Move sth aside Meaning, Examples & How to Use in English

What Does “Move sth aside” Mean?

“Move sth aside” means to physically shift something to one side to clear space or make way for something else.

Introduction

The phrase “move sth aside” is a common phrasal verb in English. It means to push or shift an object away from its current position, usually to clear space. The “sth” in the phrase stands for “something,” which means you can use this phrasal verb with many different objects. Understanding the move sth aside meaning can help you describe actions clearly in everyday situations, whether at home, work, or outdoors. It is especially useful when talking about clearing space or making room for something else.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: move something aside
• Type: transitive
• Level: A2
• Short meaning: to shift an object to one side

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Move sth aside” is a separable phrasal verb. This means you can place the object between “move” and “aside” or after “aside.”

• Move something aside
• Move aside something

Both forms are correct, but the first is more common in everyday English.

How to Use “Move sth aside”?

You use “move sth aside” when you want to say that someone shifts an object to the side to make room or clear a path. It often involves physical movement but can also be used metaphorically, such as moving aside distractions or problems.

Examples

Imagine you are cleaning your desk. You might say:

• “Please move the books aside so I can place my laptop.”
• “She moved the chairs aside to make more space for dancing.”
• “He moved his papers aside to answer the phone.”
• “Can you move the boxes aside? We need to clean the floor.”
• “They moved aside the old furniture before painting the room.”

Here are some examples of move sth aside in a sentence:

• He moved the boxes aside to open the door.
• She moved aside the curtains to let the sunlight in.

Common Mistakes

People sometimes confuse the word order or forget to use the object. For example:

• Incorrect: “Move aside the books.” (less common but acceptable)
• Correct: “Move the books aside.”
• Incorrect: “Move aside.” (without an object, this means ‘step aside’ and is a different meaning)

Remember, “move sth aside” requires an object (something to move).

Differences / Synonyms

“Move sth aside” is similar to “push sth aside” or “set sth aside,” but they have subtle differences.

• Push sth aside: Usually means to forcefully move something to the side, often quickly.
• Set sth aside: Often means to put something away for later, not just physically moving it.
• Move sth aside: Simply means to shift an object to one side, usually gently or carefully.

For example, you can “push aside” papers in frustration, but you “move aside” furniture to clean the room.

Common Collocations

When using “move sth aside,” certain objects are commonly mentioned:

• Move papers aside: to clear your desk
• Move furniture aside: to make space in a room
• Move boxes aside: to open a pathway
• Move curtains aside: to let light in
• Move obstacles aside: to clear a path

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of move sth aside:

• Move Across Sth
• Move Over Sth
• Move Towards Sth
• Move Away From Sth
• Move Sth Up

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “move sth aside”:

Anna: Can you move the chairs aside? We need space for the meeting.

Ben: Sure, I’ll move them to the corner.

Anna: Great! Thanks for helping.

Practice

Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “move sth aside.”

• Can you ______ the books ______ so I can write?
• They ______ the boxes ______ to clean the floor.
• She asked me to ______ the chairs ______ during the party.

FAQs

• Q: Is “move aside” the same as “move sth aside”?

  A: “Move aside” means to step to the side. “Move sth aside” means to move an object to the side.
• Q: Can I use “move aside” without an object?

  A: Yes, but it means to step away, not to move something.

• Q: Is “move sth aside” formal or informal?

  A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
• Q: Can “move sth aside” be used metaphorically?

  A: Yes, it can mean to ignore or put something less important aside.

• Q: What level of English is “move sth aside”?

  A: It is suitable for A2 level learners and above.