AS:

Use and Form:

These structures can be used to compare two things. They are alternatives to the comparative form
(-er / more ...).
1) Some phrases can be used to show that two things are identical.
the same (noun) as My pen is the same as yours.
His house is the same size as ours.
This phrase can be used with quantifiers: such as just, exactly, almost, andnearly.
Your bag is exactly the same as mine!

2) Some phrases can be used to show that two things are the same or nearly the same.
as (adjective / adverb) as My bag was as expensive as yours.
He runs as quickly as me.
This structure is often used in literature to make similes.
She’s as quiet as a mouse today.
You’re as pretty as a picture!
You can use quantifiers such as: just, almost, nearly with these phrases.
He runs almost as fast as me.
Your bag was nearly as expensive as mine.
3) Other phrases focus on differences.
different from His results are a bit different from ours.
This phrase can be used with quantifiers, such as slightly, a bit and a little.
not as (adjective) as Your jacket isn’t as new as mine.
(negative verb) as (adverb) as He doesn’t work as hard as I do.
This structure be used with the quantifiers quite, half and nearly.
My job isn’t half as interesting as yours.
He doesn’t play the piano nearly as well as his sister.
4) When comparing adverbs and adjectives, we sometimes re-write the auxiliary verb at the
end of the sentences. If there is not auxiliary, you can write do, does or did.
Julia is just as sociable as Maria is.
You can’t run as fast as I can!
I didn’t sleep as well as I did on Sunday night.
Common Mistakes:
Some students try to use the –er / more comparative form to make negative comparisons.
However, not as … as is more common.
I’m not taller than you. => I’m not as tall as you.

Use:
Connectives join two clauses, and show the relationship between them.
The relationship can show:

 a contrast Although, but, even though, however, despite, in spite of

 a cause because, because of, as a result of, due to
 an effect so, consequently, as a result, thus, therefore
These words cannot be used interchangeably. They may be located in different places with in the
sentence, and they may use a different grammar.
Form:
a) Connectives showing Contrast
Compare these sentences with the same meaning:
i It is sunny but temperatures are low.
Never start a sentence with But. You can use but after a comma(,). In short sentences, no
punctuation is needed.
ii Although it is sunny, temperatures are low. / Even though it is sunny, temperatures are low.
Note how Although and Even though are located in a different part of the sentence from
But. Although and Even though go before the known clause, whereas but goes before the
unknown clause. The two clauses are separated with a comma. The order of clauses can be
reversed.

Temperatures are low, even though / although it’s sunny.

iii It is sunny. However, temperatures are low.
Note how however starts a sentence and is followed by a comma. It may also be seen after a semi-
colon (;). Consequently, it is usually seen in longer sentences.
iv Despite the sun, temperatures are low.
In spite of the sun, temperatures are low.
Note the position of Despite and In spite of before the known clause. The order of clauses can be
reversed:
Temperatures are low despite / in spite of the sun.
Also note that these words are followed by a noun, not a verb clause. You can also use the –
ing form of the verb in these sentences.
Despite / In spite of it being sunny, temperatures are low.
b) Connectives showing a Cause
Compare these sentences with the same meaning.
i I arrived late because the traffic was bad.
Because the traffic was bad, I arrived late.
Note you can ONLY start a sentence with Because if there are two clauses in the sentence.

Because we were late. INCORRECT

Because we were late, we missed the start of the show. CORRECT
Starting a sentence with Because is more formal than using it in the middle of a sentence, and is
most commonly used in writing, not speaking.
ii I arrived late because of the bad traffic. OR Because of the bad traffic, I arrived late.
I arrived late due to the bad traffic. OR Due to the bad traffic, I arrived late.
I arrived late as a result of the bad traffic. OR As a result of the bad traffic, I arrived late.
Note how these expressions are followed by a noun, not a verb clause.
c) Connectives showing Effect
Compare these sentences with the same meaning.
i We were late so we missed the beginning of the show.
Never start a sentence with So. So can follow a comma(,). In short sentences, no punctuation is
needed.
ii We were late and thus we missed the beginning of the show.
We were late and consequently we missed the beginning of the show.
We were late and as a result we missed the beginning of the show.
We were late and therefore we missed the beginning of the show.
Consequently, As a result, Therefore and Thus are more formal than So. They are common in
formal sentences. They often start a sentence, but they can be joined to the previous sentence
with and.
Common Mistakes:
1. Some students begin sentences with But and So.
Joe went to university. But he didn’t like it. → Joe went to university, but he didn’t like it.
2. Some students write a sentence with because and only one clause.
I went to the shop. Because I needed some bread. → I went to the shop because I needed some
bread.
3. Some students do not use nouns when they needed to.
I went indoors due to it was cold outside. → I went indoors due to the cold weather outside.