by

'By' (+ a time) not later than:

- I posted the letter today, so they should receive it by Monday. (=on or before Monday on Monday at the latest) (not 'until Monday')

- Where's Ann? She should be here by now. (= now or before now; so she should have already arrived) (not 'until now'). - I'll have finished my work by 11 o'clock. (= I'II finish my work at or before 11 o'clock, at 11 o'clock at the latest) (not 'until 11 o'clock'). - Tell me by Friday whether or not you can come to the party, (not 'Tell me until Friday').

You can also say 'by the time' (something happens):

- It's not worth going shopping now. By the time we get to the shops, they will be shut. (= they will shut between now and the time we get there)

We use 'by' to say how we travel:

by car/by train/by plane/by boat/by ship/by bus/by bicycle.

Also: by road/by rail/by air/by sea/by Underground

- 'How did you go to Paris?' 'By plane.'

- Tom usually goes to work by bicycle/by car/by bus/by train.

We say 'to pay by cheque' (but 'to pay in cash' or 'to pay cash'):

- Did you pay by cheque or in cash?

We say 'to do something by accident/by mistake/by chance':

- We hadn't arranged to meet. We met by chance.

We say 'a play by Shakespeare/a painting by Rembrandt/a novel by Tolstoy' etc.:

- Have you read any books by Agatha Christie? (= any books written by Agatha Christie?)

We say 'to be surprised/shocked/amazed/astonished by/at something':

- Everybody was surprised/shocked by/at the news.

We say 'to be impressed by/with someone/something':

- I wasn't very impressed by/with the film.