Beside the Point: Besides, It’s Funny!

Beside vs. Besides

Today, we will talk about two words: beside and besides. They look the same but mean different things. Let’s learn how to use them.

History of the Words

Beside and besides come from Old English. They used to mean “by the side of” and “near.” Over time, they got new uses.

How to Use “Beside”

Beside means “next to” or “near.”

• The cat sits beside me.
• The park is beside the school.
• She stands beside her friend.
• The book is beside the lamp.
• He sleeps beside his dog.

How to Use “Besides”

Besides means “in addition to” or “also.”

• Besides apples, I like oranges.
• What else do you want besides toys?
• He likes football besides basketball.
• Besides English, she speaks Spanish.
• There is no one here besides us.

Trick to Remember the Difference

To remember the difference, think of “Side” in Beside. It means next to or by the side. For Besides, think of “S” for “Something more.”

Summary

Beside means next to or near. Use it when talking about places and positions. Besides means in addition to or also. Use it when talking about more things or ideas.

Now you know how to use beside and besides. Keep practicing, and it will become easy!