Search blog

What is As well as? Knowledge of As well as in English

"As well as" is one of the common phrases encountered in both spoken and written English, with various meanings depending on the context. So, have you grasped all the uses and structures of "As well as" in English? Let’s explore the knowledge about the structure "As well as" together with PREP!

I. What is "As well as"?
II. The Role of "As well as" in a Sentence
III. Structure and Usage of "As well as"
IV. Should You Use "As well as" in IELTS and TOEIC Exams?
V. Some Other Phrases with the Structure "As … as" in English
VI. Exercises on the Structure "As well as"

I. What is "As well as"?

"As well as" - /æz wɛl æz/ is an idiom that is often used with meanings such as "in addition to," "along with," "both…and," or "also." The structure "As well as" is commonly found in both written and spoken forms.

For example:

John studies French as well as English.
Bella works at a company as well as on a personal project.

II. The Role of "As well as" in a Sentence

The phrase "As well as" in English functions similarly to the word "and," and is used to express two subjects, actions, or events that have a similar nature without needing to repeat the previously mentioned words or structure.

For example:

Anna enjoys being an artist as well as a teacher.
Tim wants to have dinner with his girlfriend as well as attend the company party.

III. Structure and Usage of "As well as"

"As well as" is used to introduce information that is already known and to emphasize information that follows. This is the essence of how the structure "As well as" is used in English.

General Structure of "As well as": What comes after "as well as"?

Noun/ Adjective/ Phrase/ Clause + as well as + Noun/ Adjective/ Phrase/ Clause

Note: The phrases that come before and after "As well as" should either be in the V-ing form or be similar types of words.

For example:

I want to go out as well as go to bed.
John wants to be a journalist as well as a broadcaster.
Bella just bought a new dress as well as a new bag.

2. Structure of "As well as" with the Base Form of the Verb

If the main verb of the sentence is in the base form, then the verb following "as well as" should also be in the base form without "to." This is an important point to note and is often confused when using the structure "As well as."

I often listen to English passively as well as work.
I usually listen to music as well as cook meals.

3. Structure of "As well as" to Connect Two Subjects

When a sentence contains two subjects, the verb is conjugated according to the first subject of the sentence. If the first subject in the "As well as" structure is singular, then the verb should be conjugated accordingly.

For example:

Anna as well as her husband is looking forward to this trip.
Bella as well as her parents is all keen on moving.

IV. Should You Use "As well as" in IELTS and TOEIC Exams?

"As well as" is an idiom at the A1 level. Therefore, in the IELTS and TOEIC exams, using this phrase may not significantly enhance your vocabulary assessment. To achieve a higher band score, it's advisable to use a variety of phrases or idioms at a more advanced level. Instead of "as well as," you might consider looking into some synonyms or alternative phrases to use in your IELTS and TOEIC exams to improve your score, which are listed in the table below!

Word/Phrase	Meaning	Example
In addition to	Used to introduce an added element or additional information; in addition.	In addition to the increase in the number of private cars, there has been a significant rise in public transportation usage. Students can benefit from online learning in addition to traditional classroom instruction.
Furthermore	In addition; moreover; used to introduce a new point or additional information that enhances the previous statement.	Furthermore, the graph shows a steady decline in the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Furthermore, exposure to diverse cultures can broaden students' perspectives and enhance their critical thinking skills.
Moreover	Used to add additional information that supports or reinforces a previously stated idea; in addition; furthermore.	Moreover, the data reveals a significant correlation between income levels and life expectancy. Moreover, technology has improved the way we communicate and access information.
Besides	In addition to; also; used to introduce an additional point or consideration.	Besides the environmental impact, pollution also poses serious health risks. Besides academic knowledge, universities should also focus on developing students' soft skills.
Apart from	In addition to; except for; used to indicate exclusion or to introduce an additional consideration.	Apart from the economic benefits, tourism can also have negative impacts on the environment. Apart from the cost, there are other factors to consider when choosing a university.
Not only... but also	Used to emphasize the inclusion of two related elements, highlighting that both are significant.	Not only has the population increased, but the demand for resources has also risen dramatically. Not only does education empower individuals, but it also benefits society as a whole.
In conjunction with	Together with; combined with; used to indicate collaboration or a joint effort involving two or more elements.	In conjunction with government policies, individuals can play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions. In conjunction with technological advancements, education has become more accessible and flexible.

V. Some Other Phrases with the Structure "As … as" in English

In addition to the structure "As well as" mentioned above, there are several other extended structures in the form of "As … as." Let’s explore them together with PREP!

Structure	Meaning	Example
As far as	To the extent that; used to indicate the limits of one's knowledge or opinion regarding something.	As far as the environmental impact is concerned, plastic pollution poses a significant threat to marine life. As far as I am concerned, technology has both positive and negative effects on society.
As good as	Almost; nearly; used to indicate that something is very close to being true or effective.	The new policy is as good as the old one in terms of effectiveness. Learning a foreign language is as good as investing in your future.
As much as	To the extent that; almost; used to express a strong degree of something, often with a concession or contrast.	As much as I enjoy watching movies, I also like reading books. As much as I appreciate traditional teaching methods, I believe that technology can enhance the learning experience.
As long as	Provided that; on the condition that; used to indicate a necessary condition or a requirement for something to happen.	As long as we take action now, we can still mitigate the effects of climate change. As long as John is motivated, he can succeed in any field.
As soon as	Immediately when; used to indicate that something will happen at the very moment something else occurs.	As soon as the pandemic started, many people started working from home. As soon as I start school, I am exposed to a variety of cultures and perspectives.
As early as	As soon as; used to indicate the earliest possible time something can happen.	As early as the age of five, she was already reading novels. As early as the 19th century, people were concerned about pollution.

VI. Exercises on the Structure "As well as"

To fully understand the knowledge and usage of "As well as," let’s work on the following exercises:

Exercise: Rewrite the sentences using the structure "As well as":

Noah is greedy. Noah is dishonest.
Anna is well-educated. Her sister is well-educated.
The chicken gives us eggs. The duck gives us eggs.
Elephants are found in Asia. They are also found in Africa.
Alexander is handsome. Alexander is intelligent.
My English teacher loves taking care of his students. He also loves taking care of his children.
Tom looks forward to Easter. His friend also looks forward to Easter.
Tim has to clean the house. Tim also has to take care of his children.

Answer key

Noah is greedy as well as dishonest.
Annar, as well as her sister, is well-educated.
The chicken as well as the duck gives us eggs.
Elephants are found in Asia as well as in Africa.
Alexander is handsome as well as intelligent.
My English teacher loves taking care of his students as well as his children.
Tom, as well as his friend, look forward to Easter.
Tim has to clean the house as well as take care of his children.

This article summarizes the knowledge about the structure "As well as"! Don't forget to take notes for regular review. Follow PREP for more interesting knowledge!

Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.