By is a versatile preposition which can be used in a number of situations. Today
we take a look at some of its basic uses:
We use by to show how something is done:
We send a postcard
or a letter by post.
We contact someone by phone or by email.
We pay for something by credit card or by cash.
Something happens by mistake, by accident or by
chance.
We use by to show how someone travels:
They
came by car/ by taxi/ by train/ by plane.
We can also use by with –ing to show how something happened:
‘She
passed her test by studying hard.’
‘I got into the house by using my key.’
‘By’
in passives
In passive sentences we use by to show who or what did an action:
‘This
was painted by Picasso.’
‘This house was built by my grandfather.’
‘I was
invited by Sarah.’
‘By’ with adjectives
By can be used after the following adjectives:
‘We were
surprised by the news.’
‘I was shocked by his death.’
‘She was astonished by his request’.
Note: ‘at’ can also be used in the above sentences.
‘They
were impressed by my exam result.’ (‘with’ can also be used)
‘By’ as ‘next to’
By is also used to mean ‘next to’ or ‘beside’.
‘My
dog came and sat by me.’
Use ‘by’ for ‘an amount’
Take a look at this other use of by:
‘He is older than me by 3 years.’
‘We
sell tomatoes by the kilo.’
‘By’ as ‘no later than’
In
the following situations by means ‘on’ or ‘before’:
‘Give me your
homework by Friday.’
‘The boy must be in bed by 9 o’clock.’
‘By’ as ‘alone’
By can be used with:
myself/yourself/himself/herself/ourselves/yourselves/themselves
These all show someone or something being alone:
‘I stayed at home by myself
and read the newspaper.’
‘The cat opened the door by himself.’
