English lessons...

B@rt

Flashaholic
Joined
Nov 21, 2001
Messages
10,467
Location
Land of Tulips and Philips
OK, I'm having a problem (probably more, feel free to adress me
tongue.gif
)

I am having trouble with the words as, than ,then (and maybe more that I'm not aware of.)

When should I use wich word?
Bigger as/then/than?
I think I remember something (from long ago) that "countable"(?) and "uncountable" makes a difference. Could someone refreshen me please?
Thanks,
 

x-ray

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 1, 2002
Messages
1,941
Location
London
Try looking up any words your not sure of at Dictionary.com (lots of examples of the various uses of each word)

Oh and a few examples relating to your question:

1. The Arc LS is bigger than the Arc AAA.

2. Arc is better than Mag.

3. My flashlight is as good as your flashlight.

4. First I bought a Mag, then I got Surefire.

5. I watched the late movie, then I went to bed.

Did that help ?
smile.gif
 

Brotherscrim

Enlightened
Joined
Sep 5, 2002
Messages
247
Location
USA
I'll try and give you reasons, to go with the posted examples.

"Than" is used when comparing 2 subjects that are unequal:

"Bigger than a breadbox"

"Then" refers to time or order:

"First this, then that"

"It didn't interest me then"

"As" is a lot of things. It's used to compare 2 things that are the same in some regard:

"Big as a house"

It's also used to link an action together with a particular time:

"As the sun came up, I looked out my window"

It also can mean "in the manner of":

"I know I'm a judge, but today I am coming to you as a friend"

and I'm certain there are more uses of "as," but I am running out of steam here. hope that helps you any.
 

d'mo

Enlightened
Joined
May 9, 2002
Messages
937
Location
Rochester, NY
While teaching conversational English in Japan, I asked one of my students if she wanted to play cards.

Her reply was, "No, thank you. Go play with yourself."

I had a very difficult time explaining the difference between "with yourself" and "by yourself."

Isn't English fun?!
 

Rothrandir

Flashaholic
Joined
Aug 17, 2002
Messages
7,795
Location
US
---Her reply was, "No, thank you. Go play with yourself."---

d'mo, are you sure she didn't really mean that?
grin.gif
 

d'mo

Enlightened
Joined
May 9, 2002
Messages
937
Location
Rochester, NY
Originally posted by Rothrandir:
d'mo, are you sure she didn't really mean that?
grin.gif
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Yeah, I'm sure, she was only 14. Good natured kid. Once she "understood" the difference, she was quite embarassed, but not half as much as I was!
 

d'mo

Enlightened
Joined
May 9, 2002
Messages
937
Location
Rochester, NY
Graham,

I'm SURE you've seen it all. Great humor is to be found walking the streets of Tokyo. For example, I was able to find coffe shops named "Cafè Crap" and "Cafè Sh!thouse."

My favorite jackets/T-shirts were "He's a real drug store guy" and "Real men that have the produce that will save the world"
 
D

**DONOTDELETE**

Guest
...and it's; "as I was saying" -- not; "like I was saying" ...
wink.gif


(it is, isn't it?)
 
Top