There are many words in the English language that are very easily confused. An example of this is when beside is used in the place of besides, and vice versa. Another example is quite being used where quiet is supposed to be and vice versa. One must understand the meaning of those words and the context of the sentence to choose the right one. In this article, it will be shown how to distinguish between beside vs besides, and quite vs. quiet. The definition of each word will be given and the word will also be used in a sentence.
Beside means right next or near someone or something else. An example of this is in the following sentence, I lay beside the water yesterday and took a nap. Besides can mean three things: moreover, too, or as well. An example of this is in the following sentence ‘He is the supreme being and besides him, there is no other’.
Quite is a word that means very or fairly. An example of this is in the following sentence ‘I got up early this morning, so I am quite tired.’ The word quiet describes something that is still and motionless. An example of this in a sentence is ‘It is so quiet you can hear a pen drop’.
While those words can easily be confused for one another, it is very important to be able to differentiate between them. They all have different meanings and if used incorrectly, can change the whole meaning of a sentence. Practice makes perfect and by practicing, one will know where and when to use those words in any sentence.