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Use as for to introduce a specific topic in emails, presentations, and organized conversations, with examples for answering questions and giving updates.
In this lesson, Vanessa teaches the expression “as for” and shows how it helps a speaker organize a response by topic. She begins with an email in which a student asks several questions at once: how to use an expression, how to pronounce it, and how to find an English-speaking community. Rather than answer everything in one long paragraph, Vanessa can start a section with “As for your first question about this expression…” and then respond to that point specifically.
She continues the same pattern for the other questions: “As for your second question” or “As for your question about pronunciation…” Each use signals which topic she is addressing. The phrase is especially helpful in a structured situation, such as an email or presentation, where the speaker has several points to cover. It can also be used in conversation, but Vanessa says learners are more likely to encounter it in organized speaking or writing.
To demonstrate, she imagines a presentation about a company's budget, marketing, and teamwork. A speaker might say, “As for the budget this month…” and explain the figures, then move to “As for the marketing of our new product…” before discussing teamwork. “As for” acts as a signpost: the audience can hear that the speaker is moving to a particular item rather than continuing the previous one. The expression does not itself give the answer; it introduces the subject that follows.
Vanessa then invites learners to practise with two categories, food and drinks. A learner might say, “As for food in my country, we eat a lot of rice and chicken and beans,” and then, “As for drinks, we like red wine or tea.” The repeated phrase makes it easy to give each topic its own turn. Learners can practise the same way when answering several questions, giving a presentation, or organizing an email. The central takeaway is simple: use “as for” to introduce or return to a specific topic, then provide the information about that topic.
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Vanessa introduces as for as a phrase she often uses in emails and structured communication.
Hi, I'm Vanessa from Speak English with Vanessa. Last year was a great year, but 2017, it's going to be even better. Let's talk about it.
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Vanessa introduces as for as a phrase she often uses in emails and structured communication. · expression
Introduces a particular topic or point that the speaker is about to discuss.
Tone and use: Neutral; often sounds organized or slightly formal. Use as for + topic when moving to a specific item in a response or presentation.
May not fit: It is a topic marker, not a substitute for because or as if.
Example“As for the schedule, we can meet on Thursday.”
She imagines an email with several questions and explains why each point can be answered separately. · expression
Several questions asked together, rather than one after another.
Tone and use: Neutral and explanatory. Use multiple + plural noun to describe more than one item or issue.
May not fit: If you mean two, you can say two questions instead of multiple questions.
Example“The form asks multiple questions at the same time.”
She models introducing the response to the first question and moving on to a second one. · expression
A topic marker that introduces the answer to the first question about the expression.
Tone and use: Organized and direct. Use as for + a specific question or topic before giving the relevant answer.
May not fit: Do not follow it with an unrelated answer; it should match the topic named.
Example“As for your first question about registration, you can complete the form online.”
She models introducing the response to the first question and moving on to a second one. · expression
Repeatedly or many times.
Tone and use: Conversational emphasis. Use it to emphasize repetition.
May not fit: For formal writing, repeatedly may sound more concise.
Example“She practised the pronunciation again and again.”
She shows how as for introduces the second question about pronunciation and the third about finding a community. · expression
A phrase that introduces the response to question number two.
Tone and use: Neutral and organized. Use it to move from one point in a multi-part answer to the next.
May not fit: Use the right ordinal—first, second, third—to match the order.
Example“As for your second question, the class meets twice a week.”
She shows how as for introduces the second question about pronunciation and the third about finding a community. · expression
A different subject that the speaker is beginning to discuss.
Tone and use: Neutral. Use it when explaining a transition to another subject.
May not fit: Do not call it new if the speaker is continuing the same point.
Example“Let's move to a new topic: our travel plans.”
Vanessa recommends as for in presentations where the speaker moves among several points. · expression
An organized context with a planned order or distinct points.
Tone and use: Neutral, somewhat formal. Use it for settings such as a presentation, report, or carefully organized email.
May not fit: It does not mean the situation is difficult; it means it has a clear structure.
Example“A project update is a structured situation with several topics.”
Vanessa recommends as for in presentations where the speaker moves among several points. · expression
Separate subjects or points that can be discussed individually.
Tone and use: Neutral. Use different + plural noun to distinguish several subjects.
May not fit: If the points are closely related, you may want to explain how they connect.
Example“The meeting covered different topics, from hiring to budgets.”
She models moving from the budget to marketing and teamwork in a company presentation. · expression
Introduces the specific point about this month's budget.
Tone and use: Organized and work-appropriate. Use as for + a topic to introduce a section of a presentation or update.
May not fit: Follow it with information about that topic rather than an unrelated point.
Example“As for the budget this month, we stayed within the planned amount.”
She models moving from the budget to marketing and teamwork in a company presentation. · expression
Discussing each subject in turn.
Tone and use: Neutral and explanatory. Use address a topic to mean discuss or deal with that subject.
May not fit: It does not mean speaking to the topic as if it were a person.
Example“The presenter is addressing each topic in the agenda.”
She encourages learners to practise the expression and introduces a question for viewers. · expression
At any time when it is necessary or useful.
Tone and use: Neutral. Use whenever + clause for any time that a condition applies.
May not fit: It refers to repeated possible occasions, not a specific scheduled time.
Example“You can use this phrase whenever you need to change topics.”
The practice question invites learners to talk about food and drinks in their country using as for. · expression
Introduces the topic of food in the speaker's country.
Tone and use: Neutral and organized. Use as for + category before giving information about that category.
May not fit: Keep the details after it relevant to the named category.
Example“As for food in my country, rice is a common side dish.”
The practice question invites learners to talk about food and drinks in their country using as for. · expression
Introduces the topic of drinks separately from the previous category.
Tone and use: Neutral and organized. Repeat as for to signal a clear move to another item.
May not fit: It can sound overly formal if used repeatedly in very casual conversation.
Example“As for drinks, we usually serve tea with dinner.”
The remaining captions promote Vanessa's e-book and channel subscription. · expression
An invitation to subscribe if you would like to.
Tone and use: Friendly, low-pressure suggestion. Use feel free to + verb to give someone permission or an optional invitation.
May not fit: It is not a requirement; the listener can choose.
Example“Feel free to subscribe if you'd like updates about new lessons.”
Knowledge check
Use it in a sentence · “as for your first question about this expression”