What is by? Pronunciation and usage in English

by means . Learn how to pronounce and use by through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of by

bypreposition

/bʌɪ/
Definition & pronunciation of by

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "by" in English. It's a little trickier than it looks because it has two common pronunciations!

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (as a preposition):

  • Pronunciation: /baɪ/ (rhymes with "eye")
  • How to say it: Imagine you're saying the word "eye" and then adding a "b" sound at the beginning.
  • Example: "He was sitting by the tree." (pronounced: "He wuz sittin' by the tree.")

2. The Less Common Pronunciation (as a conjunction):

  • Pronunciation: /baɪ/ (same as above - rhymes with "eye") - This is increasingly common in American English, and in some British dialects.
  • Pronunciation: /biː/ (rhymes with "bee") - This is the traditional pronunciation in more formal British English.
  • How to say it (bee): Think of the word "bee" and add a "b" at the beginning.
  • Example (bee): "I'll do it by myself." (pronounced: "I'll du it by myself.") This would sound more formal in British English.

Here’s a quick breakdown of when you’re likely to hear each pronunciation:

  • /baɪ/ (eye): Very common in American English in almost all contexts.
  • /biː/ (bee): More common in British English, especially in more formal speech. You'll also hear this pronunciation in certain regions of the UK.

Resources for hearing the pronunciation:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you located (approximately)? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia) This helps me understand which pronunciation is more likely to be appropriate for you.
  • What kind of English are you trying to speak? (e.g., General American, Received Pronunciation (RP) – often called "British Received Pronunciation"), or something else?

Usage and examples with the word by in English

Let's break down how to use the word "by" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with multiple functions! Here's a breakdown categorized by its common uses:

1. Indicating Agency (Who Did Something):

  • Most Common Use: This is the most frequent way "by" is used. It shows that someone performed an action.
    • Example: "The house was built by John." (John is the person who built it.)
    • Example: "She was sent by her father." (Her father sent her.)
    • Example: "The letter was written by a famous author."

2. Location (Near Something):

  • "By" means "near" or "adjacent to."
    • Example: "The park is by the river." (The park is located close to the river.)
    • Example: "They sat by the window." (They sat near the window.)
    • Example: "We walked by the bakery." (We walked past the bakery.)

3. Time (Before a Certain Time):

  • "By" indicates a deadline or a point in time before which something must be done.
    • Example: "The report is due by Friday." (The report needs to be finished before Friday.)
    • Example: "We should leave by 6 pm." (We should leave no later than 6 pm.)
    • Example: "The project must be completed by next month."

4. Means or Method (How Something Was Done):

  • "By" can show how something happened or was accomplished.
    • Example: "He traveled by train." (He traveled using a train.)
    • Example: "She learned to cook by watching her grandmother." (She learned by observing her grandmother.)
    • Example: "The package was delivered by courier." (The package was delivered using a courier service.)

5. Following a Verb (Often with “doing” verbs):

  • This is less common, but important. "By" often follows verbs that describe an action.
    • Example: "He finished the work by himself." (He finished the work alone.)
    • Example: "She celebrated her birthday by throwing a party." (She celebrated by hosting a party.)
    • Example: "The dog was fed by his owner." (His owner fed the dog.)

6. In prepositional phrases (often a bit subtle):

  • "By and by" – meaning "soon" or "in a little while". (A somewhat old-fashioned expression).
    • Example: “By and by, she fell asleep.”

Important Notes & Common Mistakes:

  • Don't confuse "by" with "beside": "Beside" means next to.

    • Incorrect: "He stood beside the tree."
    • Correct: "He stood by the tree." (near the tree)

  • "By" vs. "With": Use "by" to indicate the agent performing the action. Use “with” to indicate the instrument or tool used.

    • Incorrect: "He wrote the letter with by."
    • Correct: "He wrote the letter with a pen."

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more targeted information, could you tell me:

  • Are you having trouble understanding a specific example of "by"?
  • Is there a particular area you’d like me to focus on (e.g., using "by" with time, or with verbs)?

Synonyms for the word by

Idioms of the word by

by the by/bye
(informal)used to introduce a comment or question that is not directly related to what you have been talking about

    Practice with vocabulary by

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. The report was completed ___ the deadline.
    2. She traveled ___ train to the conference.
    3. The package was delivered ___ the door.
    4. The contract was signed ___ both parties.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. The project was managed ___ the team leader.
      a) by
      b) from
      c) with
      d) at
    2. The email was sent ___ mistake.
      a) by
      b) on
      c) in
      d) for
    3. The meeting took place ___ the morning.
      a) in
      b) on
      c) by
      d) at
    4. The decision was made ___ the manager.
      a) with
      b) by
      c) from
      d) for
    5. The company operates ___ strict guidelines.
      a) under
      b) by
      c) with
      d) for

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. The project was finished before the deadline.
    2. The book was written by a famous author.
    3. The plane arrived at the airport on time.

    Answer

    Exercise 1:

    1. by
    2. by
    3. at
    4. by

    Exercise 2:

    1. a) by
    2. b) in
    3. a) in
    4. b) by
    5. a) under

    Exercise 3:

    1. The project was completed by the deadline.
    2. The author of the book is famous.
    3. The plane reached the airport on time.

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