Beside vs Besides: Next To or In Addition
In TOEIC Part 5, beside and besides differ by one letter but express different relationships.
A useful question is: does the sentence describe physical position, or add another point, person, or item?
The quick choice
Build a simple picture. Can you place one thing next to another? Or is the sentence adding something to a list?
Beside
Physical position: beside the entrance, beside the printer, beside Ms Lopez.
Besides
An additional item or point: besides the fee, besides marketing, besides Mr Chen.
The signal to remember
This is the MTC move. Picture the relationship around the blank before checking the final letter.
The desk is physically next to the entrance. Choose beside.
Accommodation is an additional cost. Choose besides.
The package should be placed next to the counter.
The engineers are added to the group attending.
What to notice
This pair can appear in office directions, event notices, cost information, staffing updates, and meeting arrangements.
These describe location.
These add another item, person, or consideration.
Use the business picture
The noun after the blank can give a useful clue, but the full meaning is more reliable.
Location picture
Entrance, desk, station, door, cabinet, machine, colleague.
Addition picture
Cost, benefit, department, responsibility, requirement, reason, option.
The extinguisher is next to the exit.
The security course is an additional requirement.
Under pressure, ask one question: next to, or added to?
Quick TOEIC check
Choose first. Then read the feedback. Use the quick check: physical position, or additional item?
1. The new copying machine has been installed ___ the supply cabinet.
2. ___ the travel allowance, employees will receive a daily meal payment.
3. Mr Kim sat ___ the regional director during the awards ceremony.
4. ___ customer service, the new training programme covers inventory control and workplace safety.
The mistake to avoid
Do not treat the final s as unimportant. Here, that one letter changes the relationship.
Weak choice
Choose by sound because both words appear to mean “near” or “also.”
Better choice
Picture the sentence: physical location, or another item added?
Keep the meaning clear
The words differ by only one letter and may both translate naturally in a broad context. The relationship between the surrounding ideas is the reliable signal.
Do not begin with spelling. Begin with the sentence picture.
Continue building fast word decisions
These pages also train the test-taker to use the relationship around the blank instead of choosing by appearance.
Use review to choose the next practice
If a question feels clear during review but was difficult during practice, compare the sentence relationship with the choice you made.
The Learning Block Diagnostic reviews six MTC study patterns: Speed Trap, Memoriser, Over Thinker, Translator, Passive Listener, and Burnout.
Continue reading
Use these pages for more grammar and review practice.