Easy English Podcast

By vs with: how to choose the right one in passive sentences

Easy English Podcast

Show Notes

🎧 Have you ever wondered why we say 'the cake was made by my sister' but 'the cake was cut with a knife'? Mixing up these two small words in passive sentences is one of the most common mistakes English learners make. It can feel confusing, but there is actually a very simple rule that will help you get it right every single time.

🌍 By the end of this episode, you will feel completely confident choosing between these two prepositions and sound much more natural when you speak and write.

⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the main puzzle of by versus with in passive voice, with simple everyday examples. 07:59 The core rule: explaining the difference between the agent (who did it) and the instrument (what they used). 15:42 Common mistakes that learners make and why translation from your native language might be misleading you. 22:58 A fun, interactive practice quiz with Hana and Alex to test your understanding with real-life scenarios.

✅ What you’ll learn: • The simple trick to separate the "doer" from the "tool" 🛠️ • Why your brain gets confused and how to stop it 🧠 • Common passive voice mistakes and how to fix them easily ❌ • Real-life examples from daily conversations 💬

💡 Practice tip: Look around your room and describe how things were made or moved using both words in one sentence.

If you find this episode helpful, please like, subscribe, and click the notification bell to support our free lessons! 👍🔔

🗣️ Can you write one passive sentence in the comments using both 'by' and 'with'? 👇

🏷️ Tags: learn english, english grammar, passive voice, by vs with, english prepositions, common english mistakes, speak natural english, english podcast, easy english lesson

#LearnEnglish #EnglishGrammar #PassiveVoice #EnglishPrepositions #SpeakEnglish #EasyEnglish #EnglishPodcast #GrammarTips

More from Easy English Podcast

Oct 22, 2026

🎧 Have you ever looked at a situation in the past and felt completely unsure how to guess what happened? Maybe you saw a wet street and wondered if it rained, or saw a closed shop and tried to guess why. Using past deduction in English can feel like guesswork, but there are simple rules that make it easy.

Oct 21, 2026

🎧 Have you ever said "I cut my hair" when you actually paid a hairdresser to do it for you? Don't worry, this is one of the most common mistakes English learners make when talking about services!

Oct 20, 2026

🎧 Have you ever struggled to report what someone else said without repeating "said" and "told" a hundred times? Do you worry about whether to use "to", "that", or an "-ing" verb after words like "suggest" or "admit"? You are not alone—these reporting verbs are notoriously tricky for English learners!

Oct 19, 2026

🎧 Have you ever tried to tell a friend what someone else asked you, only to get completely tangled up in your words? Do you find yourself wondering whether to say "she asked me where I was going" or "where was I going"? You are not alone—reported questions can feel like a grammar maze!

Oct 18, 2026

🎧 Have you ever heard someone say "hold on," "hold a meeting," or "hold a baby" and wondered how one small word can mean so many different things? It is one of the most common verbs in English, but its different meanings can be very confusing for learners.

See all episodes →