Grammar Explanation: As

Posted December 14, 2014 by Kathy Davie in Author Resources, Grammar Explanations, Writing

Leonard Nimoy is depicted as Spock, a character on a TV show.

As far as grammar goes, as compares; indicates that the following is an example, the degree, function, and the similarity in manner; time; cause; resulting action; and, declares facts.

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Exploring Later . . .

You may also want to explore as comparisons in various Word Confusions: “As versus Because“, “As versus For“, “As versus Since“, “As versus That“, “As versus Whether“, and/or “Nope, It’s Not As You Like It“.

NOTE: Do check the Punctuation page for information on comma usage for as.

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Grammar Explanations is . . .

. . . an evolving list of the structural rules and principles that determines where words are placed in phrases or sentences as well as how the language is spoken. Sometimes I run across an example that helps explain better or another “also known as”. Heck, there’s always a better way to explain it, so if it makes quicker and/or better sense, I would appreciate suggestions and comments from anyone on an area of grammar with which you struggle or on which you can contribute more understanding.

If you found this post on “As” interesting, consider subscribing to KD Did It, if you’d like to track this post for future updates.

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As
Part of Speech: Adverb; Conjunction; Preposition; Pronoun
Adverb:
Used in comparisons to indicate the degree of something.	The child sang as sweetly as a nightingale. He was as good as dead.
Indicates examples	Consider large carnivores, such as the bear or lion. The woods held various trees, as oak or pine.
Conjunction, subordinating:
Indicates degree or extent	You’re as sweet as sugar. Improbable as it seems, it’s true. The club was twice as long.
Similarity in manner	Do as I do.
Confluence in time	It happened as I was running home. His retirement was, as it were, the beginning of his real career. The toddler spilled the milk as she got up.
Cause	I went to bed early, as I was exhausted. She stayed home as she had no car
Resulting action	She was foolish enough as to think that she was a superb violinist. He was so clearly guilty as to leave no doubt. “He looks as if he had seen a ghost.” –Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Accordance	The accommodations were nice as hotels go. He was quite good as boys go.
When considered in a specified form or relation (usually used before a preposition or participle)	It’s merely my opinion as distinguished from his.
Preposition:
Indicates function or role	He acted as a guardian to the young boy. She works as an editor
Similarity in manner	The group acted as one. They all rose as one man. “his face was as a mask which revealed nothing.” — Max Beerbohm
Pronoun:
[that, who, which] Used after same or such [Chiefly dialect] After a substantive not modified by same or such	“Tears such as angels weep, Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth . . .” (Milton). “. . . As maids call medlars when they laugh alone.” (Shakespeare, 2.1).
A fact that	He is a foreigner, as is evident from his accent.

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C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!

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