Uso de la preposición "by" en inglés: funciones y ejemplos

Curso de Inglés Intermedio B1: Pronombres y Cláusulas Relativas

Contenido del curso

Introduction

1
Cláusulas y Pronombres Relativos en Inglés Intermedio
02:34 min

Relative pronouns and clauses

Essential vocabulary

Real and hypothetical situations

Using "to" and "for"

More ways to communicate in the past

Conclusions

27
Resumen de Cláusulas y Pronombres Relativos en Inglés
01:35 min

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Cursos Empresas Blog Live Conf Eventos Precios

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Uso de la preposición "by" en inglés: funciones y ejemplos

Curso de Inglés Intermedio B1: Pronombres y Cláusulas Relativas

Clase 8 de 27

Clase 8 / 27

Recursos

Understanding how a single word can carry so many different meanings is one of the most rewarding steps when learning English. The preposition by (spelled B-Y) is a perfect example — it looks simple, yet it plays a role in talking about places, transportation, communication, payments, deadlines, and even explaining how you do something.

How do you use "by" to describe location?

When you want to say that something or someone is next to or beside a certain place, you can use by [0:24]. For instance:

My laptop is by the window.
I am by the door.

In both cases, by works as a synonym for next to or beside. It tells the listener exactly where to find the object or person.

Which methods of transportation and communication take "by"?

The preposition by pairs naturally with methods of transportation [1:00]. You will hear sentences like:

She goes to work by bus.
I always go to the office by car.

The same pattern applies to methods of communication [1:18]. Consider these examples:

We received the instructions by email.
You can call me by phone.

There are a couple of exceptions, but the general rule is straightforward: use by before most means of transport and communication.

Can you also use "by" for payments?

Methods of payment follow a similar logic [1:48]. You can say:

I'll pay by credit card.
I'll pay by online transfer.

This applies to debit cards and online transactions as well. Keeping this pattern in mind makes it easier to sound natural when discussing money.

What does "by" mean when you set a deadline?

A deadline is the maximum point in time you have to complete or deliver something [2:12]. Using by before a specific time or date sets that limit clearly:

Send me the report by 5:00 PM. — You can send it now or earlier, but 5:00 PM sharp is the absolute latest.
I need you to finish this project by next Monday. — Today, over the weekend, or on Monday itself are all fine, as long as it is done no later than Monday [2:50].

How do you explain the way something is done with "by"?

One very useful structure is by + verb in -ing form [3:18]. It answers the question how? and works like a mini-instruction:

You can make a paper airplane by folding the paper like this.

The formula is simple: by + action(-ing). Here are more examples from the practice exercise [3:50]:

You can open the can by using a knife.
You can lose weight by exercising more.
I learned how to do that by reading the instructions.

No matter which verb you choose, the key rule stays the same — always put the action in its -ing form right after by.

Try creating your own sentences with each use of by and share them in the comments so others can learn from your examples too.

Libardo Arturo Arroyave Bustos

Hace un año

📘 Understanding the Preposition “By” in English

The word "by" may sound similar to “buy” (as in purchasing something) or “bye” (as in saying goodbye), but in this lesson, we explore the preposition “by”—a small word with powerful and diverse uses in English. Below is a comprehensive summary of the transcription, organized into key thematic sections to help you fully understand how and when to use “by.”

🏠 Using “By” to Indicate Location

"By" can describe the location of someone or something relative to another object.

🔑 Key Idea:

"By" means next to or beside.

📝 Examples:

My laptop is by the window. → (next to the window)
I am by the door. → (beside the door)

🚌 Using “By” for Transportation Methods

"By" is used when talking about how someone travels from one place to another.

🛠️ Typical Structure:

By + transportation method

📝 Examples:

She goes to work by bus.
I always go to the office by car.

🚨 Note:

This is generally used with public or mechanical forms of transport.

📡 Using “By” for Communication Methods

"By" is also useful when referring to how we communicate with others.

📞 Examples:

We received the instructions by email.
You can call me by phone. (also correct: on the phone)

✅ Rule of Thumb:

Use "by" for common communication methods like email, phone, or text.

💳 Using “By” for Payment Methods

You can also use "by" to talk about how you pay for something.

💰 Common Usage:

By + payment method

📝 Examples:

I’ll pay by credit card.
You can pay by online transfer.

⚠️ Exceptions:

Some payment methods may vary in phrasing, but "by" is generally safe to use.

🕐 Using “By” to Indicate Deadlines

“By” helps to set deadlines or the latest time by which something must be completed.

⏳ Key Concept:

By + specific time/date

📝 Examples:

Send me the report by 5 p.m.
You must finish the project by Monday.

📌 Explanation:

This means before or at that exact time—not after.

🛠️ Using “By” to Explain How Something is Done

Use “by” + ING verb to explain the method or way something is done.

🧪 Formula:

By + verb-ing

📝 Examples:

You can make a paper airplane by folding the paper.
I learned how to do that by reading the manual.

🧠 Practice Activity: Fill-in-the-Blank Using “By” + ING

These exercises help you apply the "by + ING" structure:

You can open the can by using a knife.
You can lose weight by exercising more.
I learned how to do that by reading the instructions.

👉 The important part is that the action after “by” is always in the -ing form.

🧵 Conclusion & Final Thoughts

Throughout this lesson, we explored the multiple functions of the preposition "by" in English:

📍 Location: by the window
🚗 Transportation: by car, by bus
💬 Communication: by email, by phone
💳 Payment: by credit card
🕒 Deadlines: by 5 p.m., by Monday
🛠️ Method/How: by folding paper, by exercising

✅ Final Recommendations:

Always pair “by” with the correct noun or verb-ing form depending on context.
Practice by forming your own sentences with “by” in each category.

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Introduction

Cláusulas y Pronombres Relativos en Inglés Intermedio

Relative pronouns and clauses

Conceptos básicos de gramática inglesa: cláusulas y pronombres

Cláusulas y Pronombres Relativos en Inglés

Uso de Pronombres Relativos en Inglés

Uso de Cláusulas Relativas en Conversaciones en Inglés

Essential vocabulary

Uso de "Placeholders" en Conversaciones Informales

Uso de "One" y "Ones" como Propwords en Inglés

Uso de la preposición "by" en inglés: funciones y ejemplos

Cómo usar "both" y "and" en inglés para conectar elementos

Identificación y uso de "phrasal verbs" en inglés

Prefijos para Negaciones en Inglés: Uso y Ejemplos Prácticos

Verbos Causales en Inglés: Let, Make, Help y Get

Comprensión Auditiva: Conversaciones Cotidianas en Español

Práctica de conversación en inglés (contexto cotidiano)

Real and hypothetical situations

Uso de "the" con adjetivos para generalizar personas

Uso de "can" para expresar verdades generales en inglés

Uso del Segundo Condicional en Situaciones Hipotéticas

Using "to" and "for"

Objetos directos e indirectos en oraciones en inglés

Expresar propósitos en inglés: uso de "to" y "for"

Práctica de conversación en inglés (contexto profesional)

More ways to communicate in the past

Uso del Presente Perfecto Continuo en Inglés

Diferencias y usos de "until", "till" y "'til" en inglés

Permisos en el pasado con "be allowed to"

Pasado Simple Pasivo: Estructura y Ejemplos Prácticos

Intenciones Pasadas: Uso de "Was/Were Going To" en Inglés

Práctica de Escucha y Pronunciación con Historia de Jack

Conclusions

Resumen de Cláusulas y Pronombres Relativos en Inglés

Uso de la preposición "by" en inglés: funciones y ejemplos