English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 107: Comparison 3 (as ... as / than)

Study this example situation:

Sarah, Joe and David are all very rich.
Sarah has $20 million, Joe has $15 million
and David has $10 million. So:

Joe is rich.

He is richer than David.

But he isn't as rich as Sarah. (= Sarah is richer than he is)

Some more examples of not as ... (as):
  • Jack isn't as old as he looks. (= he looks older than he is)
  • The town centre wasn't as crowded as usual. (= it is usually more crowded)
  • Lisa didn't do as well in the exam as she had hoped. (= she had hoped to do better)
  • The weather is better today. It's not as cold. (= yesterday was colder than today)
  • I don't know as many people as you do. (= you know more people than me)
  • 'How much did it cost? Fifty pounds?'  'No, not as much as that.' (= less than fifty pounds)

You can also say not so ... (as):
  • It's not warm, but it isn't so cold as yesterday. ( = it isn't as cold as ... )

Less ... than is similar to not as ... as:
  • I spent less money than you. (= I didn't spend as much money as you)
  • The city centre was less crowded than usual. (= it wasn't as crowded as usual)
  • I play tennis less than I used to. (= I don't play as much as I used to)

We also use as ... as (but not so ... as) in positive sentences and in questions:
  • I'm sorry I'm late. I got here as fast as I could.
  • There's plenty of food. You can have as much as you want.
  • Let's walk. It's just as quick as taking the bus.
  • Can you send me the information as soon as possible, please?

Also twice as ... as, three times as ... as etc. :
  • Petrol is twice as expensive as it was a few years ago.
  • Their house is about three times as big as ours.

We say the same as (not the same like):
  • Laura's salary is the same as mine. or Laura gets the same salary as me.
  • David is the same age as James.
  • Sarah hasn't changed. She still looks the same as she did ten years ago.

Than me / than I am etc.

You can say:
  • You're taller than me. (not usually You're taller than I) or You're taller than I am.
  • He's not as clever as her. or He's not as clever as she is.
  • They have more money than us. or They have more money than we have.
  • I can't run as fast as him. or I can't run as fast as he can.

107.1 Complete the sentences using as ... as.

  1. I'm tall, but you are taller.
    I'm not .
  2. My salary is high, but yours is higher.
    My salary isn't __________ .
  3. You know a bit about cars, but I know more.
    You don't __________ .
  4. We are busy today, but we were busier yesterday.
    We aren't __________ .
  5. I still feel bad, but I felt a lot worse earlier.
    I don't __________ .
  6. Our neighbours have lived here for quite a long time, but we've lived here longer.
    Our neighbours haven't __________ .
  7. I was a little nervous before the interview, but usually I'm a lot more nervous.
    I wasn't __________ .

107.2 Write a new sentence with the same meaning.

  1. Jack is younger than he looks.
    Jack isn't .
  2. I didn't spend as much money as you.
    You .
  3. The station was nearer than I thought.
    The station wasn't __________ .
  4. The meal didn't cost as much as I expected.
    The meal cost __________ .
  5. I go out less than I used to.
    I don't __________ .
  6. Karen's hair isn't as long as it used to be.
    Karen used to __________ .
  7. I know them better than you do.
    You don't __________ .
  8. There are fewer people at this meeting than at the last one.
    There aren't __________ .

107.3 Complete the sentences using as ... as + the following:

  • bad
  • comfortable
  • fast
  • hard
  • long
  • often
  • quietly
  • soon
  • well
  1. I'm sorry I'm late. I got here I could.
  2. It was a difficult question. I answered it __________ I could.
  3. 'How long can I stay with you?' 'You can stay __________ you like.'
  4. I need the information quickly, so let me know __________ possible.
  5. I like to keep fit, so I go swimming __________ I can.
  6. I didn't want to wake anybody, so I came in __________ I could.

In the following sentences use just as ... as.

  1. I'm going to sleep on the floor. It's __________ the bed.
  2. You always say how tiring your job is, but I work __________ you.
  3. At first I thought he was nice, but really he's __________ everybody else.

107.4 Write sentences using the same as.

  1. David and James are both 22 years old. David James.
  2. You and I both have dark brown hair. Your hair __________ mine.
  3. I arrived at 10.25 and so did you. I arrived __________ you.
  4. My birthday is 5 April. It's Tom's birthday too. My birthday __________ Tom's.

107.5 Complete the sentences with than ... or as ... .

  1. I can't reach as high as you. You are taller .
  2. He doesn't know much. I know more __________ .
  3. I don't work particularly hard. Most people work as hard __________ .
  4. We were very surprised. Nobody was more surprised __________ .
  5. She's not a very good player. I'm a better player __________ .
  6. They've been very lucky. I wish we were as lucky __________ .

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