As hard as vs. hard as

Question

I saw recently a sentence that goes something like this: hard as it was, Steven tried to break the glass ...why isn't this "as hard as"?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

.
The first 'as' is often optional.
.

Thomas Tompion · Answer

I think there's a difference between

1. Hard as it was, Steven tried to break the glass ...

The glass was hard, but Steven tried to break it nevertheless...

and

2. As hard as it was, Steven tried to break the glass ...

I'm tempted to say that this means Although it was a difficult thing to do, Steven tried to break the glass.... but actually I don't think 2. is idiomatic in British English; it may be in American.

Anonymous · Answer

If the first "as" is optional, can I skip using "as" to lead off a sentence is all cases?

Mister Micawber · Answer

.
It is less formal, but offhand I'd say 'yes' (I'd really like to see all the cases first, though).
.

Thomas Tompion · Answer

AnonymousIf the first "as" is optional, can I skip using "as" to lead off a sentence is all cases?

I can only speak for British English here, and I've indicated that I suspect American may be different about this.

I told you, Anon, not that the as is optional, but that it is actually wrong in the sentence you have given us, in my view.

There are, however, cases where as hard as is used instead of hard as. For instance:

That teacher was as hard as the headmaster. - here you can't drop the as.

That teacher was hard as nails. - here you could add an as without changing the meaning, but the sentence would be slightly less idiomatic, to my ear.

As hard as vs. hard as

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions