Monday, March 15, 2010

as well as

 from perfectyourenglish

As well as has a similar meaning to “not  only …  but also”.
She is clever as well as beautiful.

Note that as well as introduces information which is already known to the listener/reader; the rest of the sentence gives new information.

Verbs after as well as
When we put a verb after as well as, we most often use the –ing form.
He hurt his arm, as well as breaking his leg. (NOT … as well as broke his leg.)
If there is an infinitive in the main clause, an infinitive without to is possible after as well as.
I have to clean the floors as well as cook the food.

Subjects
It is possible to connect two subjects with as well as. If the first subject is singular, the verb is usually singular.
Mary, as well as Ann, was delighted to hear the news.

But note that this is not a common structure. It is more normal to put as well as … after the main clause. This almost always happens with pronoun subjects.

Mary was delighted to hear the news as well as Ann.
He is rich as well as me. (NOT He, as well as I/me, is rich.)

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