AS


Meaning of AS in English

I

conjunction

BAD : As our room was upstairs, so we didn't hear him.

GOOD : As our room was upstairs, we didn't hear him.

GOOD : Our room was upstairs and so we didn't hear him.

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See note at SO 2 (↑ so )

II

preposition

1

BAD : His skin is not as the skin of a young man.

GOOD : His skin is not like the skin of a young man.

BAD : It looked very fragile and so I handled it as china.

GOOD : It looked very fragile and so I handled it like china.

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In comparisons, the word that is usually used in front of a noun or noun phrase is like (NOT as ): 'James is very tall, just like his father.' 'Their car is like ours - old and full of rust.'

As is used in the patterns (not) as ... as, not so ... as, and the same (...) as : 'James is as tall as his father.' 'Their car is the same colour as ours.'

2

BAD : I was treated as if an old friend.

GOOD : I was treated as if I was/were an old friend.

GOOD : I was treated like an old friend.

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See also WAS (↑ was )

3

BAD : The book is concerned with important social issues as child abuse and women's rights.

GOOD : The book is concerned with important social issues such as child abuse and women's rights.

GOOD : The book is concerned with important social issues like child abuse and women's rights.

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Examples of a class or category are introduced by such as or like (NOT as ): 'Serious diseases such as AIDS and cancer can cause a great deal of suffering.'

4

BAD : She looked at everyone as she were their superior.

GOOD : She looked at everyone as if she were their superior.

BAD : I suddenly felt as I was fifteen again.

GOOD : I suddenly felt as if I was/were fifteen again.

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See also WAS (↑ was )

Longman Common Errors English vocabulary.      Английский словарь распространенных ошибок Longman.