When do I use "Beside" and when do I use "Besides"?

"Beside" = physically next to ("beside me"). "Besides" = in addition to, furthermore ("besides that").

What is the most common mistake with "Beside" and "Besides"?

"She sat besides me" is wrong if you mean she sat physically next to you. "Besides" with S means "in addition to". "Beside" without the final S = next to (physical position).

How do I remember the difference between "Beside" and "Besides"?

"Beside" (no final S) = physical position, next to. "Besides" (with S) = extra information, furthermore. The extra S signals extra meaning.

Resources

Lecciones de gramática Por temas Flash cards Lecturas Ejercicios de listening Glosario Falsos amigos ¿Cuál usar?Sufijos Prefijos

Discover your level Blog

ESEN

Which one to use?Intermediateprepositionpreposition / adverb

BesidevsBesides

One letter apart, but one indicates location and the other means 'in addition'.

Side-by-side comparison

Beside

preposition

"Beside" means next to, physically close to something or someone. "Sit beside me" means sit next to me.

She sat beside me on the bus.
The school is beside the park.
He knelt beside the bed to pray.

Besides

preposition / adverb

"Besides" means in addition to, or furthermore. It adds extra information or introduces an additional argument. "Besides, it's too late now."

Besides English, she speaks French and Italian.
I don't want to go. Besides, it's raining.
What did you do besides watch TV?

Common mistake

•"She sat besides me" is wrong if you mean she sat physically next to you.
•"Besides" with S means "in addition to".
•"Beside" without the final S = next to (physical position).

Trick to remember it

•"Beside" (no final S) = physical position, next to.
•"Besides" (with S) = extra information, furthermore.
•The extra S signals extra meaning.

Quick rule

•"Beside" = physically next to ("beside me").
•"Besides" = in addition to, furthermore ("besides that").

Did you know?

"Beside the point" means irrelevant or off-topic: "That argument is beside the point." And "beside yourself" means overwhelmed with emotion: "She was beside herself with joy." Both fixed expressions use "beside" without S. "Besides" has two distinct grammatical roles: as a preposition ("besides coffee, I also drink tea") and as a conjunctive adverb ("I don't feel like going; besides, it's too expensive"). Same word, two grammatical lives.