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Lesson Plan September 19, 2025

Topic: Preposition: Uses of ‘by’

In this lesson you can review the use of ‘by’ in a variety of sentences.

We use by in the passive to show who does the action, and we also use by to show how something is done.

Section A: by + -ing

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

• I prepared for the marathon by running every day.

Section B: by + noun

‘By’ is used in a number of daily expressions

• by phone

• by mistake

• by chance

• by accident

• I paid for the meal by credit card.

• We met by chance.

But we use ‘in cash’ and ‘on purpose’

• Did you send this email by accident or on purpose?

We use ‘with’ when tools or parts of the body are mentioned

• I opened the bottle of wine with a corkscrew.

Section C: by + method of transportation

• I went to work by car.

• I travel by plane every summer.

But we say ‘on foot’

• Did you get here by car or on foot?

Section D: by + amount of something

• The price went up by ¥1500.

Section E: by + (myself / yourself / himself etc) (to mean ‘without help)

• He went fishing by himself.

• She can finally tie her shoes by herself.

Section F: preposition of time and place

‘By’ is also used as a preposition of time and place.

• ‘next to’ / ‘at the side of’

  • Paul lives by the sea.

  • The park is by the train line.

• with verbs of motion to mean ‘past’

  • I passed by your house on my way to work.

  • As time went by, her language skills really started to improve.

• ‘not later than’

  • The meeting starts at 9 am, so try to get here by 8:50.

  • I need to return this library book by Friday.

Lesson Notes

Words & Phrases

• I spend my nights watching the World Athletics Championships. (Adding ‘my’ makes it sound like you’re talking about how you usually spend your evenings.)

• We went to a waffle café that also serves meals and desserts. (The word ‘serves’ is often used for food in restaurants)

• The javelin thrower, Haruna Kitaguchi, will compete tonight. (If you want to show that she is taking part in the javelin competition, ‘compete’ is better than ‘appear’)

Prepositions: Uses of ‘By’

(ON / IN) TIME

• ON TIME = at the exact or scheduled time, not late. (Synonyms: punctual, prompt)

• The train is on time.

• She arrived on time for class and was ready for the teacher to begin.

• “The train left at 8:00. I got there at 7:55, so I was on time.”

• “The movie starts at 7:30, so if we arrive at 7:10 we will be on time with plenty of time to spare.

• IN TIME = early enough, before it is too late.

• I stopped the car in time and just missed hitting a building.

• We are running late, but we will arrive in time for dinner. Hopefully.

• “My grandson was about to touch the hot stove, but I stopped him in time”

• Thinking about trains

• People who arrive calmly, stand in line, and board are on time.

• People who run down the stairs and jump on just as the doors close are in time.

We use ‘by’ to say how somebody travels

• by car / by train / by plane / by boat / by ship / by bus / by bike, etc

• by road / by rail / by air / by sea

But we say ‘on foot’

You cannot use ‘by’ if you say ‘my car’ / ‘the train’ / ‘a taxi’

• ‘by car’ BUT ‘in my car’

• ‘by train’ BUT ‘on the train’

And remember that we use IN for cars and taxis, and we use ON for bikes and public transportation (buses / trains / ships etc)