B2 - BY or WITH?

Question 1

✅ “By” — Focuses on who or what causes the action
Used to show the agent (the doer) of an action.

Structure:

[Something is done] by [Agent]
🔹 Often used in passive voice.

📌 Examples:

The book was written by George Orwell.
→ (George Orwell is the person who did the writing.)
The window was broken by the wind.
→ (The wind caused the breaking.)

✅ “With” — Focuses on the tool, instrument, or means used
Used to show how something is done or what tool is used.

Structure:

[Something is done] with [Tool/Instrument/Quality]
📌 Examples:

The letter was written with a pen.
→ (The pen is the tool.)
She cut the paper with scissors.
→ (Scissors are the instrument used.)
He spoke with confidence.
→ (Confidence is a quality, not a person or agent.)

Question 2

Sentence A: The letter was sent by email.
Sentence B: The letter was sent with email.

Answer 2

Sentence A is correct:

The letter was sent by email.

Question 3

Sentence A: The cake was baked by an oven.
Sentence B: The cake was baked with an oven.

Answer 3

Sentence B is correct:

The cake was baked with an oven.

Question 4

Sentence A: She solved the problem by a calculator.
Sentence B: She solved the problem with a calculator.

Answer 4

Sentence B is correct:

She solved the problem with a calculator.

Question 5

Sentence A: The picture was drawn by a pencil.
Sentence B: The picture was drawn with a pencil.

Answer 5

Sentence B is correct:

The picture was drawn with a pencil.

Question 6

Sentence A: He arrived by car.
Sentence B: He arrived with car.

Answer 6

Sentence A is correct:

He arrived by car.

Question 7

Sentence A: She traveled by car.
Sentence B: She traveled with car.

Answer 7

Sentence A is correct: She traveled by car.

Question 8

Sentence A: The book was written by Jane Austen.
Sentence B: The book was written with Jane Austen.

Answer 8

Sentence A is correct: The book was written by Jane Austen.

Question 9

Sentence A: He cut the paper by scissors.
Sentence B: He cut the paper with scissors.

Answer 9

Sentence B is correct: He cut the paper with scissors.

Question 10

Sentence A: The room was lit with candles.
Sentence B: The room was lit by candles.

Answer 10

Sentence A is correct: The room was lit with candles.

Question 11

Sentence A: The cake was made by my grandmother.
Sentence B: The cake was made with my grandmother.

Answer 11

Sentence A is correct: The cake was made by my grandmother.