Englishfor English speakers
as
Preposition
—
A word that is used to compare two things that are equal.
As you know, we need more workers.
I baked the cake as my mother used to.
The room looks just as it did when I was a child.
The speech, as he remembered it, was very powerful.
Interesting as it seems, I don't think I'll get it.
He was as big as a mountain.
—
A word that is used to show that two things happened at the same time.
Just as I went out, it started to rain.
We sleep as the world turns in darkness.
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A word that is used to show why something happens.
As I couldn't understand French, I didn't watch the film.
as
Adverb
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A word that is used to compare two things that are equal. (Used before adjectives)
You are younger than I am, but nearly as tall.
This is not as good as it was last time.
if
Preposition
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If is used in a condition:
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# When something will cause something else
—
#: If it rains, I will get wet.
—
# When a condition is not true
—
#: I'd prefer it if you took your shoes off.
—
# although
—
#: He was a great friend, if a little strange.
—
# When ... occurs (a programming statement).
—
#: If A, then B, else C.
if
Subordinator
—
If is used to report questions and things that are unknown.
She asked if they had arrived yet.
I don't know if I want to go or not.
if
Noun
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If is a conditional situation.
There are many ifs we need to consider before we start on the plan.
it
Pronoun
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used to refer to an object without identifying or describing it; the object might have been described earlier in the text.
The house was very big. It had many rooms.
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used to describe the weather
It is very hot today.
I'm staying in because it is raining
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used to describe a situation in general
I don't like it when people tell me to do something.
It is hard to find a job.
it
Abbreviation
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It can be a short way of writing:
—
# Italy or Italian
—
# Information Technology, the use of computers
were
Verb
—
A form of the verb be used about the person you are talking to.
Only you were doing it right.
—
A form of the verb be used about more than one person.
We were going home.
You all were staying late.
They were all playing in the band.
—
A form of the verb be used with the word if.
If I were rich, I would retire.
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A form of the verb be used about things you wish for.
I wish it were the weekend.
play
Verb
—
To do things for amusement.
Children like to play all day.
—
If you play a musical instrument, you make music using it.
He plays guitar in a rock and roll band.
play
Noun
—
Something a group of actors does, in a theatre, for people to watch.
The actors on the stage had clothes with bright colors.