Explanation at your level:
Besides means 'also' or 'plus'. If you have a cat, you can say: 'Besides my cat, I have a dog.' It is a simple way to add more information to your sentence. Use it when you want to talk about two or more things at the same time.
You can use besides to talk about things that are extra. For example, 'Besides English, I study Spanish.' It means you are doing more than just one thing. It is very useful when you are telling someone about your hobbies or your daily activities.
At this level, you can use besides as a transition word. If you are giving reasons for something, you can say: 'I don't want to go out. Besides, it is raining.' It helps you connect your ideas smoothly and logically, making your speaking and writing much more professional.
Besides can also mean 'except for'. For example: 'Besides the main course, we had dessert.' It helps you distinguish between what is included in a group and what is not. It is a great alternative to using 'except' or 'apart from' when you want to vary your vocabulary.
In advanced English, besides is often used to add weight to an argument. You might say, 'Besides the financial benefits, the project offers great growth potential.' It elevates your tone and shows that you are considering multiple facets of a situation. It is a sophisticated way to introduce supporting evidence.
Mastering besides involves understanding its subtle nuances in formal rhetoric and literature. It can act as a bridge between conflicting ideas or as a tool for exclusion in complex legal or academic definitions. Its usage implies a high level of control over sentence structure, allowing for nuanced shifts in perspective that less precise connectors cannot achieve.
Mot en 30 secondes
- Means in addition to
- Means except for
- Transition word
- Ends with an s
Hey there! Think of besides as your go-to word when you want to add a little extra flavor to your sentences. It is a super handy preposition that helps you talk about things that are in addition to what you already mentioned.
You can also use it to mean except for, which helps when you are making a list or talking about exceptions. It is one of those words that makes you sound much more natural and fluent when you are chatting with friends or writing an essay. It’s like saying, 'Wait, there is more!' or 'That is the only one left out.' Using it correctly will definitely help you organize your thoughts better.
The word besides has a cool history rooted in Middle English. It comes from the combination of 'by' and 'side'. Literally, it meant 'by the side of'. Over time, the meaning shifted from a physical location to a more abstract way of saying 'alongside' or 'other than'.
It shares roots with the word 'beside', but they have evolved to be used differently. While 'beside' usually refers to being next to someone or something physically, 'besides' took on the role of an additive or exclusionary preposition. It is a classic example of how English words evolve from simple spatial descriptions to complex logical connectors over several centuries.
You will find besides in almost every type of conversation. It is very common in spoken English, often used to introduce a new point. For example, 'Besides, it’s too late to go now.' In this case, it acts like a transition word.
When used as a preposition, you might say, 'Besides him, who else is coming?' This is a bit more formal but perfectly acceptable in daily life. It is slightly more versatile than 'except' because it covers both addition and exclusion depending on the context. Just keep an eye on your sentence structure to make sure your meaning is clear!
Idioms make language fun! Here are a few ways besides shows up in expressions:
- Besides the point: Irrelevant to the current topic.
- Besides oneself: Extremely emotional or upset.
- Besides the mark: Not accurate or relevant.
- Besides yourself: Feeling overwhelmed by emotion.
- Besides all that: A way to add one final, important point.
These expressions help you sound like a native speaker. For instance, if someone brings up a topic that doesn't matter, you can say, 'That's besides the point!' It's a great way to steer a conversation back to what really matters.
Grammatically, besides is a preposition, so it is usually followed by a noun or a gerund (an -ing verb). For example, 'Besides running, I also like to swim.' It is always spelled with an 's' at the end—don't confuse it with 'beside'!
In terms of pronunciation, the IPA is /bɪˈsaɪdz/. The stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with words like 'tides', 'rides', and 'sides'. Make sure you hit that 'z' sound at the end clearly to distinguish it from the singular 'beside'. Practice saying it slowly: bi-SIDES.
Fun Fact
It evolved from a spatial term to a logical one.
Pronunciation Guide
Crisp 'z' sound at the end.
Clear 's' to 'z' transition.
Common Errors
- Dropping the final 'z' sound
- Confusing with 'beside'
- Misplacing stress on the first syllable
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avanc
Grammar to Know
Prepositions
Besides the house...
Conjunctive Adverbs
Besides, it is late.
Gerunds
Besides running...
Examples by Level
Besides milk, I like juice.
In addition to milk
Preposition usage
Besides him, I am here.
Except for him
Exclusion
Besides this, I have that.
Also this
Simple addition
Besides school, I play.
In addition to school
Prepositional phrase
Besides red, I like blue.
Also blue
Preference
Besides you, who is there?
Except for you
Question form
Besides bread, we have cake.
Also cake
Food list
Besides work, I rest.
In addition to work
Daily routine
Besides my brother, I have a sister.
Besides reading, I like to draw.
Besides the cold, it is a nice day.
Besides the bus, we can walk.
Besides pizza, they serve pasta.
Besides the rain, we went out.
Besides me, everyone is ready.
Besides coffee, I drink tea.
Besides being smart, she is kind.
Besides the cost, it is a great car.
Besides, I don't really like movies.
Besides the main point, consider this.
Besides his job, he volunteers.
Besides the noise, the room is fine.
Besides all the work, I am tired.
Besides, why would I lie?
Besides the obvious, there are risks.
Besides, the evidence is clear.
Besides the fact that he was late, he forgot his notes.
Besides the main issue, there are minor ones.
