As well as is a phrase that connects two things, showing they both belong together in what you're saying. When you write “I like pizza as well as tacos,” you're telling someone you enjoy both foods. It works similarly to “and,” but with a slightly different feel: it can emphasize that the second thing matters too.

The phrase appears everywhere in writing and speech. A teacher might say, “This project tests your research skills as well as your creativity.” A news article might report, “The storm damaged houses as well as roads.” In each case, the writer is making sure you know about both things.

One tricky part: when as well as connects two subjects in a sentence, the verb usually agrees with the first subject, not the second. You'd write “The captain as well as the crew was surprised” (not “were”), because captain is the main subject. This differs from “and,” which would make the verb plural: “The captain and the crew were surprised.”

You can also split the phrase into “as well,” which simply means “also” or “too.” If someone says “I'm going to the library” and you reply “I'm going as well,” you mean you're going too.