What is beside? Pronunciation and usage in English

beside means . Learn how to pronounce and use beside through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of beside

besidepreposition

/bɪˈsʌɪd/
Definition & pronunciation of beside

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "beside" in English. It's a tricky one for many learners! Here's a breakdown:

1. Phonetic Transcription (for accuracy):

  • /bɪˈsaɪd/ (This is how it sounds to a native speaker)

2. Breakdown into Syllables:

  • be - pronounced like the word "bee" (short "e" sound)
  • si - pronounced like "see" (as in the eye)
  • de - pronounced like "d” (as in “dog”)

3. The Trickiest Part - The "i" Sound:

The sound that makes "beside" tricky is the first "i". It's not the long "i" sound like in "bike". Instead, it's a schwa sound – a very short, relaxed vowel sound. It’s the “uh” sound you use when you say “about” or “sofa”. Think of it like a quick, almost swallowed "uh".

4. Putting it all together:

Say it slowly: "Bee-see-d” (with the first "i" as a short, unstressed “uh” sound).

5. Listen to Examples:

The best way to learn is to hear it! Here are a few resources:

Key tip: Don't overemphasize the first "i”. It should be very subtle.

Would you like me to:

  • Provide more examples of words with the same schwa sound?
  • Focus on practicing the pronunciation?

Usage and examples with the word beside in English

Let's break down how to use the word "beside" in English. It's a versatile word with a couple of distinct meanings, so understanding those is key.

1. Meaning 1: Physically Next To

This is the most common use. "Beside" means next to or adjacent to something or someone. It describes a physical position.

  • Examples:
    • "She sat beside her brother." (They were sitting next to each other.)
    • "The book lay beside the window." (The book was positioned next to the window.)
    • "We walked beside the river." (We walked along the riverbank.)
    • "He parked his car beside mine." (His car was parked next to my car.)

2. Meaning 2: Besides – In Addition; Moreover

This is used as a conjunction (a word that connects clauses) to introduce an additional point or fact. It means in addition, moreover, also, or besides.

  • Examples:
    • "He’s a talented musician, besides he’s a great friend." (He's talented and a good friend – adding an extra quality.)
    • "The movie was exciting, besides the acting was superb." (The movie was exciting and the acting was good – more reasons.)
    • "Beside the money, she received a valuable reward." (In addition to the money, she got something else.)

Here's a table to summarize:

Meaning Usage Example
Physical Proximity Describes a location next to something "The cat slept beside the fireplace."
Addition/Moreover Introduces an extra point "Beside the cake, we had ice cream."

Key Differences and How to Tell the Difference:

  • Context is crucial: The surrounding words and the overall sentence will usually tell you which meaning is intended.
  • Think about the function of the word: Is it describing location, or is it adding information?

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

  • Using "beside" when you mean "besides": This is a frequent error. "Beside" means next to physically. "Besides" means in addition. (Incorrect: "Beside the fact that it's expensive, it's also unreliable.") (Correct: "Besides the fact that it’s expensive, it’s also unreliable.")

Resources for Further Learning:

Do you want me to:

  • Give you more examples of how to use "beside" in a sentence?
  • Compare "beside" and "besides" in more detail?
  • Give you practice exercises to test your understanding?

Synonyms for the word beside

Idioms of the word beside

be beside the point
to not be important or closely related to the main thing you are talking about
  • Yes, I know it was an accident, but that's beside the point.
  • They took my words out of context, but that’s beside the point.
beside yourself (with something)
unable to control yourself because of the strength of emotion you are feeling
  • He was beside himself with rage when I told him what I had done.
  • They were beside themselves with excitement.

Practice with vocabulary beside

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. She sat ________ the window, watching the rain fall gently outside.
  2. The book was placed ________ the lamp on the table, but it’s gone now.
  3. The playground is ________ the school, just a short walk away.
  4. His keys were found ________ the couch, not on it.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The cat was sleeping ________ the fireplace.
    a) beside b) above c) across d) for
  2. The meeting room is located ________ the main office.
    a) beside b) between c) under d) toward
  3. She left her bag ________ the chair in the café.
    a) beside b) inside c) around d) onto
  4. The store is ________ the bank and the post office.
    a) beside b) among c) between d) near
  5. The painting is hung ________ the mirror in the living room.
    a) beside b) over c) within d) through

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The chair was next to the desk.
    (Rewrite using "beside")
  2. He stood by the door, waiting for the signal.
    (Rewrite using "beside")
  3. The park is close to the library.
    (Rewrite without using "beside" or "next to")

Answer

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. beside
  2. beside
  3. near
  4. under

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. a) beside
  2. a) beside
  3. a) beside
  4. c) between
  5. a) beside

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The chair was beside the desk.
  2. He stood beside the door, waiting for the signal.
  3. The park is adjacent to the library.

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