Besides, I have already decided.
Besides the initial plan, we have a backup.
Besides, it is not your fault.
Besides the usual suspects, others were there.
Besides the inherent dangers, the mission is vital.
Besides, the philosophical implications are vast.
Besides the empirical data, we need intuition.
Besides the obvious benefits, consider the long-term impact.
Besides, the narrative structure is quite unique.
Besides the technical requirements, creativity is key.
Besides the legal constraints, ethical issues remain.
Besides, the historical context cannot be ignored.
Besides the myriad of interpretations, the text remains enigmatic.
Besides, the underlying logic is fundamentally flawed.
Besides the superficial layers, the core meaning is profound.
Besides the established norms, the artist challenged conventions.
Besides, the sheer scale of the project is daunting.
Besides the nuanced arguments, the conclusion is clear.
Besides the historical precedent, current trends suggest change.
Besides, the complexity of the system is unparalleled.
Collocations courantes
Idioms & Expressions
"besides the point"
Irrelevant
Your opinion is besides the point.
neutral"besides oneself"
Overwhelmed with emotion
She was besides herself with joy.
literary"besides the mark"
Inaccurate
His guess was besides the mark.
formal"besides all else"
Above everything else
Besides all else, be honest.
neutral"besides the question"
Not relevant
That is besides the question.
formal"besides the law"
Outside legal bounds
That action is besides the law.
formalEasily Confused
Similar spelling
Beside = location, Besides = addition
He sat beside me. Besides, he is nice.
Similar meaning
Except excludes, Besides adds
Everyone except him. Besides him, we have others.
Similar function
Apart from is slightly more formal
Apart from the cost, it's fine.
Similar meaning
Plus is much more informal
It's cheap, plus it's good.
Sentence Patterns
Besides + noun + , + clause
Besides the rain, we went out.
Besides + gerund + , + clause
Besides studying, I work.
Besides + , + clause
Besides, I don't want to.
Besides + noun + , + noun
Besides you, nobody knows.
Besides + the fact that + clause
Besides the fact that he's late, he's rude.
Famille de mots
Apparenté
How to Use It
9
Formality Scale
Erreurs courantes
Beside means next to, besides means in addition to.
The word must end in 's' to function as a preposition.
When used as a transition, it needs a comma.
Never say 'besides of'.
Besides adds, instead of replaces.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a 'side' dish added to your plate.
When Native Speakers Use It
To add a final, persuasive point.
Cultural Insight
Used often in debates.
Grammar Shortcut
Always keep the 's'!
Say It Right
The 'z' at the end is key.
Don't Make This Mistake
Never add 'of' after besides.
Did You Know?
It has roots in 'by the side'.
Study Smart
Write a diary entry using it.
Transition Tip
Use it to shift topics.
Preposition Rule
Follow with a noun or -ing verb.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Be-sides: Think of 'sides'—you are adding more sides to your story.
Visual Association
A plate of food with extra items on the side.
Word Web
Défi
Write 3 sentences today using 'besides'.
Origine du mot
Middle English
Original meaning: By the side of
Contexte culturel
None.
Used frequently in debates and casual arguments.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- Besides the budget
- Besides the deadline
- Besides your input
school
- Besides the homework
- Besides the lecture
- Besides the exam
travel
- Besides the flight
- Besides the hotel
- Besides the tour
daily life
- Besides the food
- Besides the weather
- Besides the time
Conversation Starters
"Besides your job, what do you do for fun?"
"Besides English, what languages do you speak?"
"Besides the weather, how is your day?"
"Besides this, what else do you want to learn?"
"Besides your friends, who do you spend time with?"
Journal Prompts
Write about your day besides your work.
List things you like besides your favorite hobby.
What do you want to do besides travel?
Besides your family, who has influenced you?
Questions fréquentes
8 questionsNo, beside means next to, besides means in addition to.
No, that is grammatically incorrect.
Put it at the start of a sentence followed by a comma.
Sometimes, when used to exclude.
It is neutral and fits most contexts.
Yes, 'Besides him, who is here?'
Yes, very common in essays.
Use it to add extra reasons in arguments.
Teste-toi
___ the cat, I have a dog.
Besides means in addition to.
Which sentence is correct?
Besides is the correct transition.
'Besides' can mean 'except'.
It functions as both addition and exclusion.
Word
Signification
Distinguishing the two words.
Besides that, I know.
___ the obvious, there is more.
Besides fits the context of addition.
What does 'besides the point' mean?
It means not relevant.
You can say 'besides of'.
It is always 'besides'.
Besides the logic is flawed.
___ the myriad of issues, we succeeded.
Besides is used here for addition/concession.
Score : /10
Summary
Besides is your versatile tool for adding information or making exclusions in any sentence.
- Means in addition to
- Means except for
- Transition word
- Ends with an s
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a 'side' dish added to your plate.
When Native Speakers Use It
To add a final, persuasive point.
Cultural Insight
Used often in debates.
Grammar Shortcut
Always keep the 's'!
Related Content
Ce mot dans d'autres langues
Expressions liées
Plus de mots sur general
一下儿
A1a bit, a moment
点儿
A1a little bit
有点儿
A1a little, somewhat (negative connotation)
一下
A2A bit; a moment (used after a verb).
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
大约
B1Used to show that a number or amount is not exact; approximately.
上边
A2above, on top
上面
A1on, above, over
