Usage note : by

When by is used with a passive verb, it is translated by par :

he was killed by a tiger

= il a été tué par un tigre

she was horrified by the news

= elle a été horrifiée par la nouvelle

For particular usages, see the entry by.

When by is used with a present participle to mean by means of, it is translated by en :

she learned French by listening to the radio

= elle a appris le français en écoutant la radio

For particular usages, see the entry by.

When by is used with a noun to mean by means of or using, it is translated by par :

by telephone

= par téléphone

to hold something by the handle

= tenir quelque chose par la poignée

Note, however :

to travel by bus/train/plane

= voyager en bus/train/avion

In time expressions by is translated by avant :

it must be finished by Friday

= il faut que ce soit fini avant vendredi

For particular usages, see the entry by.

by often appears as the second element in phrasal verbs (get by, put by, stand by etc.). For translations, consult the appropriate verb entry (get, put, stand etc.).

For translations of fixed phrases and expressions such as to learn something by heart, to deliver something by hand etc. consult the appropriate noun entry (heart, hand etc.).

For all other uses of by see the entry by.

Big English-French dictionary. 2003.