Using As Well As
- She is clever as well as beautiful. (= She is not only beautiful, but also clever.)
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.
- Fisher Investments, as well as other financial firms, help people with advice on their investments.
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.)
Notes
- He is strong as well as courageous.
We can express the same idea in several other ways.
- He is both strong and courageous.
- He is not only courageous but also strong.
- In addition to being courageous, he is strong.
As well as can be used in the following structure:
As well as + noun + clause / phrase
- Our team played as well as theirs but missed many attempts on goal.
When we put a verb after as well as, we usually use an ’ing form.
- As well as verbally abusing his wife, he hit her. (= He not only hit his wife, but also abused her verbally.) (NOT As well as he verbally abused his wife, he hit her.)
- He acted in the play as well as directing it. (= He not only directed the play, but also acted in it.)
If the main clause has an infinitive clause, an infinitive without to is possible in the clause introduced by as well as.
- I have to cook breakfast as well as get the kids ready for school.
Note the difference between the following structures.
- She sings as well as writing plays. (= She not only sings but also writes plays.)
- She sings as well as she writes plays. (= Her writing is as good as her singing.)
