Fill in the blank with the correct preposition :
_____ doing the cleaning, I help my mother in cooking.

Question

Fill in the blank with the correct preposition : 
_____ doing the cleaning, I help my mother in cooking.

Accepted Answer

The correct preposition to fill in the blank is "Besides," which is Option 3. Here's a detailed explanation justifying why Option 3 is correct and why the other options are incorrect:

1. **Explanation for Option 3 ("Besides"):**
   - "Besides" is used to indicate an additional action or activity that is done in conjunction with another. In the sentence, "Besides doing the cleaning, I help my mother in cooking," the use of "besides" suggests that helping with cooking is an additional task to doing the cleaning. It effectively conveys the idea that the speaker is involved in more than one activity, which aligns perfectly with the intended meaning of the sentence.

2. **Explanation for why the other options are incorrect:**
   - **Option 1 ("Beside"):** 
     - "Beside" is a preposition that means "next to" or "at the side of." It is used to describe physical proximity or location. For example, "The chair is beside the table." In the context of the sentence, "beside" does not make sense because the sentence is not about physical location but about performing additional tasks.
   
   - **Option 2 ("For"):**
     - "For" is a preposition used to indicate purpose, duration, or recipient. For example, "I bought a gift for you" or "I waited for an hour." In the context of the sentence, "for" does not fit because it does not convey the idea of an additional activity being performed alongside another.
   
   - **Option 4 ("By"):**
     - "By" is a preposition used to indicate the means or method of doing something, or to denote proximity in time or space. For example, "I traveled by train" or "The book is by the window." In the sentence, "by" does not appropriately convey the notion of an additional task being performed, making it unsuitable for the intended meaning.

In summary, "Besides" is the correct choice because it accurately conveys the idea of performing an additional task, which is the intended meaning of the sentence. The other options do not fit the context or meaning required by the sentence.