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Lesson Plan September 22, 2023

Topic: By

In this lesson we will cover the different uses of the preposition by.

We use the preposition “by” in passive structures to say who or what does something. However, we also use “by” to say how something is done. Study the following examples and exceptions below.

Section A: By + “-ing”

• He improved his English by speaking to lots of speaking.

• I prepared for the marathon by running everyday.

• We can learn more by studying a little bit everyday.

Section B: By + “noun”

We use “by” in a number of expressions: by phone, by mistake, by chance, by accident

• I paid for the meal by credit card.

• We met by chance at a party last year.

EXCEPTIONS: We say “in cash” and “on purpose”

• I paid for the meal in cash. (NOT by cash)

• Did you send me this email by accident or on purpose? (NOT by purpose)

When we mention “tools” or “parts of the body” are mentioned, we use “with”

• I opened the bottle of wine with an electric corkscrew.

• I kicked the ball back to the kids with my foot.

Section C: By + “method of transportation”

• I go to work by train.

• My family enjoys traveling by plane every summer.

EXCEPTION: We say “on foot”

• Did you go by chair lift or on foot to the top of the mountain? (NOT by foot)

EXCEPTIONS: You cannot use “by” if you say “my car” / “the train” / “a taxi” etc

• My coworker and I go to work by car. (NOT by my car)

  • My coworker and I go to work in my car.

• We are going by train to get to the hotel. (NOT by the train)

  • We are going on the train to get to the hotel.

Section D: By + “amount of something”

• The price went up by ¥2000.

• My favourite baseball team won the game by 2 points.

• Food prices have increased by 15% this year so far.

Section E: By + “myself / yourself / himself etc”

We use these phases to mean “without help”.

• I built the website by myself.

• He went fishing by himself.

• The kids baked these cookies by themselves, but I did the cleaning up by myself.

Lesson Plan September 22, 2023

Topic: Topic: By

In this lesson we will cover the different uses of the preposition by.

Lesson Notes

• Coil (noun): a round or spiral shape, like a spring or a loop of something.

• "A spring is a type of coil that bounces.”

• “There’s a coil of wire in the draw we can use."

• Coiled (adjective): describes something that is wound or twisted into a circular or spiral shape.

• "The coiled rope was neatly arranged.”

• “We used the coiled wire to hang a picture.”

• Coil (verb): means to wind or twist something into a circular or spiral shape.

• "She tried to coil the wire neatly.”

• “Remember to coil the unused wired and put it away neatly.”

• The following sentence is incorrect “I don’t like travelling on bus.”. Here are the correct versions below:

• I don’t like travelling by bus.

• I don’t like travelling on the bus.

• I don’t like travelling on buses.

• I hand-washed my clothes. (verb)

• I washed my clothes by hand. (Here “hand” is a noun that modifies the action “wash”; so you are saying “you used your hands to do the action”) (NOT by hands)

• “I paid in cash.” The phrase “in cash” is an idiomatic expression, it’s the common way to say you used “coins and or bills” to pay.

• While grammatically correct “by cash”, it’s not often used.

• Using the correct preposition with methods of transportation

• In; used when you cannot stand up; in a car, in a taxi, in a truck etc

• On; used when you can stand up or move around; on a train, on a bus, on a plane, on a boat

• On; use on for bicycles, motorcycles, horses etc