Preposition NEXT TO — When and How to Use It

ByKhamis Maiouf
🌱 A1 · BEGINNER
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Quick Answer

Use next to when two things are side by side. It means beside: the bank is next to the shop.

Example: The bank is next to the shop.

NEXT TO in Action — See the Pattern

Read these three sentences. Look at how next to works:

  • She sits next to me at school. (She sits at my side.)
  • The cafe is next to the bookshop. (The cafe is right beside the bookshop.)
  • My phone is next to my laptop. (The phone is right beside the laptop.)

When to Use NEXT TO

Use next to when two things are at each other’s side, with nothing between them. Think of two people standing side by side.

  • Two buildings: “The hospital is next to the school.”
  • Two people: “He stood next to his sister.”
  • Two objects: “Your cup is next to the kettle.”

Easy way to remember: Hold your hands together side by side. Your left hand is next to your right hand. Anything that is right beside something else, with nothing in between, is next to it.

The Rule in One Line: Use next to when two things are side by side.

Real-Life Examples With NEXT TO

Here are examples you might say or hear in everyday life:

  • I parked my car next to a red one. (Right beside the red car.)
  • She sat next to me on the bus. (On the seat right beside me.)
  • The post office is next to the supermarket. (The two buildings are side by side.)
  • My phone is next to the lamp. (Right beside the lamp on the table.)
  • Put your shoes next to the door, please. (Right beside the door.)

Now compare the examples below. Check the location described before you choose a preposition.

Three Mistakes to Avoid With NEXT TO

The most common mistake is dropping the word “to.” Many learners say “next the bank” — but English needs both words: “next to.”

Forgetting to

✗ The cafe is next the shop.
✓ The cafe is next to the shop.

Using between for two things side by side

✗ The bank is between the shop. This sentence does not identify what is on the other side.

Using on instead

✗ He stood on his sister.
✓ He stood next to his sister.

How to remember: Two hands side by side: one hand is next to the other. Always two words — “next” + “to.”

Other common “next to” places: next to the bank, next to the door, next to the window, next to me, next to the bed.

Test Yourself: NEXT TO

Choose an answer to see your feedback immediately. Your first answer counts towards your score.

Question 1 of 5

1. The bookshop and café are side by side. The bookshop is _______ the café.

2. She is in the seat beside her brother. She sat _______ her brother on the bus.

3. The phone and laptop are side by side. My phone is _______ the laptop on the desk.

4. The bus stop is beside the supermarket entrance. The bus stop is _______ the supermarket.

5. Put the lamp beside the bed, on a small table. Put the lamp _______ the bed.

Keep Going — You Are Building Something

You just learned next to — a phrase you will use every time you give directions or describe a room.

Imagine three buildings in a row: the shop, the bank and the café. The bank is between the other two. It may also be next to each of them, but between describes its position relative to both.

Next lesson: Preposition BETWEEN — When and How to Use It

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