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"By" is a preposition which is often translated as "por", and "help" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "ayudar". Learn more about the difference between "by" and "help" below.
by(
bay
)A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).
a. por
The bridge was destroyed by the flood waters.El puente quedó destruido por las inundaciones.
The house was built by an architect.La casa fue construida por un arquitecto.
a. de
We're reading a book by Octavio Paz in Spanish class.Estamos leyendo un libro de Octavio Paz en la clase de español.
b. al lado de
I waited by the door until my name was called.Esperé al lado de la puerta hasta que me llamaron.
a. por
The cowboy came by the old buffalo trail.El vaquero llegó por la vieja senda de los bisontes.
a. a
We’re going to go by my mom’s house for lunch on Saturday.Vamos a ir a la casa de mi mamá a comer el sábado.
a. mediante
The energy produced by fusion is emitted as light.La energía producida mediante fusión se emite como luz.
11. (according to)
b. conforme a
By the new rules, there is no parking allowed near the fire station.Conforme a las nuevas normas, está prohibido estacionarse cerca de la estación de bomberos.
12. (mathematics)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
The wind is blowing east by southeast.El viento sopla estesudeste.
We were sailing north by northwest.Navegábamos en dirección nornoroeste.
a. por
The new deck will measure ten feet by eight feet.La nueva plataforma tendrá una medida de diez pies por ocho.
a. por
Are you paid by the hour or by the job?¿Te pagan por hora o por trabajo?
She broke the record by two seconds.Batió el récord por dos segundos.
16. (with gerund)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
She ended by thanking everyone who had helped.Terminó dando las gracias a todos los que habían ayudado.
They lowered their prices a lot, and by doing so they expected to fill the store with customers.Bajaron muchísimo los precios, y con esto pretendían llenar la tienda de clientes.
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
18. (past)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Our neighbor passed by without saying hello.Nuestro vecino pasó sin saludarnos.
You don’t own the street. Let me by!No eres dueño de la calle. ¡Déjame pasar!
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I'll stop by later.Me paso más tarde por ahí.
Your dad came by today.Tu papá pasó por aquí hoy.
20. (on one side)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Can you keep the dress by for me? I’ll come back and pay for it later.¿Me puede apartar el vestido? Volveré luego a pagarlo.
I have a little money put by for emergencies.Tengo ahorrado un poco de dinero para emergencias.
help(
hehlp
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to assist)
a. ayudar
My mom asked if I could help her clean the kitchen.Mi mamá me preguntó si podía ayudarla a limpiar la cocina.
2. (to avoid)
a. evitar
The accident was something that couldn't be helped; stop blaming yourself.El accidente fue algo que no se podía evitar; deja de culparte.
3. (to serve)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
6. (aid)
a. la ayuda (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Mom, I need your help with my homework; there is a math problem I don't understand.Mamá, necesito tu ayuda con los deberes; hay un problema de mates que no entiendo.
7. (old-fashioned) (domestic employee)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
a. el sirviente (M), la sirvienta (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Our present help has been cleaning the house for years.Nuestra sirvienta actual lleva años limpiando la casa.
b. la asistenta (F) (Spain)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Spain
The help couldn't come today, so I'll have to make dinner myself.La asistenta no pudo venir hoy, así que tendré que preparar la cena yo.
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
8. (old-fashioned) (group of domestic employees)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
a. los sirvientes (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Mom, don't speak to the help that way!Mamá, ¡no les hables así a los sirvientes!
9. (workers)
a. el personal (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The help all quit on the same day.Todo el personal renunció el mismo día.
An interjection is a short utterance that expresses emotion, hesitation, or protest (e.g., Wow!).
