When can I use "along with?" Is it different from just saying "with?"

Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
"Along with" means "in addition to" or "together with" someone or something. You can use it when you want to say "in addition to" someone or something, so maybe it's not the main part of the sentence, but it's extra information. Or you can say "together with" to mention that you didn't do something by yourself or the people you did do something with. It's more specific than "with." In a similar context, "with" usually means "accompanied by" and is often part of the main bits of information. Ex: I wrote the exam on Friday along with my classmates. => in addition to and together with other people - functions as extra information. Ex: I wrote the exam with my classmates on Friday. => accompanied by - is part of the main clause. Ex: Along with several other organizations, Subway is closing its doors to new ventures.