At intermediate level, prepositions of position become more precise — and easier to confuse. This lesson covers six prepositions that describe where things are in relation to each other: along, among (amongst), against, beside, beyond, and opposite. You will also learn the difference between among and between, one of the most common questions intermediate learners ask.

Among vs between: what’s the difference?

Use between for distinct, separate items (often two, but not always). Use among when something is part of a group or surrounded by it.

• between: Tara was sitting between Ram and Ati. (two named people)
• among: There were secret police among the crowd. (part of a group)

Among or amongst? They mean the same thing. Among is more common and modern; amongst sounds more formal and is more frequent in British English.

Position prepositions in detail

Beside vs besides

Don’t confuse these. Beside = next to (position). Besides = in addition to.

• The river runs beside our house. (position)
• What shall we have besides coffee? (in addition)

Common mistakes to avoid

• ❌ She shared the money between all five children. → ✅ …among all five children. (a group)
• ❌ He sat besides me. → ✅ He sat beside me.
• ❌ The shop is in front of mine across the road. → ✅ The shop is opposite mine.

💡 IELTS tip

In IELTS Writing Task 1 (maps and plans), opposite, beside, along and beyond help you describe locations precisely: “A new car park was built beside the station, opposite the shopping centre.” Precise position language lifts your Lexical Resource score.

FAQ

Is it among or between for three people?

Both are possible. Use between if the three people are distinct individuals in a relationship (an agreement between three countries); use among if you mean them as a group.

Are among and amongst interchangeable?

Yes. They have identical meaning. Choose among for neutral, modern writing and amongst for a more formal or British tone.

Related on Simply IELTS

• ➡️ Continue: Lesson 6: Movement & Path
• 📚 Part of the Prepositions in English course.
• 🔗 Related: Prepositions that confuse IELTS test-takers.