is used with mobile body parts and nouns that denote the movement thereof, but it is not always possible to combine a verb that way; the forms have to be learned one by one, although certain patterns will progressively become apparent. Below, are listed some of them using typical verbs or verbal expressions.
Body parts
Movements
2/ "De" is a preposition.
(TLFi) b) [Le compl. désigne une partie du corps]
− Verbe + de
Verbes d'action. Travailler de ses mains.
■ Une grande vilaine bête, lourde à soulever des genoux (Hamp, Marée,1908, p. 25).
■ Du pouce et de l'index [il] éjecta le mégot à distance appréciable (Queneau, Pierrot,1942, p. 8).Il m'a regardé de ses yeux clairs (Camus, Étranger,1942, p. 1126)
■ Dans sa hâte, elle s'était embarrassée, elle tâtonna, de la main gauche, pour saisir la rampe, qui trembla un peu. Daniel-Rops, Mort, où est ta victoire?1934, p. 2.
3/ Marc poussait le ballon à pied.
The use of "à" is not correct. The use of "à" in this sentence makes it a meaningless one.
