To determine the correct preposition to fill in the blank, we need to consider the context and the action being described.
In this sentence, the action is "opening the tin" and the tool being used is "a knife." We need to choose a preposition that accurately describes the method or means by which the tin is being opened.
Let's analyze each option:
A:
with
- This preposition is commonly used to indicate the tool or instrument used to perform an action. In this case, the knife is the tool being used to open the tin. Therefore, "with" is the correct preposition to use in this context.
B:
by
- While "by" can be used to indicate the means or method of doing something, it is not the most appropriate preposition to use in this sentence. "By" is often used to indicate the agent of an action, but in this context, we are concerned with the tool being used rather than the person performing the action.
C:
to
- "To" is a preposition used to indicate direction or purpose. It does not accurately convey the means by which the tin is being opened in this context.
D:
of
- "Of" is a preposition used to indicate possession or relationship. It does not accurately convey the means by which the tin is being opened in this context.
Therefore, the correct answer is A:
with
. The sentence should be written as: "He tried to open the tin with a knife."