Back in 1787, more than 200 years ago, the United States of America didnt exist the way it does today.
请帮忙剖析上面句子中两个句子是怎么样连接的？非常显然the way 不像连词。谢谢。
Back in 1787, more than 200 years ago, the United States of America didnt exist the way it does today.
the way it does today.在此是方法状语从句，由the way引导。名词the way在非正式语体被用作从属连词。像the moment引导之间状语从句。
《韦氏高级词典》
the way
informal 非正式用词
1—used to say what someones way of speaking, behaving, etc., seems to suggest
Youd think she was rich,the wayshe spends money! [=she spends money like a rich person]
The wayhe talks, you would think he ran the company. [=he talks as if he were the person who runs the company]
2—used to say that something happens or is done with the same attitude, at the same pace, etc., as something else
They replace their carsthe way[=like] other people replace shoes.