介词专题：by

（被动语态）+ by + 人/物

指示施加动作的主体：

The motorcycle was driven by a tiny bald man.
We were amazed by what she told us.
I’m reading some short stories (written) by Chekhov.
Any painting by Van Gogh is worth a fortune.

by + 方式

They travelled across Europe by train/car.
She did the decorating (all) by herself (= alone, without help from anyone).
We went in by (= through) the front door.
He learned English by listening to the radio.
I refuse to live by (= following) their rules.

by + sth，邻近

A small child stood sullenly by her side.
He wanted to keep her close by him always.
The policewoman walked by (= past) them without saying a word.

对比 by 作副词

By 作副词表示距离邻近或时间流逝：

The policewoman walked by without saying a word.
Why don’t you call in for a cup of coffee next time you’re passing by?
The years flew by.

by + 时刻，在此之前

She had promised to be back by five o’clock.
The application must be in by the 31st to be accepted.
By the time I got to the station the train had already gone.

by + 数值/数量，表示幅度

Our office floor space measured twelve metres by ten (= was twelve metres in one direction and ten in the other).
Their wages were increased by 15 percent.
Freelance workers are paid by the hour (= for every hour they work).
These phones have sold by the thousand (= several thousand have been sold).

minute by minute/hour by hour/day by day, etc.

also by the minute/hour/day, etc.

used to say that something increases or changes with every minute, hour, day, etc. that passes:

The death toll from the hurricane was climbing minute by minute/by the minute.
The credibility of the campaign has deterioriated month by month/by the month.

minute-by-minute/hour-by-hour, etc.

describing or showing what happens every minute, hour, etc.:

a minute-by-minute timeline of the incident
The book paints a detailed, week-by-week portrait of his father’s illness.

by + 时间段，持续

We travelled by night and rested by day.

固定搭配

by nature, profession, trade, etc.

used when describing someone’s character, job, etc.:

She is, by nature, a sunny, positive kind of person.
He’s a plumber by trade.
She was, by profession, a lawyer.

be all right/fine by sb

If something is all right/fine by someone, they agree that it can happen:

“I’d rather go later.” “That’s fine by me.”
If it’s all right by you, I’d like to leave now.

 

References: Cambridge.org/by