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Differences between using the words "BY" and "AT"
il y a 5 ansHere are a few differences between how we use the words "by" and "at" when talking about how things are changing.
We use “by” to discuss how much something has changed (an amount of money, degrees of temperature, length of distance).
For example: We use by in this example to talk about how much the salary has increased. “My old salary was 2,500 euros; my new salary is 2,750 euros. It has increased by 250 euros.”
We use “at” to discuss the rate at which something is happening or exists, such as speed, temperature, or age.
“We are travelling at a speed of 65 kilometers per hour.”
“At the age of 15, I learned how to swim.” // “I learned how to swim at 15 (years old).”
“Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees fahrenheit).”
BY can also be used as an adverb in these contexts:
We can use ”by” as an adverb. Here, by means “at or to a place”:
“I am going to stop by your house around 11 a.m. tomorrow.”
“Come by McDonald’s tonight; my friends will be performing some music outside.”
Here, by means “to be close; near”:
“Hi, Michelle. I am close by; I will be there in 2 minutes.”
“There is a restaurant close by my house.”
Keep these key differences in mind to be sure you don't get confused when speaking English.
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