By, with and on foot
By car, by email, on foot, with a knife, a song by Adele: how we travel, how we do things and who made something.
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By says how we travel or communicate (by train, by email) and who made something (a book by Orwell). With says what tool or object we use (cut it with a knife). For walking, we say on foot.
By + transport, with no article
Use by + a means of transport, with no a, the or my before it.
By + transport | Example |
|---|---|
by car, by bus, by train, by taxi | I go to work by bus. |
by plane (or by air), by boat | We went to Ireland by boat. |
by bike | She comes to school by bike. |
- How did you get here? By taxi.
- Incorrect: We travelled to Paris by the train.
- Correct: We travelled to Paris by train.After by, there is no article.
When there is a, the, my or another word before the noun, use in for a car or a taxi and on for a bus, a train, a plane or a bike.
- We went in my car.
- I was on the 8.15 train.
- Incorrect: I came by my car.
- Correct: I came in my car.With my, use in, not by.
On foot
For walking, we say on foot. You may hear by foot, but it is much less common, and on foot is the form to learn. Often we simply use the verb walk.
- The station is ten minutes on foot.
- We went to the museum on foot.
- I usually walk to work.
- Incorrect: I go to the office by walk.
- Correct: I go to the office on foot. / I walk to the office.Walk is a verb. The phrase is on foot.
By email, by phone, by card
By also says how we send, contact or pay.
- I'll send you the details by email.
- You can book by phone or online.
- Can I pay by card?
- The letter came by post.
For cash, we usually say in cash: Can I pay in cash?
With + a tool or an object
Use with for the thing we use in our hands to do something: a tool, a pen, a key, a fork.
- Cut the bread with this knife.
- She opened the door with her key.
- Please write with a black pen.
- We ate with chopsticks.
- Incorrect: He cut the cake by a knife.
- Correct: He cut the cake with a knife.A knife is a tool in your hand, so use with.
By + the person who made it
Use by for the writer, artist or company that made something.
- I'm reading a book by Agatha Christie.
- This is my favourite song by Adele.
- We watched a film by a young Polish director.
- Incorrect: Guernica is a painting of Picasso.
- Correct: Guernica is a painting by Picasso.Picasso painted it, so use by. A painting of Picasso is a picture that shows Picasso.
With: together, and having something
With also means "together with someone" and "having something".
- I live with my parents.
- Do you want to come with us?
- Who's the man with the beard?
- I'd like a room with a sea view.
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