(Abre siempre las cartas con un abrecartas.)
We use prepositions with and by to express how (by what means) something is done.
With most objects, the preposition is with, e.g.:
| He always opens his letters with a paper knife. (Abre siempre las cartas con un abrecartas.) |
| We'll cover the furniture with sheets. (Taparemos los muebles con sábanas.) |
With means of transport we use by, e.g.:
| A: How do you get to work? By bus or by train? (¿Cómo vas al trabajo? ¿En bus o en tren?) |
| B: I usually go by bus. (Normalmente voy en bus.) |
We use by and an –ing form when an action is mentioned, e.g.:
| The firemen got into the house by breaking down the door. (Los bomberos entraron en la casa echando la puerta abajo.) |
