Now that的用法

我們在用now that這一詞組時常常出錯。它是個從屬連詞，可以歸入because，as,since這一家族，意思和since(既然，由于)接近，但now that必須引出一個新的情況，否則需要由別的詞替代。請看下面的例子：
① Now that none of us knows her telephone number, we will have to send someone to deliver the message．
既然咱們誰也不知道她的電話號碼，只有找個人去把消息告訴她了。

② Now that he hasn't fully recovered yet，it will not be proper to assign him such a hard job．
既然他身體還沒有完全恢復，指派他干這樣的難活不適宜。

這兩句中用now that不妥，該換成since或as，因為“沒人知道她的電話號碼”這一事實，過去如此，現在也如此，不是一個新的情況；“他還沒完全恢復健康”也不是一個現在才發生的新情況。下面句子的now that都用對了：

① Now that everyone is here let's start work．現在人都齊了，咱們開始干吧。

②Now that We have coverd the whole chapter we may have a discussion next time we meet．

整個一章都看完了，下次見面時就可以是討論了。“人到齊了”和“整個一章都看完了”都是現在的新情況。

as…as…的用法

as…as…意為"和……一樣"，表示同級的比較。使用時要注意第一個as為副詞，第二個as為連詞。其基本用法為as+ adj./ adv. +as…。例如：
This film is as interesting as that one (is).這部電影和那部電影一樣有趣。
Your pen writes as smoothly as mine (does).你的鋼筆書寫起來和我的一樣流暢。

其否定式為not as/so +adj./ adv. +as…結構。例如：
This dictionary is not as/so useful as you think it is.這部字典不如你想象的那樣有用。
I didn"t catch as many as I had expected.我抓到的不如我預想的那么多。

若有修飾成分，如twice, three times, half, a quarter等，則其必須置于第一個as之前，例如：
You are not half as clever as you think you are.你可不象自己想象的那么聰明。
She isn"t going out with a man who is twice as old as she.她不打算和一個比她大一倍的人出去散步。

幾個關于as…as…的常見句型：
1. as…as possible/can 盡可能的
Please answer my question as soon as possible. 請盡快回答我的問題。
The detective is searching the man as carefully as he can.那個偵探正在盡可能仔細地搜那個男子的身。

2. as…as usual/before像以前一樣……
She looks as pretty as before.她看起來和以前一樣漂亮
Though they failed, they still worked as hard as before. 盡管他們失敗了，但他們仍像以前一樣努力工作。

3. as long as達……之久；和……一樣長；只要（引導條件狀語從句）
It took us as long as three years to carry out the plan.我們花了長達三年時間才完成這項計劃。
This rope is as long as that one.這條繩子和那條一樣長。
I will stay with you as long as there is a room free. 要是你有一間空余的房子，我就住在你這里。

4. as far as 遠至；就……而論，據……
He walked as far as the railway station yesterday evening.
昨天傍晚，他一直散步到火車站。
As/So far as I know, the library won"t open until eight o"clock.
據我所知，圖書館要到八點鐘才開門。

5. as well as 和……一樣好；也；既……又……；除……外，還……
She sings as well as she plays.她唱得好，彈得也好。
The child is lively as well as healthy.這孩子既健康又活潑。
Tom, as well as his brothers, enjoys playing football. 湯姆和他的哥哥們都喜歡踢足球。