English 24
12th April 2003
A little bit of GRAMMAR

Hi guys, this week in our grammar slot, we decided to go over "AS" to remind you of its different functions.

1. AS (reason)
As often means because:
§ As I was feeling ill, I went home. (because I was feeling ill)
§ As Stefania lives next door, we often get the morning train together.
§ As tomorrow is a bank holiday, we are all going the beach.
§ As there was a good film on TV, we stayed in to watch it.

2. AS (time)
a) We can also use AS to say that two things happened at the same time or over the same period of time.
§ I watched Vieri as he scored the winning goal.
§ As we walked down the high street, we bumped into an old friend.
§ Close the door as you go out.

b) We especially use AS for two short actions happening at the same time.
§ I left as Chiara arrived. (I left and Chiara arrived at the same time.)
§ I said goodbye as I was leaving.

c) We can also use JUST AS (= exactly at that moment) :
§ Just as I got in the door, the phone rang.
§ Just as I lit a cigarette, the tram arrived.

d) We also use AS when two changes happen over the same period of time:
§ As the day went on, the traffic got worse.
§ As I got used to living in Milan, I began to like it more.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1
Join two sentences together : one from Section A and one from Section B. You must begin each of your sentences with as (reason)
Section A
§ It was a beautiful day
§ There wasn't anything to buy in the shops
§ The house was untidy
§ The window was open
§ I didn't have a ticket for the tram
§ I had a day off work

Section B
§ I had to tidy up before my guests arrived
§ I decided to relax and read a novel
§ I had to pay a fine
§ We decided to sunbathe by the lake
§ I didn't spend any money
§ The burglars were able to enter the house

e.g. tomorrow is a bank holiday, we're going to the beach.

1. As ………………………………………………………………………….
2. As ……………………………………………………………………………
3. ………………………………………………………………………………….
4. ………………………………………………………………………………….
5. …………………………………………………………………………………….
6. …………………………………………………………………………………

Exercise 2
From each pair of sentences make one sentence with as (time)
e.g. Vieri scored the winning goal. I watched him.
§ I watched Vieri as he scored the winning goal.
1. I walked in the house. The baby started crying. …………………………
2. She gave me directions to the bank. I listened carefully. ……………..
3. We chatted about the weather. We waited in the queue. ……………

Next join the following sentences with "just as".
e.g. Francesca stepped into the bath. The phone rang.
§ Francesca stepped into the bath just as the phone rang.
4. We got to the train station. The train left.
5. We bought tickets to go on the lake. It started to rain.
6. I sat down to read my book. There was a knock at the door.

Answers

Exercise 1
1. As it was a beautiful day, we decided to sunbathe by the lake.
2. As there wasn't anything to buy in the shops, we didn't spend any money.
3. As the house was untidy, I had to tidy up before my guests arrived.
4. As the window was open, the burglars were able to enter the house.
5. As I didn't have a ticket for the tram, I had to pay a fine.
6. As I had a day off work, I decided to relax and read a novel.

Exercise 2
1. I walked in the house as the baby started crying.
2. I listened carefully as she gave me directions to the bank.
3. We chatted about the weather as we waited in the queue.
4. The train left, just as we got to the train station.
5. Just as we got our tickets to go on the lake, it started to rain.
6. Just as I sat down to read my book, there was a knock at the door.
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