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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

As and because

Hello;

Can 'as' and 'before' sometimes be interchangeable? As: used for giving the reason for something.

As it was getting late, we decided to go home.
Because it was getting late, we decided to go home.

Does 'as' sound more formal?

She didn't pass the test as she didn't study.
She didn't pass the test because she didn't study.
  

Top answer

Anonymous Can 'as' and 'before' sometimes be interchangeable? As: used for giving the reason for something. No.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Anonymous Can 'as' and 'before' sometimes be interchangeable?
  • As: used for giving the reason for something.
  • No.
  • " As " and " before " are not interchangeable.
  • As = at the same time.
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9 Answers
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AnonymousCan 'as' and 'before' sometimes be interchangeable? As: used for giving the reason for something.
No. "As" and "before" are not interchangeable. As = at the same time. Before = earlier..

As we left, I locked the back door.
Before we left, I locked the back door..
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Hi AlpheccaStars,

The OP meant to write because, not before. Read his / her post more carefully. Emotion: smile

[T
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RegardsThe OP meant to write because, not before. Read his / her post more carefully.
The poster should ask their questions more carefully.
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Oops. I don't know what I was thinking. Yes, I mean 'because'.
RegardsThe OP meant to write because, not before. Read his / her post more carefully.
Regards[The examples s/he gave included because.]
Could you have used 'they' instead of s/he?
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Hi,
AlpheccaStars RegardsThe OP meant to write because, not before. Read his / her post more carefully.The poster should ask their questions more carefully.
That's true.

Regards
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AnonymousCan 'as' and 'because' sometimes be interchangeable?
Yes, but it's generally best to say because.
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Aspara Gus AnonymousCan 'as' and 'because' sometimes be interchangeable?Yes, but it's generally best to say because.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/as?s=t

Usage note

As a conjunction, one sense of as is “because”: As
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AlpheccaStarsThese two senses sometimes result in ambiguity.
Yes, this is exactly why I don't encourage learners to use as to mean because. The same goes for since.
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Hi,
AnonymousOops. I don't know what I was thinking. Yes, I mean 'because'.RegardsThe OP meant to write because, not before. Read his / her post more carefully.Regards[The examples s/he gave included because.]Could you have used 'they' instead of s/he?
Yes, using they would be OK, too.

Regards
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