GUIDE ENGLISH GRAMMAR BOOK

31 ADVERBIAL CLAUSES
PAGE 332
NOTE
a In British English like as a conjunction is often avoided except in an informal style.
It is safer to use as.
There was trouble at the carnival, as there was last year.
But we can use like as a preposition. • 228(6)
Like last year, there was trouble.
b We can use look as if, look as though and look like (informal) to describe how
something looks.
You look as if/look as though/look like you've seen a ghost.
We can also use this pattern for what we can see is probably going to happen.
It looks as if/looks as though/looks like it's going to be a nice day.
We can also use look like + gerund with the same meaning.
It looks like being a nice day.
3 Comment and truth
As you know, things are difficult just now.
Putting it another way, why should I bother?
To tell you the truth, I don't think you've much chance of success.
As far as I can tell, there's nothing wrong.
4 In that and in so far as
The party was a disappointment in that/in so far as the celebrity guest
didn't turn up.
Here the sub clause explains in what way the main clause is true.
5 Except
The car's all right, except (that) the heater doesn't work.
Leaving out that is informal.
254 Whoever, whatever etc
1 We can use these words with the meaning 'it doesn't matter who', 'it doesn't
matter what', etc.
Whoever plays in goal, we're bound to lose.
I won't change my mind whatever you say.
Whenever I ring Tracy, she's never there.
I can't draw faces, however hard I try.
We can use whoever, whatever, whichever, whenever, wherever and however.
NOTE
For Whoever is going to be in goal?, • 26(6c).
For Whoever plays in goal wears this shirt, •281.
2 We can also use no matter.
I won't change my mind no matter what you say.
No matter where we go on holiday, you never like it.