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Unit 116 · Conjunctions and prepositions

as (as I walked ... / as I was ... etc.)

Study

A

You can use as when two things happen together at the same time:

›

We all waved goodbye to Liz as she drove away.

(we waved and she drove away at the same time)

›

As I walked along the street, I looked in the shop windows.

›

Can you turn off the light as you go out, please?

Or you can say that something happened as you were doing something else (in the middle of doing something else):

›

Kate slipped as she was getting off the bus.

›

We met Paul as we were leaving the hotel.

For the past continuous (was getting / were going etc.), see Unit 6.

You can also use just as (= exactly at that moment):

›

Just as I sat down, the doorbell rang.

›

I had to leave just as the conversation was getting interesting.

We also use as when two things happen together in a longer period of time:

›

As the day went on, the weather got worse.

›

I began to enjoy the job more as I got used to it.

Compare as and when:

We use **as** only if two things happen at the same time. Use **when** (not **as**) if one thing happens after another.
**As I drove home**, I listened to music. **When I got home**, I had something to eat.
(= at the same time) (not as I got home)
B

As also means 'because':

›

As I was hungry, I decided to find somewhere to eat.

(= because I was hungry)

›

As it's late and we're tired, let's get a taxi home.

(= because it's late …)

›

We watched TV all evening as we didn't have anything better to do.

›

As I don't watch TV any more, I gave my television to a friend of mine.

You can also use since in this way:

›

Since it's late and we're tired, let's get a taxi home.

Compare as (= because) and when:

David wasn't in the office **as he was on holiday**. David lost his passport **when he was on holiday**.
(= because he was on holiday) (= during the time he was away)
**As they lived near us**, we used to see them quite often. **When they lived near us**, we used to see them quite often.
(= because they lived near us) (= at the time they lived near us)

Exercises (5)

0/5 exercises checked
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116.1

In this exercise as means 'at the same time as'. Use as to join sentences from the boxes.

  1. 1
    We all waved goodbye to Liz
    We all waved goodbye to Liz .example
  2. 2
    I listened
    I listened .
  3. 3
    I burnt myself
    I burnt myself .
  4. 4
    The spectators cheered
    The spectators cheered .
  5. 5
    A dog ran out in front of the car
    A dog ran out in front of the car .
116.2

In this exercise as means 'because'. Join sentences from the boxes beginning with as.

  1. 1
    I was hungry
    I decided to find somewhere to eat.example
  2. 2
    today is a public holiday
    all government offices are shut.
  3. 3
    I didn't want to disturb anybody
    I tried to be very quiet.
  4. 4
    I can't go to the concert
    you can have my ticket.
  5. 5
    it was a nice day
    we went for a walk by the canal.
116.3

What does as mean in these sentences?

  1. 1
    As they lived near us, we used to see them quite often. example
  2. 2
    Kate slipped as she was getting off the bus. example
  3. 3
    As I was tired, I went to bed early.
  4. 4
    Unfortunately, as I was parking the car, I hit the car behind me.
  5. 5
    As we climbed the hill, we got more and more tired.
  6. 6
    We decided to go out to eat as we had no food at home.
  7. 7
    As we don't use the car very often, we've decided to sell it.
116.4

In some of these sentences, as is not correct. Correct the sentences where necessary.

  1. 1
    Julia got married as she was 22. example
  2. 2
    As the day went on, the weather got worse. example
  3. 3
    He dropped the glass as he was taking it out of the cupboard.
  4. 4
    I lost my phone as I was in London.
  5. 5
    As I left school, I didn't know what to do.
  6. 6
    The train slowed down as it approached the station.
  7. 7
    I used to live near the sea as I was a child.
  8. 8
    We can walk to the hotel as it isn't far from here.
116.5

Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.

  1. 1
    Just as I sat down, .example
  2. 2
    I saw you as .
  3. 3
    It started to rain just as .
  4. 4
    As she doesn't have a phone, .
  5. 5
    Just as I took the picture, .