[Grammar] as...as

Do I have to always use as...as in these sentences:

You were (as) quite as everyone else was at the table

From what I understood if there is an adjective between as...as then there is no need for 2 "as" at the same time

I mean

You were quite as everyone else was at the table. Is that ok?

egerol1 said:

Do I have to always use as...as in these sentences:

You were (as) quite as everyone else was at the table

From what I understood if there is an adjective between as...as then there is no need for 2 "as" at the same time

I mean

You were quite as everyone else was at the table. Is that ok?

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I think that's okay. But they are different to my ear. When I hear the first sentence I continue in my mind with a "no less, no more, just as quiet as the others". When I hear the second one I say to myself: "Everybody was quiet and he was no exception". In the first sentence "the degree of his silence" is important for me. In the other one "the similarity of his manner to the other people at the table".

And note that it is "quiet", not "quite".

egerol1 said:

Do I have to always use as...as in these sentences:
You were (as) quite as everyone else was at the table

From what I understood if there is an adjective between as...as then there is no need for 2 "as" at the same time
I mean

You were quite as everyone else was at the table. Is that ok?

Click to expand...

1 - First of all: DO you mean quiet, rather than quite? There is quite a difference between the two! ;-) (If you mean quite, please write back for a different answer!)

2 - Yes, in standard English, both as...as are required when writing, although in speech sometimes the first one might be dropped. (It sounds very odd to me; however, I've heard people do it.)

3 - The second was in your sentence isn't needed. The most common way to phrase this idea is:
You were as quiet as everyone else at the table.

Khosro said:

... When I hear the second one I say to myself: "Everybody was quiet and he was no exception". ...

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- 4 - If this is your meaning, then you need to add punctuation and adjust your verb:
You were quiet, as was everyone else [STRIKE]was [/STRIKE]at the table.

That was a good point mayita. Thank you.

first of all yes I mean quiet.
Second,
I think that when you drop the first "as" of "as...as" the meaning doesn't change but if we drop the first "as" as I say I think we must put two verbs.Please correct these:

1)You were quiet as was everyone else at the table
2)You were as quiet as everyone else at the table

I have noticed that if we use "as...as" we don't have to use verb again but if we use one "as" not "as...as" we must repeat the verb like the first sentence I gave

mayita1usa said:

- 4 - If this is your meaning, then you need to add punctuation and adjust your verb:
You were quiet, as was everyone else [STRIKE]was [/STRIKE]at the table.

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I didn't understand why we can't say:You were quiet as everyone was else at the table

and we must say:You were quiet as was everyone else at the table

I mean why can't we put "as" after "everyone"??

egerol1 said:

I didn't understand why we can't say:You were quiet as everyone was else at the table

and we must say:You were quiet as was everyone else at the table

I mean why can't we put "as" after "everyone"??

Click to expand...

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Egerol,


(1) I believe that you can say:

You were quiet, as everyone else at the table was.

(2) I also believe that most native speakers would

prefer:

You were quiet, as was everyone else at the table.

(a) Why?

(b) I believe that Teachers Khosro and Mayita have given us the

answer.

(i) Remember that speech is different from writing. If you say

"You were quiet, as everyone else at the table was," your

listener could mistake that for:

"You were as quiet as everyone else at the table was."

(ii) But if you say "You were quiet, as was everyone else at the table,"

the meaning that you wish to convey is much clearer.

thank you all for your help!