What kind of word is by?

"By" can be several different parts of speech depending on its use in a sentence:

* Preposition: This is the most common use. It shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another element in the sentence.

* Example: "The book was written by Jane Austen."

* Adverb: It can modify a verb, adjective, or another adverb.

* Example: "I walked by the store."

* Conjunction: It connects two clauses, often used with a past participle.

* Example: "By the time I arrived, the party was over."

To figure out which part of speech "by" is, you need to look at its role in the sentence.