ESEN
Which one to use?Intermediatestructurestructure
ByvsWith
'By' introduces the agent in the passive (who does it); 'with' introduces the instrument (what it is done with).
Side-by-side comparison
By
structure"By" in passive voice answers "who did it?". It introduces the person or entity that performed the action: "written by the manager".
The novel was written by a young author from Colombia.
The window was broken by a football during the kids' game in the yard.
The suspect was identified by two witnesses at the police station.
With
structure"With" in passive voice answers "what did they use to do it?". It introduces the tool or instrument, not the person: "written with a pen".
The cake was decorated with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
The old lock was cut open with a small hacksaw.
The letter was sealed with red wax and sent by post.
Common mistake
- •"The report was written with the manager" is wrong: the manager is a person who acted, making them the agent, use "by".
- •"The report was written by the manager".
- •"With" is for the tool or instrument: "The report was written with a fountain pen".
Trick to remember it
- •Who acted or made the decision? "By" + agent (person, company, natural force).
- •What tool was used? "With" + instrument.
- •Both can coexist: "written by the director with a pen".
Quick rule
- •"By" + agent (person or force that acts).
- •"With" + instrument (tool or material used).
- •"Destroyed by the storm" / "built with concrete".
Did you know?
The by (agent) vs with (instrument) distinction reflects one of the most universal semantic categories of human language: the distinction between agent (the one who acts with intention) and instrument (what is used to perform the action). Charles Fillmore identified this in the 1960s as a universal semantic primitive, present in all languages. In Latin, the agent went in ablative with "a/ab" and the instrument in the ablative without preposition. Modern English uses "by" and "with".
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
This painting was created _____ a famous Spanish artist in the 1920s.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The painting was created _____ traditional brushes and oil paint.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
Active voicevsPassive voice
In the active voice the subject acts; in the passive voice the subject receives the action.
Be (passive)vsGet (passive)
'Be' + past participle is the formal, neutral passive; 'get' + past participle is the informal passive emphasizing change.
GetvsBe
'Get' + past participle emphasizes process or change of state; 'be' + past participle is the standard, formal passive.
AvsAn
'A' is used before consonant sounds; 'an' is used before vowel sounds.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy