介词between，原作by two解，故常用于两者之间。但是，在现代英语中between用于三者或三者以上并不罕见。between何时用于三者或三者以上呢？此问题有以下两个回答。

一、在涉及三个或三个以上的人或物每两个之间的相互关系时，可以用between。这是英汉词典及惯用法词典较为一致的说法。但此说法较为抽象，且有关词典提供的例句有限，读者对此问题的理解时感困难。为便于记忆及实际运用，我们不妨将以上原则具体化。

       1/ 表示某国的地理位置

Laos lies between China, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Viet Nam. 老挝位于中国、缅甸、泰国、柬埔寨和越南之间。

Switzerland lies between France, Germany, Austria, and Italy. 瑞士位于法国、德国、奥地利和意大利之间。

       2/ 表示某物的具体方位

The village lies between three hills. 这村庄位于三座小山之间。

Near the cemetery, between the trees, there’s something shining, perhaps bayonets. 在墓地附近，树丛中间，有什么东西在闪闪发亮，可能是刺刀。

       3/ 表示三个或三个以上的事物彼此间的差异、区别、矛盾或竞争等关系时，介词between常与以下名词连用。如：distinction, difference, division, contradiction, competition, rivalry, disparity 和 contrast 等。

It is difficult to make exact distinctions between all the meanings of a word. 辨别一个单词 的所有含义间的差异是困难的。

There doesn’t seem much difference between three brothers. 三兄弟看上去并没多大区别。

      4/ 表示三个或三个以上的事物彼此间的关联、一致、协调等关系时，介词between常与以下名词连用。如：continuity, connection, link, harmony, association, agreement, cooperation 和 coincidence 等。

There was no connection between these events. 这些事件之间彼此并没有关联。

There’s no continuity between the parts of his book. 他所著书的各部分之间缺乏连贯性。

       5/ 用于国际（三国或三国以上）间的条约、盟约等

The treaty between the three powers was worth the paper it was written on – but not much more. 三国间的条约仅是一纸空文，别无价值。

Agreement was made between the different countries. 不同的国家间达成了协议。

A treaty was concluded between the five powers. 五强之间已缔结条约。

       6/ 习惯搭配

between you and me and the gatepost (lamppost 或 doorpost ) = between ourselves 你知我知，莫对人讲

       二、介词between 表示三个或三个以上的人或物的共同作用，这种用法常见含义有：

       1/ 由……协力合作（by the joint action of ）

Between the four villages the irrigation project was soon completed. 由于四个村子的协力，灌溉工程很快就建成了。 

       Between them the passengers managed to push the bus to the side of the road.　乘客们齐心协力把车子推到了路旁。

      They caught twelve fish between them.　他们合力捕获了十二条鱼.

     2/ 由于……作用的结果 (as a consequence of the combined effect of ; what with the combined several effects of )

    Between the whisky, the atmosphere and the crowd, she felt ready to faint 由于喝了一点威示忌酒，加之气氛热烈，人群拥挤，她差点儿晕过去。

     Between teaching, writing and lecturing, he has little time for reading.　因忙于教学、写作及演讲，他很少有时间读书。

     Between cooking, cleaning, washing, sewing, and writing, she was very busy. 烧啦，打扫啦，洗啦，缝啦，写啦，弄得她十分忙碌。

      3/ 为……所共有(in the combined possession of)

     The family of seven hadn’t a pair of shoes between them.　七口之家，连一双鞋也没有。

     The children had one room between them.　孩子们共住一个房间。

     They had three dollars between them.　他们共有三美元。