What is aside? Pronunciation and usage in English

Let's break down how to use the word "aside" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several different meanings and uses. Here's a breakdown, categorized for clarity:

1. As a Preposition (Meaning: "to the side" or "beside")

• Most Common Use: This is the most frequent way you'll encounter "aside." It means next to or beside.
  • Example: "Please put the book aside for a moment." (meaning: place it to the side)
  • Example: "She sat aside, watching the children play." (meaning: she sat beside them)
  • Example: “He took an aside to the manager.” (meaning: he went to speak to the manager privately, next to him)

2. As an Adverb (Meaning: "unexpectedly" or "besides")

• Unexpectedly/Suddenly: When used as an adverb, “aside” means something happens unexpectedly or as a consequence.
  • Example: "Aside from the cost, we need to consider the time commitment." (meaning: besides the cost, there's the time commitment)
  • Example: “He remained calm aside from a slight tremor in his voice.” (meaning: he was calm, except for a slight tremor)

3. As a Verb (Meaning: "to set something aside" or "to mention briefly")

• To Set Aside: This means to put something aside, to postpone, or to dismiss.

  • Example: “The judge decided to put the case aside until next week.” (meaning: to postpone it)
  • Example: “She decided to put her dreams aside for the sake of her family.” (meaning: to set them aside)

• To Mention Briefly (Informal): This is a more informal and conversational use. It means to add a quick, often tangential, comment or thought. Often used in spoken English.

  • Example: “Okay, aside from that, the project is on track.” (meaning: But, apart from that comment, everything is going well.)
  • Example: “I was thinking aside, that maybe we should change the color.” (meaning: Just a thought, or as a side remark, we could change the color.)

4. As a Noun (Meaning: “a private remark” or “a small area”)

• Private Remark (Formal): This is a more formal way to say "comment" or "aside."

  • Example: “He made an aside about her dress.” (meaning: he made a private comment about her dress)

• Small Area (Rare): "Aside" can refer to a small area or space. This usage is much less common.

  • Example: “There was an aside of garden behind the house.” (meaning: a small area or space of garden.)

Key Tips & Considerations:

• Context is Crucial: The meaning of “aside” depends entirely on how it's used in a sentence. Carefully examine the surrounding words to determine the intended meaning.

• Formal vs. Informal: The verb “aside” (to set aside) and noun "aside" (private remark) are generally more formal than the preposition and adverb uses. The verb "aside" as a quick remark is very informal.

• Synonyms: Here are some words you can use instead of "aside," depending on the meaning you want to convey:

  • Preposition: beside, next to, alongside
  • Adverb: besides, furthermore, in addition
  • Verb: postpone, delay, dismiss
  • Noun (private remark): comment, remark, aside, thought

Resources for Further Learning:

• Merriam-Webster Dictionary: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aside
• Cambridge Dictionary: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/aside

To help me give you even more targeted information, could you tell me:

• What kind of context are you encountering "aside" in? (e.g., reading a book, listening to a conversation, etc.)
• Could you provide an example sentence where you saw or heard "aside"?