Level Cc1 'by'

Level CC1

Practice on SB p. 51, Wordspot “by” (and exceptions with “on”) By _________________________________________________________________ 1. To answer “how” a) “By” answers the question “How…?”, i.e. the method used for something. e.g. – How do you go to work? – By train. It can apply to ways of communicating, paying or travelling. e.g.

by

bus train plane phone email smoke signals credit card check

Exception!: on foot (= walking) e.g. The kids go to school on foot.

Look at act. 1, sentences a, b and act. 2, categories c, g. b) Extensively “by” can answer any question of “HOW” something is done. The combination is usually by + …ing. e.g. – How do you turn on this machine? – By pressing the red button. Look at act. 1, sentence f, and act. 2, category a. _________________________________________________________________ 2. With the passive “By” is the preposition used in the passive with the doer of the action. e.g. A lot of houses have been destroyed by the tornado. Look at act. 1, sentences i,,j and act. 2, categories b, f. ________________________________________________________________ 3. Prepositions “next to” and “before” a) “By” means “next to” when it’s a preposition of place.

e.g. They live in a small house by the sea. b) “By” means “before” (actually it’s Spanish “para + momento”) when it’s a preposition of time. e.g. I was deep asleep by the time the show finished. Look at act. 1, sentences d,,g and act. 2, categories d, e. ________________________________________________________________ 4. Other expressions a) by accident (c.f. opposite, on purpose) e.g. I dropped the glasses by accident. I didn’t do it on purpose. b) by oneself (c.f. on one’s own) = alone

by

myself yourself himself themselves etc.

=

on

my own your own his own their own etc.

e.g. Parents get worried when children go out by themselves (= on their own).