B1–B2

With and Without — Tools, People, and Manner — English Grammar Exercises

by, with, for, about, of, as, like — use each one precisely

With and Without — Tools, People, and Manner

While 'by' describes an abstract method or channel, 'with' connects an action to a concrete, physical instrument, a companion, or the manner in which something is done. The by/with confusion is among the three most common preposition errors in the Cambridge Learner Corpus at B1–B2 level, consistently produced by learners whose L1 does not separate these functions. A parallel error involves 'without' — learners often omit it or replace it with negated 'with', producing ungrammatical structures.

With for Physical Tools

If you can hold it in your hand or use it as an instrument, use 'with':

She cut the ribbon with scissors.
He ate his soup with a spoon.
She wrote the letter with a pen.
He opened the lock with a hairpin.

With for Accompaniment

I went to the cinema with my friends.
She arrived with her whole family.

With for Manner

Please handle the equipment with care.
She answered with confidence.
He listened with great patience.

Without — Absence

She left the house without saying goodbye.
He finished the project without any help.

Common Mistakes

✗ He wrote the essay by a pencil. → ✓ He wrote it with a pencil.
✗ She ate her soup by a spoon. → ✓ She ate it with a spoon.
✗ He opened the box by a knife. → ✓ He opened it with a knife.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'by' and 'with' in English?

'By' describes a method or means — how something is done at an abstract level: 'by bus', 'by email', 'by hand', 'by mistake'. 'With' describes a tool or instrument you physically hold and use: 'with a pen', 'with scissors', 'with a spoon'. The test: if you can hold the object in your hand, use 'with'. If it's an abstract method or means of transport/communication, use 'by'. 'With' also expresses accompaniment ('with my friends') and manner ('with care').

When do you use 'as' and when do you use 'like'?

'As' introduces an actual role or function — the person or thing genuinely is what follows: 'She works as a nurse' (she IS a nurse), 'He used the chair as a table' (the chair functioned as a table). 'Like' introduces a comparison — the person or thing resembles but is not identical to what follows: 'He runs like a professional athlete' (similar, but he's not one). A common error: 'She works like a nurse' implies she is not actually a nurse. Use 'as' for real roles; 'like' for similarities.

Which preposition follows 'responsible', 'famous', and 'interested'?

These are fixed collocations: 'responsible for' (never 'about' or 'of'), 'famous for' (never 'about'), 'interested in' (never 'by' — though the Russian instrumental case suggests 'by'). Other key collocations: 'afraid of', 'proud of', 'tired of', 'good at', 'depends on', 'consists of', 'apologise for', 'thank someone for'. Learning these as complete chunks — adjective + preposition — is more reliable than trying to derive them from rules.

What is the difference between 'made of' and 'made from'?

'Made of' is used when the original material is still visible or identifiable in the final product: 'a table made of wood' (you can see the wood), 'a ring made of gold' (the gold is apparent). 'Made from' is used when the material has been completely transformed and is no longer recognisable: 'wine made from grapes' (no grapes visible), 'paper made from wood pulp'. In practice, 'made of' is the safer default for solid, visible materials.