The word by may look small and simple, but it is one of the most powerful and frequently used words in the English language. As a preposition, it connects ideas, shows relationships, and explains who did something, how something was done, where something is located, and when something must happen.
Whether you are reading a novel written by a famous author, watching a film directed by a renowned filmmaker, or sitting by the window, this little word carries big meaning.
In this detailed guide, we will explore:
- The part of speech (POS) of by
- Its syntactic functions
- Its semantic roles
- Its place in NLP (Natural Language Processing)
- Real-life examples and sentence structures
- Tables and grammar comparisons
- Common mistakes and advanced usage
Let’s dive deep into the meaning and usage of by in English grammar.
Part of Speech of “By” – Understanding “By” as a Preposition
The word by functions primarily as a preposition. A preposition shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and another word in a sentence.
What Does a Preposition Do?
A preposition can indicate:
Agency – Who performed an action
Means/Method – How something was done
Location/Proximity – Where something is
Time – When something must be completed
For example:
- The book was written by Haider.
- The cake was made by hand.
- Sit by the river.
- Finish your work by Monday.
In each case, by connects information and clarifies the relationship between elements in the sentence.
Syntactic Functions of “By” in English Grammar
In syntax (sentence structure), by plays several important roles. Let’s explore them one by one.
Marks Agent in Passive Voice
One of the most common uses of by is in passive sentences. It identifies the agent — the person or thing that performs the action.
Structure:
Object + was/were + past participle + by + agent
Examples:
The novel was written by J.K. Rowling.
The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
The smartphone was designed by Apple engineers.
In each sentence, the action was done from the hands of someone. The word by introduces the doer of the action.
Table: Active vs Passive with “By”
| Active Sentence | Passive Sentence |
|---|---|
| Haider wrote the article. | The article was written by Haider. |
| The chef made the meal. | The meal was made by the chef. |
| The engineer developed the software. | The software was developed by the engineer. |
Notice how by becomes essential in passive voice to mark the agent.
Indicates Means or Method
Another major syntactic function of by is to show how something is done.
Examples:
- Travel by train.
- Pay by credit card.
- He learned English by watching movies.
- The project was completed by means of advanced AI tools.
Here, by expresses instrument/means. It answers the question: How was it done?
Common phrases include:
- by means of
- by using
- by way of
- by means of technology
- powered by solar energy
Indicates Proximity or Location
By also shows physical closeness.
Examples:
- Sit by the window.
- The house is located by the river.
- There is a café near by the station.
- She stood beside her friend.
- The pharmacy is next to the hospital.
Here, by functions as a location marker.
Indicates Time Reference
By can show a deadline or latest time something must happen.
Examples:
- Submit the assignment by Monday.
- Finish the task by 5 PM.
- The package was delivered by noon.
In this case, by acts as a temporal boundary marker.
Semantic Roles of “By”
Semantics deals with meaning. The word by expresses several important semantic roles.
Agent / Actor Role
This is the most common role.
Example:
The song was written by Taylor Swift.
The sculpture was created by a local artist.
The word by identifies the performer of the action.
Instrument / Means Role
When showing how something was achieved:
- The sculpture was shaped by means of chiseling.
- The app was developed by using advanced algorithms.
- The house was designed by computer modeling software.
This highlights the means or tool used.
Location / Proximity Role
Examples:
- A small shop is located by the beach.
- There is a bakery near by.
- The school is beside the mosque.
Temporal Boundary Role
Examples:
- Complete the exam by 10 AM.
- The report must be submitted by Friday.
It sets the final time limit.
Common Real-Life Expressions Using “By”
The word by appears in countless daily expressions.
Creative Works
Songs written by [artist]
Books by [author]
Paintings by [artist]
Films directed by [director]
Example sentences:
- “1984” is a novel written by George Orwell.
- The painting was created by Vincent van Gogh.
- The movie was directed by Christopher Nolan.
Handmade & Craft Expressions
- Made by hand
- Handcrafted by artisans
- Inspired by nature
- Designed by professionals
Example:
- This bag is handcrafted by skilled workers.
- The dress was made by hand.
- The logo was designed by a graphic artist.
Technology & Modern Usage
- Powered by AI
- Developed by engineers
- Delivered by courier service
Example:
- The software was developed by a team of experts.
- The parcel was delivered by FedEx.
Understanding “By” in Natural Language Processing (NLP)
In NLP, the word by has special significance.
Stopword
Because by is very common, it is often classified as a stopword in NLP. Stopwords are words frequently removed during text processing because they carry grammatical rather than lexical meaning.
However, removing by can sometimes distort meaning:
“The book was written Haider.” (Incorrect without by)
Function Word
In linguistic terms, by is a function word. It does not carry strong meaning alone but provides grammatical structure.
Dependency Role
In dependency parsing, by often attaches as a prepositional modifier (prep).
Example:
- The book was written by Haider.
Here, “by Haider” modifies “written.”
Common Confusions: “By” vs Other Prepositions
By vs With
| By | With |
|---|---|
| Indicates agent | Indicates instrument |
| Written by Haider | Cut with a knife |
Example:
The novel was written by the author.
The meat was cut with a knife.
By vs Near
- By suggests immediate closeness.
- Near suggests proximity but not necessarily touching distance.
Example:
- Sit by me.
- The market is near by.
By vs Until
- By = before or at a deadline
- Until = continuing up to a time
Example:
- Submit it by Friday.
- Wait until Friday.
Advanced Sentence Structures Using “By”
Gerund Form
He improved his English by reading daily.
She lost weight by exercising regularly.
Structure:
By + verb-ing
Passive Constructions Without Agent
Sometimes the agent is omitted:
- The building was constructed in 2022.
But when the agent matters:
- The building was constructed by ABC Developers.
Practical Examples in Daily Life
Location
The park is located by the river.
A hospital stands next to the school.
Travel
- Travel by car
- Pay by card
- Contact via email
Production
- Furniture made by hand
- Jewelry handcrafted by artisans
Key Facts About the Word “By”
One of the top 20 most frequently used English words
Functions mainly as a preposition
Critical in passive voice construction
Acts as a stopword in NLP
Expresses agent, method, location, and time
Comprehensive Usage Table
| Function | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Agent | Who performed action | Written by Haider |
| Means | How something is done | Travel by bus |
| Location | Close to something | Sit by me |
| Time | Deadline | Finish by 6 PM |
| Method | Process | Learn by practicing |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ The book was written Haider.
✅ The book was written by Haider.
❌ Submit until Monday.
✅ Submit by Monday.
❌ Travel with bus.
✅ Travel by bus.
Expert Tip
“Understanding the word by deeply improves both grammar accuracy and sentence clarity.”
Mastering this small preposition significantly enhances both written and spoken English.
Conclusion
The word by may be short, but it performs powerful grammatical functions. It identifies the agent in passive voice, explains means and method, shows location, and sets time boundaries.
From books written by famous authors to products made by hand, from houses located by rivers to deadlines set by Monday, this preposition shapes clarity in communication.
In grammar, linguistics, and even NLP, the word by plays a crucial structural role as a function word and dependency marker.
Mastering the usage of by improves sentence construction, writing credibility, and communication precision.
I am Ethan Blake, a passionate writer dedicated to crafting heartfelt messages that spread love, joy, and inspiration.
