Beside vs Besides
Beside is a preposition. We usually use it to talk about physical position. It is a more formal version of ‘next to’.
- There was a book on the table beside him.
- I sat beside her on the bench.
Besides can be either a preposition or an adverb, and is often used to add information.
- Besides enjoying reading, she loves riding horses.
- You should do something else besides playing video games.
As an adverb, it’s often used to add a more important or stronger point
- I want to go and lie down. Besides, I have a headache.
- I don’t want to drive now. Besides, it’s really dark.
Beside (with no ‘s’) is a preposition, and we usually use it to talk about physical position.
So you can say: Put the chair beside the table.
Or: Come and sit beside me.
It’s like a more formal version of ‘next to’
Now, besides (with an s) is either a preposition or an adverb, and is often used to add information.
Besides knowing grammar well, you need to have a good vocabulary.
You should do something else besides studying.
Here it’s like ‘as well as’
As an adverb, it’s often used to add a more important or stronger point
I’m going to practise now because I’ve got time and besides, I need to!
It’s like a less-formal version of ‘moreover’
So, besides remembering that beside is for physical position, remember that besides is for adding information.
