Beside vs Besides Grammar Usage: 100 Practice Sentences

Confused about when to use beside vs besides grammar usage? While they look nearly identical, these two words serve completely different purposes. One tracks physical location, while the other adds information. This guide breaks down the rules with clear examples to help you master these tricky prepositions and boost your writing precision instantly.

Beside vs Besides Grammar Usage: Never Mix Them Up Again

Introduction

English grammar is full of “look-alike” words that can trip up even the most seasoned writers. One of the most common points of confusion is beside vs besides grammar usage. While they differ by only a single letter, using one in place of the other can completely change the meaning of your sentence. In this article, we will explore the spatial limits of “beside” and the additive nature of “besides” to ensure your communication remains crystal clear.

The Core Difference

Besides: Can be a preposition or an adverb meaning “in addition to,” “moreover,” or “except for.”

Beside: A preposition meaning “next to” or “at the side of.” It refers to physical location.

Category 1: “Beside” meaning “Next to” or “At the side of” (50 Examples)

1. The cat sat beside the window.
2. Please park your car beside mine.
3. I felt a chill as I stood beside the open freezer.
4. She placed the bouquet beside the vase.
5. The nightstand is beside the bed.
6. He knelt beside the stream to drink.
7. We built a small shed beside the garage.
8. The runner moved up beside the leader.
9. There is a notepad beside the telephone.
10. The museum is located beside the park.
11. He kept a guard dog beside the gate.
12. She sat beside her best friend at lunch.
13. The keys are on the hook beside the door.
14. A small path runs beside the railway tracks.
15. Put the extra chairs beside the table.
16. The child stood shyly beside his mother.
17. I found a rare coin beside the fountain.
18. There is a mirror beside the wardrobe.
19. The captain stood beside the helm.
20. The cottage is nestled beside the lake.
21. Place the napkin beside the fork.
22. He fell asleep beside the campfire.
23. The pharmacy is beside the grocery store.
24. I stood beside him through the entire trial.
25. The bicycle was leaning beside the tree.
26. He sat beside the pilot in the cockpit.
27. The trash can is beside the desk.
28. She felt tiny standing beside the giant statue.
29. The guests were seated beside the stage.
30. A lamp was glowing beside the armchair.
31. The witness stood beside the judge’s bench.
32. I left my shoes beside the mat.
33. The boat was docked beside the pier.
34. There is a shortcut beside the school.
35. He placed the trophy beside his photos.
36. We walked beside the ocean at sunset.
37. The actor stood beside his director.
38. There is a bench beside the bus stop.
39. She planted roses beside the walkway.
40. He kept his inhaler beside his pillow.
41. The hotel is beside the shopping mall.
42. A small creek flows beside our backyard.
43. The printer is beside the monitor.
44. He parked his motorcycle beside the curb.
45. She stood beside the easel, painting.
46. The horse ran beside the fence.
47. Keep your tools beside the workbench.
48. I was sitting beside the pool all afternoon.
49. The restaurant is right beside the theater.
50. He stood beside the grill, flipping burgers.

Category 2: “Besides” meaning “In addition to” or “Except” (50 Examples)

51. Besides milk, we need to buy eggs.
52. Who is coming to the meeting besides the CEO?
53. I have no other hobbies besides gardening.
54. Besides being smart, she is very kind.
55. What do you want to eat besides pizza?
56. There were no other volunteers besides us.
57. Besides the cost, the car is perfect.
58. I don’t like that color; besides, it’s too expensive.
59. Besides Jane, no one knew the password.
60. Is anyone else thirsty besides me?
61. Besides math, his favorite subject is art.
62. I have nothing to wear besides this old suit.
63. Besides the heat, the weather was lovely.
64. What are you doing tonight besides working?
65. There’s a lot to see in Rome besides the Colosseum.
66. Besides soccer, he plays the violin.
67. No one was at the park besides a few joggers.
68. I’m not going; besides, I wasn’t invited.
69. Besides her salary, she earns a commission.
70. What other languages do you speak besides English?
71. Besides the flat tire, the trip was great.
72. I don’t want to go out; besides, it’s raining.
73. There is no one here besides the janitor.
74. Besides tennis, she enjoys swimming.
75. He has many friends besides his coworkers.
76. Besides his house, he owns a cabin.
77. I have no plans besides sleeping.
78. What is in the box besides the gift?
79. Besides the noise, the apartment is nice.
80. It’s too late now; besides, I’m tired.
81. Besides coffee, I drink a lot of tea.
82. No one noticed the error besides the editor.
83. Besides being a writer, he is a teacher.
84. Is there anything besides water in that jug?
85. Besides the rain, it was a warm day.
86. I have no family besides my brother.
87. Besides the broken handle, the mug is fine.
88. What did you buy besides the bread?
89. Besides his talent, he has a great ego.
90. No one was invited besides close family.
91. Besides acting, she directs films.
92. I can’t go; besides, I have no money.
93. Besides the salad, we ordered pasta.
94. Is there any reason besides fear?
95. Besides the book, she bought a bookmark.
96. No one helped me besides you.
97. Besides skiing, he likes snowboarding.
98. What else is on the menu besides fish?
99. Besides the delay, the flight was smooth.
100. I have no other choice besides quitting.

Important Tips for Competitive Exams

For aspirants of exams like SSC, Banking, GRE, or SAT, the beside vs besides grammar usage is a frequent “Error Spotting” topic.

• The “Plus” Rule: Use “Besides” when you are adding things together ($A + B$). Use “Beside” when you are talking about distance or location.
• The “Except” Trap: In competitive exams, “besides” is often used to mean “except.” Example: “No one besides (except) the captain stayed on the ship.”
• Idiomatic Trap: “Beside oneself” means extremely upset or excited. It does not mean standing next to yourself.
• Part of Speech: “Beside” is always a preposition. “Besides” can be a preposition or an adverb (used to transition between sentences).

FAQs

1. How do I remember which one has the ‘S’?

Think of the S in “Besides” as standing for “Something extra” or “Super-added.” 2. Can “beside” mean “compared to”?

Yes, in a formal sense. For example: “My efforts seem small beside yours.” This still draws on the “spatial” concept of placing two things side-by-side to compare them.

3. Is it “beside the point” or “besides the point”?

The correct idiom is “beside the point.” It means the information is sitting “next to” the topic rather than being “on” the topic.

Conclusion

Understanding beside vs besides grammar usage is a simple way to elevate your writing from amateur to professional. By remembering that “beside” tracks position and “besides” adds information, you can avoid common errors in both casual conversation and high-stakes exams. Practice with the examples provided above to make these rules second nature.

Disclaimer: While these rules cover standard English usage, language can evolve. Always check specific style guides (like APA or MLA) for formal academic requirements.

Also Read: How to Use Already and Yet in Questions: 100 Examples, Tips, and FAQs

Apart vs A Part of Something: 100 Examples, Tips, and FAQs

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