The Preposition By
By is an irreplaceable preposition due to its role in the construction of passive voice and other vital semantic structures.
By + a Person:
By Sam
By Julie
By Kira
By + a Pronoun:
By me
By them
By us
By + a Reflexive Pronoun:
By ourselves
By herself
By yourself
By + a Place
By the restaurant
By my home
By that fountain
By + a Date
By tomorrow
By next month
By Christmas
By + ing Form
By doing
By cleaning
By singing
There are so many uses for the preposition “BY”. In particular, it is usually used as a marker of bygone times or as an indicator of time when something occurs. By can be used in a variety of situations to mean and indicate several references.
First, it indicates the method by which an action is done:
They did this by their hard work.
Second, By also means next to:
My fiance walks by me whenever we are together.
Third, passive voice implements by to specify the agent:
This painting was drawn by a communist artist.
Fourth, we use by to mean “no later than”:
I want the report on my desk by Monday.
Meaning, I want the report ready as soon as possible and it has to be ready before the coming Monday which is the final deadline.
Fifth, it is repeatedly used with adjectives:
Hans took John by surprise.
Other examples of By:
The castle was built by the forest. In this context, by means at the side of the forest.
I managed to get a hold of the manager by phone. Here, it is used to specify means of communication. While I arrived at Manhattan city by train indicates that by specifies the method of transportation. Both previous examples illustrate the manner by which the action was carried out.
By doing this, you are going to succeed. “By” provides here more information about how to achieve a certain end.
By + Reflexive pronouns:
Samantha, Riley, and Jade live by themselves. As you can see here this “by” moves to mean on their own, together, or alone according to the context preceding.
By as together:
Camila and Daisy go on vacation by themselves.
By as alone:
Charlotte lives by herself.
Finally, we’ll introduce by with time terminology:
By is widely used with time expressions:
The company really needs a big win by the next quarter.
You’ll get to return home by the end of this camp.
We hope that you enjoyed this article and benefited from those compiled pieces of information. Share with us any other cases you know about the preposition “by”.
By is used to show the place of someone in relation to something and it has a similar meaning to ‘near or past. ‘ In this case, the prepositional phrase makes an object. She walked by me. ‘By me’ means ‘past me’ and it is the object. 1
FAQ
Where do we use preposition by?
The preposition “by” has several uses in English, and its usage depends on the context. Here are some common ways “by” is used:
Indicating Method or Means: “By” is often used to indicate the method or means by which something is done. Example: She traveled to Paris by train.
Expressing Time: “By” can be used to indicate a specific time when something will happen or the deadline for completing an action. Example: Please submit your report by Friday.
Near or Next to: “By” can indicate proximity or being near something .Example: The cat is sitting by the window.
Passing Through: “By” can be used to show that something passes through a particular place. Example: The river flows by the town.
Agent in Passive Voice: In passive voice constructions, “by” is used to indicate the agent or doer of the action. Example: The book was written by the author.
Secondary Action: “By” can indicate an action that is done in addition to another action. Example: She solved the math problems by checking the answers in the back of the book.
Measurement: “By” can be used to indicate measurement, especially in the context of dimensions. Example: The room is 10 feet by 12 feet.
Opinion or Judgement: “By” can be used to indicate the standard or criteria used to judge something. Example: He judged the movie by its acting.
Purchase or Exchange: “By” can indicate the means of purchase or exchange. Example: I bought this gift by trading my old bicycle.
Substitution: “By” can indicate a substitution or alternative. Example: You can replace butter with margarine in this recipe.
What is the meaning of by preposition?
The preposition “by” in English has several meanings and uses, depending on the context of the sentence. Here are some of the primary meanings of “by”:
Indicating Method or Means: “By” is often used to show the method or means by which something is done or achieved. Example: She travels to work by bus.
Expressing Time: “By” can be used to indicate a specific point in time or a deadline by which something should be completed. Example: The project must be finished by Monday.
Near or Beside: “By” can indicate proximity or location near something. Example: He’s standing by the door.
Through or Past: “By” can indicate passing through a place or moving past something. Example: The river flows by the town.
Agent in Passive Voice: In passive voice constructions, “by” is used to show the agent or doer of the action. Example: The book was written by the author.
Secondary Action: “By” can indicate an action that accompanies another action. Example: She solved the problem by asking for help.
Measurement: “By” can denote measurement, especially in terms of dimensions. Example: The room is 10 feet by 12 feet.
Opinion or Judgment: “By” can indicate the standard or criteria used for evaluation. Example: He judged the meal by its taste.
Purchase or Exchange: “By” can show the means or method of obtaining something. Example: She paid for the item by credit card.
Substitution or Replacement: “By” can be used to indicate a substitution or alternative. Example: You can replace sugar with honey in the recipe.
The meaning of “by” can vary depending on the specific context, so it’s essential to consider the surrounding words and the overall sense of the sentence when interpreting its meaning.
In conclusion, the preposition “by” is a versatile and commonly used word in the English language. It serves various purposes, from indicating the means or method by which something is done to expressing time, location, or measurement. Understanding the different uses of “by” is essential for effective communication in English.
Whether you’re describing how you accomplish a task, setting a deadline, specifying location, or identifying the doer of an action, “by” plays a crucial role in conveying precise information. Mastery of prepositions like “by” contributes to clear and accurate communication, making your English language skills more proficient.
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