120 Grammar lessons

 

23. Begin and start 

There is little or no difference between begin and start. 

Begin is more common in a formal style.

 • He started / began working when he was 19.

 • We will begin / start the next lesson tomorrow. 

• It is time to begin / start work. 

We start (but not begin) a journey or a machine. 

• We started in the morning and reached before sunset. (NOT We began in the morning...) 

• How do you start a washing machine? (NOT How do you begin a washing machine?) 

• At last the train started. (NOT At last the train began.)

 24. Beside and besides 

Beside is a preposition. It means 'by' or 'next to'. 

• The mother sat beside her children. 

• Who is that fat lady sitting beside Peter? 

Besides is similar to as well as. It is used to add new information to what is already known. 

• Besides the violin, he can play the guitar and the piano. 

• Who was at the party besides Jane and Peter? 

25. Besides, except and apart from 

These expressions often cause confusion. 

Besides usually adds whereas except subtracts. 

Compare: • Besides mathematics, we have to learn physics and chemistry. (We learn three subjects.)

 • He can play all musical instruments except the flute. (He can’t play the flute.) 

• Apart from mathematics, we have to learn physics and chemistry. (= Besides mathematics, we have to ...) 

• He can play all musical instruments apart from the violin. (= He can play all musical instruments except the violin.