LEARN

8.4 Comparisons with As . . . As

As A d je c tiv e As As A d ve rb As
big well
My c a r is as as your car. I drive as as you do .
comfortable carefull
y

1. Use as + adjecti ve/adverb + as to c o m p a r e two peo pl e, Adjecti ve: Your c a r is as old as mine.
p l a c e s, or things that are the s a m e or e q u a l in s o m e way. Adverb: I c a n run a mile as fast as you c a n .

2. To co m pl e te a co m p a r i s o n with as . . . as, yo u c a n use

a. a n o u n (+ verb) a. I d a n c e a s well a s my brother (dances).
b. a subject pro no un + verb or a n auxiliary verb b. I d a n c e a s well a s he dances.
I d a n c e a s well a s he does.
c. a possessive n o u n or possessive prono un
c. My computer is a s old a s Rita’s.
My co m pute r is a s o ld a s hers.
3. In informal spe ak ing , obj ect pronouns are oft en u s e d to Formal: He’s a s tall a s I am.
co m pl ete co m pa ri so ns with as. . . . as. Informal: He’s a s tall a s me.

4 C o m p l e t e e a c h sente n c e with as . . . as a n d the ad jecti ve or a d ve r b in parentheses.

1. Magazine ads are a s e f e c ti v e a s (effective) newspaper ads.

2. Mark plays the guitar (well) Nancy does.

3. Online reviews are (useful) asking friends about

products.

4. I read online reviews (carefully) he does.

5. The coat was just (warm) it looked.

6. Your sofa is just (comfortable) Diane’s.

7. My computer is (fast) the newer models.

8. He shops online (frequently) I do.

5 Use the words to m a ke co m p a r i so n s with as . . . as.

1. Desktop computers /be /popular /laptops

D e s kto p co m p u te rs are a s popular a s laptops (are).

2. Microwave ovens /work /well /regular ovens

3. Motorcycles /go /fast /cars

4. This hotel room /be /big /my apartment

UNIT 8 LESSON 2 215

 5. A smartphone /send messages /quickly /a laptop

6. My mother /speak English /well /my father

7. Gabi /go shopping /often /Linda

8. Trains /be /comfortable /airplanes

8.5 Comparison with Less and Not As . . .

As
+ A d j e Adjecti
L e s s Less ve/Adverb
c ti v e or A d v e r b + TThan
han
This p h o n e is less expensive than that one.
This old fan works less efficiently than the ne w fan.

No t A s + A d j e c ti v e or A d v e r b + A s
Not As Adjecti ve/Adverb As

This p h o n e is expensiv that o ne.

not as as
e good

This o ld fan d o e s efficientl the ne w fan.

not work as as
y well

1. The opposite of more is less. Not as . . . as a n d My o ld c a r wa s less efficient than my n e w

less h a v e the s a m e m e a n i n g .
2. Use not as . . . as with one-syllable adjec ti ves
or adve rbs.
3. Use less . . . than or not as . . . as with
adjecti ves or a dve r b s that h a v e two or mo re
syllables. The m e a n i n g is the s a m e .
4. Re m e m b e r : If the co m p a r i so n is clear,
the s e c o n d part of the co m p a r i s o n is not
necessar y.
car. My o ld c a r w a s not as efficient as my
n e w car.
My a pa r t m e n t is not as big as
yours. Tom doesn’t run as fast as
Steven.
My so n visits less frequently than my daughter.
My so n doesn’t visit as frequently as my
daughter.
The fo od at Jo e’s c a fe isn’t as good as the fo od
at C h e z C l a u d e , but it’s less expensive.
The fo od at Jo e’s c a f e is less expensive than
the fo o d at C h e z C l a u s e , but it isn’t as good.

See Chart 8.3 for more information completing comparisons.

6 C o m p l e t e the conversati ons with less or not as . . . as a n d the words in parentheses. D o

not u se not unless it is in c l u d e d in the parentheses. Use than a n d the s e c o n d as only
where necessar y.

1. Anita: The clothes in this store (1) a r e n ’ t a s n ic e a s (not be /nice)

they
used to be. L ook at this coat! It’s much (2)

216 COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES

(fashionable) the coat I bought here last year.
 Jackie: Well, that’s true. It (3) (not be /stylish), but it’s also
(4) (expensive).
2. Chris: Check out this new coffee machine! It looks great! Ours
(5) (not be /fancy) this new one.
Mike: Well, it’s definitely fancier than ours, but it (6)
(not be / efficient). It (7)

(not make coffee / quickly),

and the coffee (8)

7 Rewrite e a c h sen te n c e with the word(s) in parentheses.

(not taste /good).
1. My watch is less attractive than yours. (not as . . . as)

My w a tc h isn’t a s att ra c ti ve a s yours.

2. Sally’s shoes aren’t as fancy as Jill’s. (less)

3. Adam exercises less frequently than he used to. (not as . . . as)

4. This supermarket isn’t as expensive as the one across the street. (less)

5. The actor’s new movie isn’t as exciting as his last one. (less)

6. This gym is less convenient than the one near my house. (not as . . . as)

7. This review is less positive than that one. (not as . . . as)

8. The new tablet doesn’t start up as quickly as the old one. (less)

PRACTICE
8 C o m p l e t e the conversati on with less or (not) as . . . as a n d the words in parentheses.
M a ke the verbs n e gati ve only w h e n not is given. Use than a n d the s e c o n d as only where
n ecessary.

Tina: i s n ’ t a s big a s
Your new camera (1) (not be /big) your old one.
Dawn:
I know. It (2) (not be /heavy) my old X-2000, and it was
(3) (expensive), too.
UNIT 8 LESSON 2 217