Outside

'Outside' is also common among native English speakers. So, do you wanna learn more about it? What are you waiting for then? Come on.

'Outside' is pretty common among native English speakers. It can be an adjective, an adverb, a preposition, and a noun. In this lesson, we will discuss how to learn and use it.

Functions of 'Outside'

'Outside' as a Preposition

As mentioned above, one of the main functions of 'outside' is to be a preposition. Below, we are going to analyze the kinds of prepositions it can be:

Use

'Outside' as a Preposition of Place

We can use 'outside' as a preposition of place to show the place of something or someone. Below, we have provided you with a list of all its meanings in this category:

When something/someone is on the external side something else, we use 'outside':

Just put your shoes outside the room.

Ladies and gentlemen, you can smoke outside the building.

When we want to indicate that something/someone is not in a particular area, we use 'outside':

There are also many great theaters outside France.

I've seen many different dogs just outside the airport.

When we want to metaphorically show that is not in our range of knowledge, work, etc.:

That question is outside of the discussion.

The professor told me that religion was outside of his range of knowledge.

'Outside' as a Preposition of Time

Interestingly, 'outside' can also be a preposition of time. It shows that something takes more than the time specified. Look at the following examples for more clarification:

Unfortunately, I handed in my report outside the month.

The seminar lasted outside the time mentioned in the invitation card.

'Outside' as a Preposition of Manner

We can also use 'outside' as a preposition of manner to show that something is apart from another. Look at the examples below for more clarification:

They said we could do nothing, outside of praying to God.

The professor said that I had another option, outside of reading excessively on the subject.

Position in a Sentence

As you know, prepositions come before nouns and noun phrases and modify them. We can have a prepositional phrase at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the sentence. Look at the following examples for more clarification:

Outside the house, children were playing and laughing together.

Here, the prepositional phrase is at the beginning of the sentence.

The young boy, outside the book shop, was crying his eyes out.

As you can see, 'outside' is in the middle of the sentence here.

I saw a few teenagers getting drunk outside the café.

Warning!

Please note that whenever we have a prepositional phrase at the beginning of the sentence, it must be followed by a comma. Also when it is in the middle, it must be put between two commas.

'Outside' as an Adjective

'Outside' can also be an adjective. Below, we are going to learn all about its different types as an adjective:

Use

'Outside' as an Attributive Adjective

When 'outside' is an adjective, it mainly comes before nouns which makes it an attributive adjective. Below, we have provided you with a list of all its meanings:

When we are talking about the external side of something, we use 'outside':

As soon as the outside air came in, the baby started crying.

You could use the outside toilets in the garden. They are free of charge.

When we want to indicate that something is separate from a community, we use 'outside':

How is it possible that my father doesn't have any outside interests?

Some people seem to be so involved with outside influences that they forget their selves.

When we want to show that something is nearly improbable:

Considering everything, the boys have outside chance in winning this contest in front of the girls.

Position in a Sentence

As you know, attributive adjectives only come before the nouns they are modifying. Now, let us examine some examples below:

He has healed himself so that not many outside forces can affect him.

The outside cover of the guitar case is covered with stickers.

'Outside' as an Adverb

Interestingly, 'outside' can also be an adverb. Let us learn about the different kinds of adverbs it can be:

Use

'Outside' as an Adverb of Place

We mainly use 'outside' as an adverb of place when we want to show that something/someone is not inside something. Look at the following examples:

Go on. We'll be waiting outside.

As Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall boarded the boat, Professor Snape stood outside.

We can also use 'outside' indicating going out of a building, house, etc. Look below:

He wanted to smoke a cigarette with us outside.

The air is amazing outside.

Position in a Sentence

'Outside' is an adverb here, so it mainly comes after adjectives, verbs, and other adverbs and modifies them. Check out the following examples:

Come one. Let's go outside.

They had their dinner outside, though.

'Outside' as a Noun

Use

'Outside' can also be used as a noun. Let us look at he list below to get a glimpse of all its meanings:

When referring to the external side of something, we use 'outside':

The outside of the faculty looks spooky.

Many restaurants edit their food pictures to make them look delicious from the outside.

We can use 'outside' to talk bout the area near some place:

Josephine and her boyfriend just saw the White House from the outside.

I preferred to take a quick walk around outside of the hospital.

Position in a Sentence

As you know, nouns can be the subject, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition. Let us examine some examples below:

The outside of the building looks terrible.

Here, it is the subject.

From the outside, the castle looked magical.

Here, 'outside' is the object of a preposition in the sentence.

Idioms and Expressions with 'Outside'

In English, we have very few idioms with 'outside'. Let us learn about them below:

On the outside: This one can be used when indicating that someone is not in prison, and also when talking about how someone is behaving:

On the outside, she seems a nice person.

After twenty years of being behind the bars, Fred had completely forgotten how life is on the outside.

At the outside: When we want to show the maximum degree of something, we use this one:

This auditorium has space for more than 20,000 people at the outside.

How much do you estimate at the outside?

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