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Grammar Masterclass

By + -ing, With and Using

Learn how to explain processes, tools, and purpose in workshop environments.

⏱️ 12 minutes

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How to Use This Lesson

TEACHER Classroom Guide

Spend 12 minutes on this self-paced lesson with your students.

Monitor students as they complete the 12 items and review the answer key together at the end.

LEARNER Your Steps

First, read the 4 golden rules and example sentences carefully.

Next, complete the 12 interactive practice tasks to master how things are made!

Reference Guide

4 Golden Grammar Rules

Factories & Workshops

1 by + -ing Action / Method

Use by + the -ing form of a verb to say how an action is done (the way or method). We say by heating and never by heat or by to heat. The main subject performs the action.

• "The workers join the metal pipes by welding the ends together."

• "They shape the clay by pressing it into heavy molds."

A factory worker welding metal pipes with bright sparks in a modern workshop

2 with + noun Tools & Instruments

Use with + a noun for the tool or thing that does the job. Never use by + tool. Note: Fixed phrases by hand and by machine have no a or the.

• "We cut the wood with a sharp saw."

• "The worker smooths the wet wall with a heavy trowel."

A carpenter cutting a wooden plank using a sharp saw tool on a wooden workbench

3 using + noun Equipment & Materials

Use using + a noun at the end of a clause for a tool, machine, or material (means the same as with). The word using never changes form. By using is also correct.

• "The workers assemble the frames using a small machine."

• "She shapes the wet clay using a spinning wheel."

An industrial worker operating a assembly machine in a clean modern workshop

4 so that + clause Reason & Purpose

Use so that + a clause (with its own subject, often with can, could, or a negative verb) to give the reason. By answers how, while so that answers why. Never put -ing after so that.

• "They heat the bricks slowly so that they do not break."

• "The worker covers the machine so that dust cannot get inside."

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Why This Works: Easy Explanations

1. Showing Steps & Methods

Use by before an -ing action to show the exact steps someone takes. The person doing the main action also does this step.

Pattern: They make glass by heating sand.

2. Naming Your Tool

Use with right before a tool or thing you hold to do a job. Do not say by a tool, but remember by hand and by machine have no a or the.

Pattern: We cut cloth with scissors.

3. Showing What You Use

Add using and a machine or material at the end of your sentence to show what helps you work. It means the same as with, and the word using never changes form.

Pattern: She shapes clay using a wheel.

4. Giving Your Goal

Put so that before a whole new small sentence to explain your reason or goal. Use it when you want to answer why, not how.

Pattern: He speaks slowly so that we can understand.

⚡ Common Mistakes to Avoid

✅ Correct Usage

• by heating (by + -ing verb)
• with a saw (with + tool noun)
• by machine / by hand (no article)
• so that they do not break (full clause)

⚠️ Common Errors (Avoid)

• by heat / by to heat
• by a saw
• by a machine / by a hand
• so that to break / so that breaking

PRACTICE

12 Interactive Grammar Tasks

TASK 1 • MULTIPLE CHOICE Rule 1 (Action/Method)

Choose the correct sentence. (how)

____ a. Workers shape the clay by pressing it. ____ b. Workers shape the clay by press it. ____ c. Workers shape the clay with pressing it.

TASK 2 • MULTIPLE CHOICE Rule 2 (Tools)

Choose the correct sentence. (tool)

____ a. The worker cuts the pipe by a saw. ____ b. The worker cuts the pipe with a saw. ____ c. The worker cuts the pipe using to a saw.

TASK 3 • MULTIPLE CHOICE Rule 4 (Purpose)

Choose the correct sentence. (reason)

____ a. They heat the brick so that to make it strong. ____ b. They heat the brick by it becomes strong. ____ c. They heat the brick so that it becomes strong.

TASK 4 • COMBINE SENTENCES Rule 2 (with)

Combine the two short sentences into one sentence. Use with. (tool)

Sentence 1: A worker shapes the clay.
Sentence 2: The worker uses a wooden tool.

____ (Type the combined sentence...)

TASK 5 • COMBINE SENTENCES Rule 3 (using)

Combine the two short sentences into one sentence. Use using. (material)

Sentence 1: Workers build the tall wall.
Sentence 2: Workers use red bricks.

____ (Type the combined sentence...)

TASK 6 • COMBINE SENTENCES Rule 4 (so that + can)

Combine the two short sentences into one sentence. Use so that and can. (reason)

Sentence 1: They heat the workshop machine.
Sentence 2: The workers can shape the metal.

____ (Type the combined sentence...)

TASK 7 • FILL IN THE GAP Rule 1 (Action)

Fill in the missing word(s) using the verb in brackets. (how)

"The team assembles the machine ____ (by + verb) (heat) the metal joints."

TASK 8 • FILL IN THE GAP Rule 2 (Fixed Phrase Exception)

Fill in the missing word. (method)

"The workers shape every brick ____ (word) machine."

TASK 9 • FILL IN THE GAP Rule 3 (Equipment)

Fill in the missing word. (tool)

"They press the clay into bricks ____ (word) a heavy press."

TASK 10 • ERROR CORRECTION Rule 1 Error

Correct the mistake in the text message below. (how)

💬 "Hi! We assemble the wooden pipes by to press the ends."

Fix the mistake: "We assemble the wooden pipes ____ (correct words) the ends."

TASK 11 • ERROR CORRECTION Rule 2 Error

Correct the mistake in the text message below. (tool)

💬 "Our workshop shapes the wood by a sharp machine."

Fix the mistake: "Our workshop shapes the wood ____ (word) a sharp machine."

TASK 12 • ERROR CORRECTION Rule 4 Error

Correct the mistake in the text message below. (reason)

💬 "They heat the clay so that making strong bricks."

Fix the mistake: "They heat the clay so that ____ (subject + verb) strong bricks."

By + -ing, With and Using

By + -ing, With and Using

How to Use This Lesson

4 Golden Grammar Rules

Why This Works: Easy Explanations

1. Showing Steps & Methods

2. Naming Your Tool

3. Showing What You Use

4. Giving Your Goal

⚡ Common Mistakes to Avoid

12 Interactive Grammar Tasks

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