beside

• À côté de, à proximité immédiate de, à la place ou en comparaison de, et aussi au sens de « en dehors de » ou « hormis ».

The preposition 'beside' indicates that a thing or person is next to another, in its immediate vicinity or at its side; it is also used in comparisons, in fixed expressions of emotional state ('beside oneself') and to indicate irrelevance ('beside the point').

1. Physical position next toA2formal

   Indicates that a person or thing is in the immediate vicinity of another, usually at its side, without necessarily touching it.

   à côté de

   • Come and sit beside me
   • She placed the lamp beside the bed
   • The church stands beside the river

2. ComparisonB1formal

   Used to compare two things, people or situations, stressing the differences or similarities between them.

   Comparaison / mise en contraste

   • Beside his earlier work, this novel seems weak
   • My problems seem small beside yours
   • Beside her, I felt inexperienced

3. Emotional state (fixed expression)B2formal

   In the expression 'beside oneself', indicates an extreme emotional state: anger, joy, grief or worry.

   hors de soi

   • She was beside herself with worry
   • He was beside himself with joy when he heard the news
   • They were beside themselves with anger

4. Irrelevance (fixed expression)B2formal

   In the expression 'beside the point', indicates that an argument, remark or fact does not relate to the matter being discussed.

   Hors de propos

   • That's beside the point
   • Your comment is interesting but beside the point
   • Whether he intended it or not is beside the point

5. Support / presence in a difficult momentB1informal

   Indicates moral support, presence or solidarity with a person in a difficult situation.

   Être aux côtés de quelqu'un

   • I'll be beside you every step of the way
   • She stood beside him during the trial
   • Having friends beside you makes all the difference