'by the shoulder' vs 'with/on the shoulder'

[Christina's son]

English Grammar Error, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #16 "Sleep well (2)", question 4

Unfortunately she fell asleep on one of the beds and the manager shaking her violently through the shoulder, told her she was fired.

(a) fell asleep
(b) through
(c) was fired

English Grammar Error, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #16 "Sleep well (2)", answer 4

Unfortunately she fell asleep on one of the beds and the manager shaking her violently by the shoulder, told her she was fired.

Correct entry: by
The error was: (b) through

You have found the error but your entry is incorrect.
Unfortunately she fell asleep on one of the beds and the manager shaking her violently with the shoulder, told her she was fired.
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Dear Sir

why not "with" or "on" here?

thanks a lot in advance

Christina's son

[Linda]

Hi Christina's son,
In this case, the only correct answer (if your choices are with, on or by) is 'by the shoulder' because shaking someone by a part of their body is the phrase that is commonly used because it makes sense. You can grab or hold onto someone by their hand or arm, for example. You could also say 'I grabbed the bag by its leather straps,' for example.
Shaking someone 'with the shoulder' doesn't make sense because who's shoulder is doing the skaking and can you really shake someone with your or their shoulder?
If you try to use 'skaking her on the shoulder,' that implies that you might be standing on the shoulder and shaking what or who?
I hope that helps.
Linda
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