as

as¹ W1S1 [əz strong æz] prep, adv

[: Old English; Origin: eallswa; ALSO]

1.) used when you are comparing two people, things, situations etc

as ... as

▪ Tom's not as old as you, is he?

▪ an old woman with hair as white as snow

▪ Some of the doctors are paid almost twice as much as the nurses.

▪ We work as hard as any other team in England.

▪ Please let me know your decision as soon as possible (=as soon as you can) .

▪ His last album sold half a million copies and we hope this one will be just as (=equally) popular.

2.) used to say what job, duty, use, or appearance someone or something has

▪ As a parent, I feel that more should be done to protect our children.

▪ A large flat stone was used as a table.

▪ Dad dressed up as Santa Claus.

3.) used to say what someone thinks or says a person or thing is

▪ The problem is regarded as serious.

▪ The result of last week's election will be seen as a victory for the right-wing government.

▪ He's described as being in his late teens, tall, and of slim build.

4.) when someone was in a particular age group

▪ As a young man, Eliot had studied art in Paris.

▪ I'll take you to all the places I loved as a girl.

→such as at ↑such

→as one at ↑one² (16)

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WORD CHOICE: as, like, as if

Use as in comparisons in the expression as ... as , with an adjective or adverb in between : Basketball is as popular as football here. | He can't read as well as his classmates .

as is also used in the expressions not so .... as and the same (...) as : I wouldn't go so far as that. | He is the same age as me.

Use like in comparisons followed by a noun : A movie is not like a book (NOT not as a book). |Like other people (NOT as other people), he values his privacy.

Use as if followed by a clause to compare a real situation with an imaginary situation : He talked to them as if they were children.

!! Some people use like in this sort of comparison : They act like they own the place. It is better not to do this as many people think it is incorrect.

!! as if cannot be followed directly by a noun : You treat them as if they were your parents (NOT as if your parents).

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as ²

as² W1S1 conj

1.) used in comparisons

as ... as

▪ They want peace as much as we do.

▪ Helen comes to visit me as often as she can.

▪ I can't run as fast as I used to.

2.) in the way that someone says or that something happens, or in the condition something is in

▪ Do as I say!

▪ We'd better leave things as they are until the police arrive.

▪ The money was repaid, as promised.

▪ He did not need to keep moving house, as his father had.

▪ Roberta was late as usual (=in the way that she usually was) .

3.) used to say that what you are saying is already known or has been stated before

▪ David, as you know, has not been well lately.

▪ As I explained on the phone, your request will be considered at the next meeting.

▪ As Napoleon once said, attack is the best method of defence.

4.) while or when

▪ I saw Peter as I was getting off the bus.

▪ As time passed, things seemed to get worse.

▪ Just as the two men were leaving, a message arrived.

5.) used to state why a particular situation exists or why someone does something

▪ As it was getting late, I turned around to start for home.

▪ We asked Philip to come with us, as he knew the road.

6.) though

▪ Unlikely as it might seem, I'm tired too.

▪ Try as she might, Sue couldn't get the door open.

▪ As popular as he is, the President hasn't always managed to have his own way.

7.) as for sb/sth

used when you are starting to talk about someone or something new that is connected with what you were talking about before

▪ Kitty's got so thin. And as for Carl, he always seems to be ill.

▪ You can ask the others, but as for myself, I'll be busy in the office.

8.) as yet [used in negatives]

until and including the present time - used to say that something has not happened although it may happen in the future

▪ We've had no word from Colin as yet.

9.) as if.../as though...

a) in a way that makes it seem that something is true or that something is happening

▪ It sounds as though she's been really ill.

▪ Gary was behaving as though nothing had happened.

▪ Mrs Crump looked as if she was going to explode.

▪ Beckworth shook his head as if to say 'Don't trust her'.

b) used to emphasize that something is not true or will not happen

▪ She said she'd never speak to me again. As if I cared (=I do not care at all) .

▪ 'Don't try any funny business, now.' 'As if I would.'

As if!

spoken informal

▪ He asked if I'd go out with him. As if! (=it is extremely unlikely that I would go out with him)

see usage note ↑as¹

10.) it's not as if

used to say that something cannot be the explanation for a situation or someone's behaviour because it is not true

▪ Why do they never go on holiday? I mean it's not as if they're poor is it?

▪ I don't know why you're so frightened of her, it's not as if she's got any power over you.

11.) as it is

a) because of the situation that actually exists - used when that situation is different from what you expected or need

▪ They hoped to finish the kitchen by Friday, but as it is they'll probably have to come back next week.

b) already

▪ Just keep quiet - you're in enough trouble as it is.

12.) as from/of sth

starting from a particular time or date and continuing

▪ As from today, you are in charge of the office.

▪ As of now, there will be no more paid overtime.

13.) as against sth

in comparison with something

▪ Profits this year are $2.5 million as against $4 million last year.

14.) as to sth

a) concerning

▪ Frank was very uncertain as to whether it was the right job for him.

▪ advice as to which suppliers to approach

▪ He kept his rivals guessing as to his real intentions.

b) formal used when you are starting to talk about something new that is connected with what you were talking about before

▪ As to our future plans, I think I need only say that the company intends to expand at a steady rate.

15.) as it were

used when describing someone or something in a way that is not quite exact

▪ Jim Radcliffe became our idol, as it were, the man we all wanted to be.

16.) as is/was/does etc

formal used to add that what you have said is also true of someone or something else

▪ Eve's very tall, as was her mother.

▪ I voted Labour, as did my wife.

→not as such at ↑such, as well at ↑well¹ (5), as well as at ↑well¹ (6), might (just) as well at ↑might¹ (9)

→so as to do sth at ↑so² (5)