Common Errors in the Use of Conjunctions As and Like As is a conjunction.. Note that like is used before a noun or pronoun.. Here the conjunction as joins the clauses ?He did' and ?he wa
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Common Errors in the Use of Conjunctions
As and Like
As is a conjunction It is used to connect two clauses or words of the same
grammatical class Like is a preposition It is used to show the relationship between
a noun/pronoun and some other word in the sentence Note that like is used before
a noun or pronoun
She looks like her mother.
He fought like a tiger.
Like his father, he is a doctor.
He did as he was told BUT NOT He did like he was told (Here the conjunction as
joins the clauses ?He did' and ?he was told'.)
He fought as a tiger does BUT NOT He fought like a tiger does (Here the
conjunction as joins the clauses ?he fought' and ?a tiger does'.)
Notes:
In informal English like is often used as a conjunction instead of as This is very
common in American English So sentences like ?He fought like a tiger does' are common in colloquial English
As and though
As can be used in the sense of though, but they are used in different structures.
Though he was young, he fought bravely.
Young as he was, he fought bravely.
Though he is poor, he is happy.
Poor as he is, he is happy.
As if and as though
As if and as though are now more or less used synonymously.
It looks as if it might rain OR It looks as though it might rain.
I felt as if I was dying OR I felt as though I was dying.
Trang 2Like cannot be used instead of as if/as though It is wrong to say ?I felt like I was
dying'
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Notes:
In informal English like is often used instead of as if and as though This is very
common in American English
So as and such as
So as indicates purpose; such as indicates result.
We started early so as to get a good seat.
His actions were such as to offend everyone.
Than
Than is a subordinating conjunction The noun or pronoun following than should be
in the same case as the noun or pronoun preceding it
She is taller than he is.
You are younger than she is.
Note that in informal English, object pronouns (him, her, them etc.) are used after
than So sentences like ?She is taller than him' and ?You are younger than her' are
common in informal speech and writing
Unless and if
Unless itself means if not You don't have to use another not in clauses with
unless
Unless you start early, you will miss the train OR If you don't start early, you will
miss the train (NOT Unless you don't start early, you will miss the train.)