Can I delete this word?
Sometimes Hem and Haw would take their friends by to see their pile of cheese at cheese station C,and point to it with pride, saying, "Pretty nice cheese, huh?"
As above, "take their friends BY to see" why do it need the word BY? can we say "take their friends to see" driectly?
Thank you!

Question

Can I  delete this word?
Sometimes Hem and Haw would take their friends by to see their pile of cheese at cheese station C,and point to it with pride, saying, "Pretty nice cheese, huh?"
As above, "take their friends BY to see" why do it need the word BY? can we say "take their friends to see" driectly?
Thank you!

Answer

I understand "by" to suggest "in passing". The stop at Cheese Station C is part of a longer tour.  Without "by", the meaning changes and Cheese Station C becomes the only destination.