Learners often say "I go to work with the bus", "I cut it by a knife", "We discussed about the trip" or "He works like a nurse" when he really is a nurse. These come from translating one all-purpose word in their own language. English divides the work. In this episode: • With: company and tools • By: how, who, when and where • About: topics and rough numbers • Like vs as • A scene in the garage • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key phrases from this episode: I live with my parents. — together Do you want to come with us? — join us (casual) Coffee with milk, please. — milk added Cut the onions with a sharp knife. — a tool you hold Eat your soup with a spoon. — a tool the house with the red door — a feature a kid with curly hair — a feature What's wrong with the oven? — what's the problem? I'm done with the dishes. — finished (casual) by car, by bus, by train, by bike — means of travel I go to work by bus. — neutral; in speech, many Americans say "I take the bus" This quilt was made by Grandma. — she made it Please finish by Friday. — no later than Friday Leave your shoes by the door. — next to the door The plant is by the window. — next to it by hand — not by machine: I wash these sweaters by hand. by mistake, by accident — not on purpose one by one — one at a time little by little — slowly by the way — to change the topic (Episode 128) What's the movie about? — what is its story? We talked about the trip. — the topic I'm worried about Grandpa. — the topic of worry It takes about ten minutes. — approximately There were about twenty kids at the party. — roughly twenty Season 2 · Real American English: the complete spoken course for learners worldwide — accent, everyday grammar, prepositions, articles, phrasal verbs, idioms, slang and real conversations at home. Listen, repeat out loud, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair.