The word «next», in talking about physical location, is the same as adjacent. Physically close, and if there is a set of objects, there is no object between them.
In using the word «next» in reference to something that comes after the current thing, there needs to be a direct ordering. For example, in a queue
Bob is after Joe in the queue. Joe is currently being served, and Bob is next.
You could use «next to» in an example like this, but I have never heard it used to imply ordering, and would only assume in this next example that Bob and Joe were adjacent, and would need more information to know who is first. in fact, were someone to say something like this to me, I would initially assume that Bob and Joe were sharing the same place in the queue- one is not in front of the other.
Bob and Joe are in the queue. Bob is next to Joe.
In your riddle example
The Norwegian lives in the first house.
The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.
I would definitely assume that the Norwegian’s house and the blue house are adjacent, but would make no assumption of ordering just based on these two statements.
Going into further detail to explain the second definition of «next to» that you mentioned.
Merriam-Webster only has two definitions for «next to»:
1: immediately following or adjacent to
2: in comparison to— «next to you I’m wealthy»
If I were to use the first usage in an ordered sense, it would be something like
Starting from the left of the photo, we have Bob. Standing next to him is Joe.
But again, «next to» doesn’t give the ordering- the implied ordering (Joe is obviously on the right of Bob) comes from the other things I have said («starting from the left»), not from the term «next to».
The second definition is idomatic. «next to you I’m wealthy» implies something like «were we to stand next to each other and compare our wealth, I would appear wealthy.»
An idiomatic usage that is very similar to M-W’s second use is noted in the Dictionary.com entry:
9 c aside from: Next to cake, ice cream is my favorite dessert.
Again, this implies an imaginary ranking of favorite desserts. Cake would be at the top, followed by ice cream.
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#1
Hello everyone !
I’ve learnt through these last months four different words/prepositions that look at me as if their meaning is the same, so I would ask you if there are some differences among them and what they are
«next to»
«close to»
«near»
«beside»
I look forward to reading your answers !!!
Thanks in advance !!
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#2
«Beside» and «next to» indicate that the object is directly adjacent to the subject, eg ‘my phone is beside me’, ‘he lives next to me’.
However, «near» and «close to» do not indicate this, and merely shows that it is not far away. I might say that I leave «near» or «close to» my friend who lives at the other end of the street, but I wouldn’t say I lived «next to» him.
Last edited: Jun 27, 2011
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#3
«Beside» and «next to» indicate that the object is directly adjacent to the subject, eg ‘my phone is beside me’, ‘he lives next to me’.
However, «near» and «close to» does not indicate this, and merely shows that it is not far away. I might say that I leave «near» or «close to» my friend who lives at the other end of the street, but I wouldn’t say I lived «next to» him.
You couldn’t be clearer than this
Thanks a lot my friend !!
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#4
In New York the standard word for this meaning is «by.» When I first lived in another state (even though it was the next state over) no one understood what I was saying when I’d say «He lives by me.» They only use «near» in that case. However you will hear everyone who is native to the NY metro area say that.
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#5
In New York the standard word for this meaning is «by.»
I don’t know which «meaning» this refers to (near/close to, or beside/next to), but I’ve lived in New York most of my life and have never heard «by» used in that way. Nor would I use it myself.
To mean that someone lives in the same neighborhood, we use «near» or «close to» (or perhaps more specifically, «on my block» or «around the corner from me»). To mean in the very next building, we say «beside» or «next to» or «next door to».
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#6
I don’t know which «meaning» this refers to (near/close to, or beside/next to), but I’ve lived in New York most of my life and have never heard «by» used in that way. Nor would I use it myself.
To mean that someone lives in the same neighborhood, we use «near» or «close to» (or perhaps more specifically, «on my block» or «around the corner from me»). To mean in the very next building, we say «beside» or «next to» or «next door to».
Dear Parla:
I suppose we will have to agree to disagree. I did a master’s thesis on dialectology of NY (specializing in the 5 boroughs and Long Island) and «by» is the preferred word in close to 95% of the people I surveyed. If you are from north of the Bronx, that’s a completely different dialect, the Western New England Dialect.
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#7
I may be new here but I’m not a «newbie» to the profession.
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#8
To me, saying «I’m next to the tree in the orchad» sounds awkward… even if I mean I am leaning against the tree. Which preposition would you currently use?
A: Where are you?
B: (1) I’m
near
the tree in the orchad.
(2) I’m (…) the tree in the orchad.
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#9
«I’m near the tree in the orchard» is fine, as is «I’m next to the tree in the orchard». I’d probably use the latter in the situation you describe.
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#10
I’d alter (2) slightly and say: «I’m standing by the tree in the orchard».
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#11
Can somebody (I mean a living person) really be «next to» something like «I’m next to the theatre»? It really sounds awkward to me. I have no grammatical rule which could explain that, but to me «next to» is rather for inanimate nominals: «the post office is next to the bank.»
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#12
I’m not sure that «I’m next to the theatre» works all that well, but if you’re arranging to meet some friends at the railway station, they might well say: «Right, we’ll walt for you next to the ticket office».
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#13
Yes. To me, it makes more sense. I’m not sure if I undestood it well, but to me , if you say «I’m next to the ticket office», does it mean that
(1) you are «near» it? (it’s synonymous)
(2) «in front of it»? (my position is in front of that place)
or (3) «as soon as you see the ticket office, walk a little bit further and you’ll see me!» (my position is just after that place)
(4) there is no such «precise meaning» conveyed by the expression.
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#14
It’s (4) really, depending on the shape of the ticket office and the layout of the station. It’s closer than «near» but not necessarily directly «in front of» or «just past».
«By the side of» or «adjacent to» is probably the most accurate way of placing it, but we tend to say «next to» as a colloquial equivalent.
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#15
My students want to say «Hong Kong is beside Guangdong,» but that sounds slightly weird to me. I’d say «next to.» What do you think? Am I splitting hairs?
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#16
Welcome to the forum.
I wouldn’t say either. I’d say that Hong Kong is immediately south of Guangdong Province, or off the coast of Guangdong Province.
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#17
Welcome to the forum.
I wouldn’t say either. I’d say that Hong Kong is immediately south of Guangdong Province, or off the coast of Guangdong Province.
Thanks for the welcome! Of course, you’re right that it’s «immediately south of» or «off the coast of,» but if you had to use only «next to» or «beside» would you choose one or the other, or would both be equally okay?
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#18
What meaning’s difference are there between «close to» and near? Besides of physics distance. For example if I want to say; » She’s a close/near neighbourd», I mean, she ‘s a realiable, faithful , friendly and generous neighbourd.
Finally, Which/what another/other difference/differences is/are there between/among them??
thanks in advance.
Edit; I just read the next sentence in my English grammar book; » She’s standing by the window. I read that you were arguing about the use of «by»
Last edited: Jan 27, 2015
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishnext toˈnext to ●●● S3 W3 preposition
1 very close to someone or something, with no other person, building, place etc in between
There was a little girl sitting next to him.2 → next to nothing3 used to give a list of things you like, hate etc in order to say what is first on the list
Next to soccer, I like playing tennis best.4 in comparison with someone or something
Next to her, I’m a very poor cook.5 → next to impossible/useless etcTHESAURUSnext to preposition very close to someone or something, with no other person, building, place etc in betweenI sat next to him at dinner.The hotel was right next to the airport.beside preposition next to the side of someone or somethingElla came and sat down beside me.They were sitting beside the pool.by preposition next to something – often used about being very close to a window, door, or the edge of something such as an area of waterI saw him standing by the window.Weymouth is a pretty little town by the sea.She lives by the river.next door adverb in the building or room next to yours, or next to another oneThe house next door is much bigger than ours.Have you met the people who’ve just moved in next door?alongside adverb, preposition close to the side of something, especially a river, railway, boat, or vehicleI decided to take the path alongside the railway track.A police car pulled up alongside.adjacent adjective, adverb formal a building, room, or piece of land that is adjacent to another one is next to itThey walked through a rose garden adjacent to the hospital.The blaze spread to two adjacent buildings.adjoining adjective formal an adjoining room, building, or piece of land is one that is next to another one and is joined to itWe had adjoining rooms at the hotel.Examples from the Corpusnext to• He led them, a procession of six, to a table right next to a platform.• In one city, contaminated waste was dumped next to a shopping centre.• You want to keep the two columns next to each other, no matter how much text is added or deleted.• And that was at home next to her.• His parents were laid out next to him.• He slept next to his junie, fanning her with a magazine in the middle of the night.• Iron gates open to a courtyard filled with pots of geraniums and ivy tucked next to rusted bistro tables and chairs.
Decide if the underlined word group in each sentence is a gerund phrase or a participial phrase. Then, above the underlined word or words, write G for gerund phrase or P for participial phrase.
Example 1. Winning the drama award‾Goverset{textit{color{#c34632}{G}}}{{underline{text{Winning the drama award}}}} thrilled my sister.
Eating out in Tokyo‾underline{text{Eating out in Tokyo}} is fun.
1
Another word that means the same as ‘under’ is … .
2
Another word that means the same as ‘next to’ is … .
3
When you get to Third Street, don’t turn right. Turn … .
4
After I said, «Good-bye» to my sister, I walked … her.
5
My friends are … Japan. They live in Tokyo.
6
Every morning, I get … a bus to go to school.
7
The letter ‘B’ is … the letter ‘A’ and the letter ‘C’.
> between
> around
> straight
8
I dropped my book on the floor and I didn’t pick it up. It’s … the table.
9
There is a ball in the middle of the road. Everyone is driving … it.
10
We walked … the library and sat down to study.
11
After we studied for the test, we walked … the library to go home.
12
Another word that means the same as ‘over’ is … .
13
Be careful when you are on the bridge. Don’t fall … the water.
14
Last month we traveled to Australia. We flew … Barcelona to Sydney.
15
They didn’t turn left and they didn’t turn right. They walked … .
16
I saw my friend walking … me and I said, «Hello. «
> away from
> from
> toward
next to nothing
Almost nothing; a very small amount. It says a lot about our society that teachers get paid next to nothing while some celebrities do next to nothing and get paid millions.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
next to nothing
Fig. hardly anything; almost nothing. This car’s worth next to nothing. It’s full of rust. I bought this antique chair for next to nothing.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
next to ˈnothing
a very small amount; almost nothing: He knows a great deal about flowers but next to nothing about trees and shrubs. ♢ He was able to buy the neighbouring farm for next to nothing.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
next to nothing
A very small amount, barely more than nothing at all. This expression uses next to in the sense of “almost,” a usage dating from the seventeenth century, as in “She ate next to nothing,” or “I earned next to nothing last year.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
- next to
- catch the next wave
- (one’s) next of kin
- one’s next of kin
- kin
- your next of kin
- in next to no time
- from one moment to the next
- see you next year
- be on the hour