English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
BESIDE or BESIDES?
~Beside~ my mum, nobody offered me anything yesterday (nonstandard).
*Besides* my mum, nobody offered me anything yesterday (standard).
Besides means “in addition to,” “other than,” or “except for.” It does not mean physical proximity. Other examples:
No one *besides* him was invited (other than, except). ✅
He speaks Hausa *besides* English and Yoruba (in addition to). ✅
I left my book ~besides~ the table (nonstandard).
I left my book *beside* the table (standard).
Something that is beside something else is at the side of it or next to it.
GAB
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