By + Gerund to Describe How to Do Things

Learn how to explain the way or method of doing something using ‘by + gerund’. This structure helps you describe how you achieve results or do activities in your daily life.

⏰ When do we use “by + gerund”?

To explain how to do something

  • You can improve your English by watching movies.
  • Students learn better by taking notes.

To describe the method or way

  • She saves money by cooking at home.
  • He stays fit by running every morning.

To give advice about how to achieve something

  • People succeed by working hard.
  • You can make friends by joining social clubs.

📌 Structure

Basic Structure: Subject + verb + by + gerund (-ing form)

  • You can learn by practicing.

Negative Structure: Subject + verb + by + not + gerund

  • You learn languages by not memorizing.

Contrast Structure: Subject + verb + not by + gerund + but by + gerund

  • You improve not by watching but by practicing.

Common Verbs Used with By + Gerund

Learning Verbs:

learn by doing
improve by practicing
understand by reading

Achievement Verbs:

succeed by working
win by trying
achieve by focusing

Life Skills Verbs:

save money by budgeting
stay healthy by exercising
make friends by socializing

📝 Notes

Common Mistakes:

  • You learn by to study.
  • You learn by studying.
  • She improves by watch movies.
  • She improves by watching movies.

Important Tips:

  • Make sure your contrasts are logical pair.
  • Always use the -ing form after ‘by’.
  • Don’t use ‘to’ after ‘by’.
  • In contrasts, repeat ‘by’ before each gerund.

💬 Examples

✅ Positive Advices

  • You can save time by planning ahead.
  • Students learn vocabulary by reading books.
  • She made friends by joining a sports club.

❌ Negative Advices

  • You won’t learn English by sleeping.
  • You can get fit by not sitting all day.
  • People succeed by not giving up.

🌓 Contrast Advices

  • You learn vocabulary not by memorizing but by using it.
  • She stays healthy not by dieting but by eating balanced meals.
  • He improved his English not by studying grammar but by speaking with natives.
Exercise 1
⬇️ Interactive exercise will appear here soon.