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I'm currently studying on my Intermediate Japanese book and I stumbled upon
the usage of なるべく, with the meaning of **_as ~ as possible_**. The book gives
me two examples and with the first one there's no real difficulty.

  * 教室の外でも、 **なるべく** 日本語を使った方がいいでしょう。 ( with the meaning of _it will be better if you speak Japanese **as much as possible** even outside the classroom_ )

But then it shows me another example, which I didn't really comprehend as far
as the usage of なるべく is regarded. Which is the following:

  * 宿題は、 **なるべく** 次の日に出してください。( I get the meaning of the sentence which should mean something along the lines of _please hand in homework the next day if possible_ but still, I thought that there would be something like a set phrase just like the _**as much as possible**_ that we find in the first sentence ) 

So my final quesion is: what's the use of なるべく in the last sentence? Why does
the book put them both under the same grammar rule? ( I get that it may be
quite a silly question but this keeps on bugging me since yesterday ) _Thanks
in advance._
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2016-11-05T13:58:28.033
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2016-11-06T01:05:00.223
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grammar syntax phrases compounds reading-comprehension
A question about the usage of なるべく
You can translate as "as much as possible":  
宿題は、なるべく次の日に出してください。  
Please hand in the homework as much as possible on the next day.

The important thing to notice is that なるべく is used as an adverb.
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2016-11-05T14:41:12.613
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なるべく may be close to the English word "preferably" and it doesn't always mean
"as much as possible". For example, you can say なるべく静かにしてね (Please keep as
quiet as possible).

"なるべく + adverb" means "as adverb as possible" like "as much as possible
(なるべくたくさん)", "as soon as possible (なるべく早く)".

So you may think たくさん is omitted in your first sentence.
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2016-11-05T17:50:58.010
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I would say that なるべく, when it is modifying not an adjective or adverb but a
verb phrase, (as in your examples) means you'll do something _if possible_ ,
often with the connotation that you'll make your best efforts to make it
happen. (I'm failing to come up with a corresponding English set phrase.)

> 宿題は、なるべく次の日に出してください。
>
> Hand in your homework the next day, if possible (and do your best to make it
> possible!)
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2016-11-05T17:55:45.053
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2016-11-05T17:55:45.053
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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