By Flashcards
We use by in many expressions to say h__ we do something.
We use by in many expressions to say how we do something.
- Can I pay by credit card/check?
- You can contact me by phone/fax/email.
Note: we say pay cash or pay in cash (not usually by cash).
We also say that something happens __ mistake /__ accident / __ chance:
We also say that something happens by mistake / by accident / by chance:
- We hadn’t arranged to meet. We met by chance.
Note: we say by chance, by credit card etc. (not by the chance I by a credit card). In these expressions we use by + noun without ‘the’ or ‘a’.
In the same way we use by… to say h__somebody travels.
In the same way we use by… to say h__somebody travels.
by car / by train / by plane / by boat / by ship / by bus / by bike / by road / by rail / by air / by sea
But we say on foot:
- Did you come here by car or on foot?
You cannot use by if you say my car / the train / a taxi. We say:
- by car but in my car (not by my car)
- by train but on the train (not by the train)
We say that “something is d___ by somebody/ something” (passive).
We say that “something is d___ by somebody/ something” (passive).
- Have you ever been bitten by a dog?
- The programme was watched by millions of people.
Compare by and with:
- The door must have been opened with a key. (not by a key) (= somebody used a key to open it)
- The door must have been opened by somebody with a key.
We also say “a play by Shakespeare” / “a painting by Rembrandt” / “a novel by Tolstoy”.
By also means “n___ to / be__”.
By also means “next to / beside”.
- Come and sit by me. (= next to me)
- ‘Where’s the light switch?’ ‘By the door.’
Gregg’s salary has just gone up from $3,000 a month to $3300. So it has increased b_ $300 / b_ ten per cent.
Gregg’s salary has just gone up from $3,000 a month to $3300. So it has increased by $300 / by ten per cent.
Complete the sentence using by + one of the following (satellite/credit card/hand/mistake).
I didn’t intend to take your umbrella. I took it ____.
Complete the sentence using by + one of the following (satellite/credit card/hand/mistake).
I didn’t intend to take your umbrella. I took it by mistake.
Complete the sentence using by + one of the following (satellite/credit card/hand/mistake).
Don’t put the sweater in the washing machine. lt has to be washed ____.
Complete the sentence using by + one of the following (satellite/credit card/hand/mistake).
Don’t put the sweater in the washing machine. lt has to be washed by hand.
Complete the sentence using by + one of the following (satellite/credit card/hand/mistake).
I don’t need cash. I can pay the bill ____.
Complete the sentence using by + one of the following (satellite/credit card/hand/mistake).
I don’t need cash. I can pay the bill by credit card.
Complete the sentence using by + one of the following (satellite/credit card/hand/mistake).
The two cities were connected ____ for a television program.
Complete the sentence using by + one of the following (satellite/credit card/hand/mistake).
The two cities were connected by satellite for a television program.
Put in by, in, or on.
I decided not to go __ car. I went __ my bike instead.
Put in by, in, or on.
I decided not to go by car. I went on my bike instead. (we use “on” for bike and public transportation (buses, trains, etc.)
Put in by, in, or on.
I didn’t feel like walking home, so I came home __ a taxi.
Put in by, in, or on.
I didn’t feel like walking home, so I came home in a taxi. (we “in” not “by” with “a taxi”)
Put in by, in, on, or with.
The plane was badly damaged __ lightning.
Put in by, in, on, or with.
The plane was badly damaged by lightning.
Put in by, in, on, or with.
We managed to put the fire out __ a fire extinguisher.
Put in by, in, on, or with.
We managed to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher.
Put in by, in, on, or with.
Who is that man standing __ the window?
Put in by, in, on, or with.
Who is that man standing by the window?
