Is Besides A Conjunction? 5 Facts(When, Why & Examples)

“Conjunctions” and “Conjunctive Adverbs” play the same role by connecting phrases, clauses or sentences. Let us check the role “besides” plays while connecting clauses.

The word “besides” is an adverb by origin but can be marked as a “Conjunctive Adverb” because it sometimes connects two independent clauses like a “Conjunction”.

Now, we will go through various important facts and explanations that are related to “besides” as a conjunctive adverb.

When is “besides” a conjunction?

Conjunctive adverbs are “adverbs” that play the role of conjunction and carry the name “Conjunctive Adverb”. Let us check when we can use “besides” as a conjunctive adverb.

The word “besides” can be marked as a conjunctive adverb when it connects two independent clauses. Finally, however, etc. are some examples of conjunctive adverbs.

Situations, where we can use “besides” to connect two independent clauses are given below.

Situations where “besides” can be used as “Conjunctive Adverb”ExampleExplanation
1. The word “besides” can be used as a conjunctive adverb if the meaning “except for” needs to be stated.My father is a great wood craftsman; besides, he is still learning to improve his skills.The word “besides” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” as it connects the second independent clause “he is still learning to improve his skills” with the first independent clause “My father is a great wood craftsman” while depicting the meaning “except for”.
2. The word “besides” can be used as a conjunctive adverb if the meaning “apart from” needs to be stated.Rajib wants to play; besides, he is tired.The word “besides” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” as it connects the second independent clause” he is tired ” with the first independent clause “Rajib wants to play” while depicting the meaning “apart from”.
3. The word “besides” can be used as a conjunctive adverb if the meaning “other than” needs to be stated.I do not want to eat; besides, I am already full of the chore.The word “besides” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” as it connects the second independent clause” I do not want to eat ” with the first independent clause “Rajib wants to play” while depicting the meaning “other than”.
4. The word “besides” can be used as a conjunctive adverb if the meaning “aside from” needs to be stated.My mother can cook delicious non-vegetarian food items; besides, she is completely vegetarian.The word “besides” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” as it connects the second independent clause “she is completely vegetarian” with the first independent clause “My mother can cook delicious non-vegetarian food items” while depicting the meaning “aside from”.
List of situations where “besides” can be used as “Conjunctive Adverb”

How is “besides” a conjunctive adverb?

We can take note that conjunctive adverbs never connect a subordinate clause or phrase to the main clause. Let us see the use of “besides” as a conjunctive adverb.

The word “besides” is a conjunctive adverb in such a way where it sometimes plays the role of an adverb and sometimes plays the role of a conjunction while connecting two independent clauses.

Example – Pijush can draw extremely beautiful oil paintings; besides, he can draw pencil sketches as well.

Explanation –

The word “besides” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” as it connects the second independent clause “he can draw pencil sketches as well” with the first independent clause ” Pijush can draw extremely beautiful oil paintings” while depicting the meaning “aside from”.

Examples of “besides” as conjunction-

Here are some sentences which are framed with the conjunctive adverb “besides”.

ExampleExplanation
1. I have to pay the premium for my new car; besides, I’m already paying the rent for my new apartment.The word “besides” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” as it connects the second independent clause “she I’m already paying the rent for my new apartment” with the first independent clause “I have to pay the premium for my new car”.
2. Rajib is going to his friend’s house; besides, he has already been out of his home for the last four hours.The word “besides” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” as it connects the second independent clause “he has already been out of his home for the last four hours” with the first independent clause “Rajib is going to his friend’s house”.
3. Renu was cooking a vegetarian food item for the lunch; besides, she had already cooked a non-vegetarian.The word “besides” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” as it connects the second independent clause “she had already cooked a non-vegetarian” with the first independent clause “Renu was cooking a vegetarian food item for the lunch”.
4. I am looking forward to the new job; besides, I have already left my previous job.The word “besides” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” as it connects the second independent clause “I have already left my previous job” with the first independent clause “I am looking forward to the new job”.
5. Mina locked the door before going out; besides, he had already locked the inner door.The word “besides” can certainly be marked as a “conjunctive adverb” as it connects the second independent clause “he had already locked the inner door” with the first independent clause “Mina locked the door before going out”.
Examples of “besides” as conjunction

When is “besides” not considered as conjunction?

The word “besides” is a part of more than one group of parts of speech. Let us check the use of “besides” in other roles in the English language.

The word “besides” can not be considered as a conjunction when it plays the role of two other parts of speech except conjunction; “preposition” and “adverb.”

The role of the word “besides” as a preposition and as an adverbExampleExplanation
1. “Besides,” as a preposition: As a “preposition,” the word “besides” is normally situated at the start of the sentence to show the meaning “to add with.”Besides the ground floor and first floor, I can take over a flat on any other floor of the building.  The word “besides” can certainly be marked as a “preposition” as it is in use to show the placement of various floors which are not in the preference of the speaker. We must note the placement of the word “besides” at the very beginning of the sentence and the use of a punctuation mark (comma) in front of the subject of the sentence.
2. “Besides” as an adverb: As an adverb, besides is normally placed at the end of a sentence. The word “besides” can be placed in the middle of the sentence as a “preposition” as well, but in that case, another conjunction must be present in the sentence.I love to eat some sandwiches, and besides that, I like to eat some chicken sandwiches as well.  The word “besides” can certainly be marked as an “adverb” as it refers to the activity of “eating” by the speaker. We must note the placement of the adverb “besides” after the conjunction “and” to depict the meaning “insertion”.
The role of the word “besides” as a preposition and as an adverb

Examples of “besides” not considered as conjunctions-

The word “besides” can not be used in a simple sentence. The sentence must be a compound or complex sentence to use the word “besides” as a preposition or as an adverb.

Now, we will go through various examples and related explanations to show the role of the word “besides” as a preposition and as an adverb.

ExampleExplanation
1. Besides being a widow, Mina runs a stationary shop to take care of her child.The word “besides” can certainly be marked as a preposition because it shows the relationship of the subject “Mina” with the word “widow”.
2. Rajib is going to adopt a child, and besides that, he is already taking care of some orphan children.The word “besides” can certainly be marked as an adverb because it modifies the activity “taking care” of the subject, Rajib, while conveying the meaning “in addition to”.
3. Besides being the owner of the curator shop, Rajib loves to play carom as a professional player.The word “besides” can certainly be marked as a preposition because it shows the relationship of the subject “Rajib” with the profession ” the owner of the curator shop “.
4. I will take care of my ancestors’ house, and besides that, I will buy a flat in my name.The word “besides” can certainly be marked as an adverb because it modifies the activity “buy” of the speaker while conveying the meaning “in addition to”.
5. The tourist group is heading towards the top of the mountain, and besides that, they are carrying our national flag to host at the top of the mountain.The word “besides” can certainly be marked as an adverb because it modifies the activity “carrying our national flag” of the subject, Rajib, while conveying the meaning “in addition to”.
Examples of “besides” not considered as conjunctions

Conclusion –

We must not be confused between the words “beside” and “besides,” though both of them are prepositions. The adverb “beside” states the meaning “close to” in a sentence, while the conjunctive adverb “besides” states the meaning “apart from”.

Read more, Is following A Conjunction

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