“Too”, “also”, and “as well” are three adverbs we use to mean “in addition”. While they are similar in meaning, we use some more often than others in spoken English. They can appear in different parts of the sentence as well.
Take a look at this passage:
Cambly offers video chats for kids as well as adult English learners. Not only is it easy to use, it’s a lot of fun, too! All you need is a smartphone. Earphones are also recommended, especially if you are in a noisy environment. For a coffee break each day, enjoy a nice chat while becoming a more confident English speaker.
“Too” is commonly used in both speaking and writing. Most likely, you’ll find it at the end of the sentence. However, it can also be used after the subject of the sentence, as in:
You, too, can become a millionaire with some hard work and a stroke of luck.
“Also” is more commonly used in writing than in speaking. It is often found in the middle of the sentence, between the subject and the main verb. At the start of a sentence, it acts as a transition word that adds to the previous sentence, for example:
Vancouver is a city known for its scenic mountains and coastlines. Also, it boasts a multicultural society where people come from all over the world.
“As well” can be used in both speaking and writing, though it does feel a bit more formal when used in speaking. It takes the place of “too” at the end of the sentence, such as :
Please have the documents signed by 5 o’clock. They will need to be dated as well.
In the example passage, you will find that “as well (as)” can be used as a preposition to mean “and also” in the sentence.
Author: Katy Lia, Cambly Tutor
If you’d like to keep this conversation going with Katy, give her a call on Cambly or make a reservation with her here: https://www.cambly.com/en/student/tutor/Katy%20Lia