along
1) When you go along something such as a road, you move towards one end of it. Used with verbs:
e.g.
He walked along the street, looking for the post office.
Used as an adverb:
e.g.
His dog trotted along at his side.

2) If something is situated along something such as a road, it is beside it.
e.g.
We stopped for lunch in a restaurant along the road.
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alongside
1) If something is alongside something else, it is next to it. Used with verbs:
e.g.
The police car pulled alongside the bus and stopped.
Used with nouns:
e.g.
The path alongside the river is always busy in the springtime.
Used as an adverb:
e.g
The parents ran alongside, shouting their goodbyes to the children in the train.

2) If you work alongside someone else, you work in the same place and in cooperation with them.
e.g.
After the earthquake firemen and civilians worked alongside each other to try and stop the fires from spreading.

3) If one thing exists alongside another, the two things exist together in the same situation and at the same time.
e.g.
It is important that commercial farming should take place alongside the conservation of wildlife and the environment.
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along with
The preposition along with is used when mentioning someone or something else that is also present or involved.
e.g.
On Graduation Day he received his diploma, along with the other members of his class.
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amid
1) If something happens amid noises or events of some kind, it happens while they are occurring, at the same time.
e.g.
He stood waiting quietly on the platform, amid the hustle and bustle of departing passengers.

2) If something is amid other things, it is surrounded by them; a literary use.
e.g.
Hanami parties take place in the springtime amid trees laden with delicate pink cherry blossoms.
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among
1) Something or someone that is situated or moving among a group of things or people is surrounded by them.
Used with verbs:
e.g.
The old house was standing among a group of newer high-rise buildings.
Used with nouns:
e.g
He had a favourite fishing place among the trees on the river bank.

2) If you are among people of a particular kind, you are with them and having contact with them.
e.g.
Some people find living among foreigners to be difficult.

3) If someone or something is among a group, they are a member of that group.
e.g.
He was among the lucky few who managed to escape from the sinking ship.

4) If something applies to a particular person or thing among others, it also applies to other people or things.
e.g.
The Institute for the Future is, among other things, investigating the effects of advanced communications technology.

5) If something such as a feeling, opinion or situation exists among a group of people, most or all of them have it or experience it.
e.g.
There is a growing feeling among the public that politicians are out of touch with reality.

6) If something is shared or divided among a number of people, some of it is given to all of them.
e.g.
The proceeds from the charity sale were divided among two hundred families.

7) If people talk, agree or fight among themselves, they do it together, without involving anyone else.
e.g.
The people waiting for buses soon began to talk among themselves, to pass the time.
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apart from/aside from
1) You use apart from / aside from when you are making an exception to a general statement.
e.g.
It's very quiet around here, apart from the typhoons in the late summer.
The sea voyage was mainly pleasant, aside from the cold winds.

2) You use apart from / aside from to indicate that you are aware of one aspect of a situation, but that you are going to focus on another aspect.
e.g.
Even apart from her illness, she had been very unhappy.
Aside from anything else, how are we going to pay the bills?
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as
1) You use as when you are indicating what someone or something is or is thought to be, or what function they have. Used with verbs:
e.g.
He was regarded as a hero by millions of people.
Most computers are only used as word-processors.
The news clearly came as a shock to her.
He worked as an engineer for the railways.

Used with nouns:
e.g.
He had a reputation as a man of great wisdom.
They used their house as a base for their business.
She has great ability as a golfer.

2) If you did something as a child or a teenager, you don't do it now (as an adult).
e.g.
I often went train-spotting as a boy.

3) You use as to introduce the thing that something is being compared with (the as... as construction).
e.g.
The sea was as smooth as glass.
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as for
You use as for at the beginning of a clause to introduce a different subject that is in some way connected with the previous one.
e.g.
The movie itself was very good; as for the cinema, it was old, cold and uncomfortable.
The rugby team have played quite well this season; as for the fans, they have been marvellous.
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as to
You use as to when you are indicating the subject of a piece of information, a question or a debate. Mainly used in British English. Used with nouns:
e.g.
We made some enquiries as to the price of the goods.
We must make some decisions as to how we allocate our budget.

Used with adjectives:
e.g.
I'm still a little uncertain as to where to best allocate resources in our project.
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astride
If you sit or stand astride something, you sit or stand with one foot or leg on each side of it. Used with verbs:
e.g.
He sat astride his mountain bike as he talked to us.
She stood astride the white centre line and pointed down the road.
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END of Chapter Two