Page 244 - English Grammar in Use

Unit
116 as (as I walked … / as I was … etc.)

A as = at the same time as
You can use as when two things happen together at the same time: LIZ
We all waved goodbye to Liz as she drove away.
(we waved and she drove away at the same time)
As I walked along the street, I looked in the
shop windows.
Can you turn off the light as you go out, please?

Or you can say that something happened as you were doing
something else (in the middle of doing something else):

Kate slipped as she was getting off the bus.
We met Paul as we were leaving the hotel.
For the past continuous (was getting / were going etc.), see Unit 6. KATE
You can also use just as (= exactly at that moment):
Just as I sat down, the doorbell rang.
I had to leave just as the conversation was getting interesting.
We also use as when two things happen together in a longer period
of time:
the day went on
As the day went on, the weather got worse.
I began to enjoy the job more as I got used to it. the weather got worse
Compare as and when:

We use as only if two things happen at the Use when (not as) if one thing happens after
same time. another.
As I drove home, I listened to music. When I got home, I had something to eat.
(= at the same time) (not as I got home)

B as = because
As also means ‘because’:
As I was hungry, I decided to find somewhere to eat.
(= because I was hungry)
As it’s late and we’re tired, let’s get a taxi home. (= because it’s late …)
We watched TV all evening as we didn’t have anything better to do.
As I don’t watch TV any more, I gave my television to a friend of mine.
You can also use since in this way:
Since it’s late and we’re tired, let’s get a taxi home.
Compare as (= because) and when:

David wasn’t in the office as he was on David lost his passport when he was
holiday. (= because he was on holiday) on holiday.
(= during the time he was away)
As they lived near us, we used to see When they lived near us, we used to

them quite often. see them quite often.

(= because they lived near us) (= at the time they lived near us)

232 as … as ➜ Unit 107 like and as ➜ Unit 117 as if ➜ Unit 118