The Use Of As

A. As (time)
1. You can use as when two things happen at the same time.
2. Often we use as when two short actions happen at the same time.
3. But we also use as when two things change together over a longer period of time.
4. We use as only if two things happen at the same time. Use when (not as) if one thing happens after another.
B. As (reason)
as sometimes means “because”.C. We use ‘as’ (time) with actions and happenings:
1.
I watched her as she opened the letter. (I watched and she opened at the same time.)
As they walked along the street, they looked in the store windows.
Jill slipped as she was getting off the bus.
The thief was seen as he was climbing over the wall.
(Is is similar to while.)
2.
We all waved good-bye to Liz as she drove away in her car. (we waved and she drove away at the same time)
Turn off the light as you go out, please.
3.
As the day went on, the weather got worse.
I began to enjoy the job more as I got used to it.
Just as I sat down, the phone rang.
I had to leave just as the conversation was getting interesting. (You can also use just as = exactly at that moment)
4.
When I got home, I took a bath. (= not as I got home, but after I got home)
as I walked into the room, the phone started ringing. (= at the same time)
B.1. As it was a national holiday, all the banks were closed. (= because t was a national holiday)
We watched TV all evening as we had nothing better to do.
Note that we also use ‘since’ in this way:
Since it was a national holiday. All the banks were closed.
C.
1. I watched her as she read the letter.
When we use ‘as’ with the situation (not an action), the meaning is usually ‘because’:
As I was asleep, I didn’t hear the bell. (= because I was asleep)
As they live near us, we see them quite often. (= because they live near us)
Compare ‘while’ or ‘when’:
The bell rang while (or when) I was asleep. (not as I was asleep)
They got married when (or while) they were living in London. (not as they were living)
Use ‘as’ to join a sentence from Box A with one from Box B.
A.1. we all waved good bye to Liz B. we were driving along the road
2. we all smiled I was taking a hot dish out of the oven
3. I burned myself she drove away in her car
4. the crowd cheered we posed for the photograph
5. a dog ran out in front of the car the two teams ran onto the field
Put in ‘as’ or ‘when.’ Sometimes you can use either ‘as’ or ‘when.’
1. Maria got married _____ she was 23.
2. My camera was stolen _____ I was on vacation.
3. He dropped the glass _____ he was taking it out of the cupboard.
4. _____ I finished high school, I went into the army.
5. The train slowed down _____ it approached the station.
6. I used to live near the ocean _____ I was a child.
What does ‘as’ mean in these sentences?
Because at the same time as
1. As they live near us, we see them pretty often. ______ _____
2. Jill slipped as she was getting off the bus. ______ _____
3. As I was tired, I went to bed early. ______ _____
4. Unfortunately, as I was parking the car, I hit the
car behind me. ______ _____
5. As we climbed the hill, we got more and more tired. ______ _____
6. We decided to go out to eat as we had no food at home. ______ _____
7. As we don’t use the car very often, we’ve decided
to sell it. ______ _____
Now rewrite the sentences where ‘as’ means ‘because.’ Use ‘sincere.’
7. Since they live near us, we see them pretty often.
8. __________________________________________
9. __________________________________________
10. __________________________________________
11. __________________________________________
Use you own ideas to complete these sentences.
1. I saw you as __________________________________________________________.
2. It began to rain just as __________________________________________________.
3. As I didn’t have enough money for a taxi, __________________________________.
4. Just as took the photograph, _____________________________________________.
Sophia: Have you waited for me so long?
Jondee: Yes. Why are you late?
Sophia: There was an accident as I was riding on a bus.
Jondee: Really? Did somebody get hurt in the accident?
Sophia: Fortunately, there was nobody who got hurt.