Use not as ... as to say that one thing is less than another: Rome is not as old as Athens. Use the same as for things that do not differ at all.
A not as ... as
Doris is 91. Her friend Walter is 94. She is old, but she is not as old as him.
Box A is smaller than Box B. Box A isn't as big as Box B.
not as ... as says the same thing as a comparative, from the other side.
- Bristol isn't as big as Birmingham. (= Birmingham is bigger)
- The Crown isn't as expensive as the Station Hotel. (= the Station Hotel is more expensive)
- I don't go swimming as often as you. (= you go swimming more often)
- It's warmer today. It isn't as windy. (= as windy as it was yesterday)
B not as much as ... / not as many as ...
Use as much as with uncountable nouns and as many as with plural nouns. As much as also goes after a verb.
- I haven't got as much time as you. (= you've got more time)
- We didn't sell as many tickets as last year. (= we sold more last year)
- I don't cook as much as you. (= you cook more)
C not as ... as and than
Compare the two ways of saying the same thing. With not as ... as, the word after the adjective is as. With a comparative, it is than.
| not as ... as | comparative + than |
|---|---|
| York isn't as big as Leeds. | Leeds is bigger than York. (not 'bigger as York') |
| Cricket isn't as popular as football. | Football is more popular than cricket. |
| I don't read as much as you. | You read more than me. |
- York isn't as big as Leeds.
- Leeds is bigger than York.
D as me / as I am
After as we say me, him, her etc. You can also say as I am, as he is, as I do etc.
- He's not as tall as her. / He's not as tall as she is.
- You don't sleep as much as me. / You don't sleep as much as I do.
E the same as ...
Say the same as when there is no difference at all. Note as, not 'like' or 'than'.
- The price today is the same as last week.
- Your phone is the same colour as mine.
- I left at the same time as Fatima.
Exercises
89.1 Read about A, B and C in each scene and complete the sentences. Use a comparative and not as ... as.
Three blocks of flats: A has 10 floors, B has 20 floors and C has 5 floors.
A is taller than C but not as tall as B.
A is taller than C but not as tall as B.
Three cars on a test track: A is doing 120 kilometres an hour, B is doing 90 and C is doing 150.
A is B but not C.
A is faster than B but not as fast as C.
Three coats in a shop window: A costs £40, B costs £90 and C costs £70.
C is A but .
C is more expensive than A but not as expensive as B.
Three people are talking. A says 'I'm 28.' B says 'I'm 35.' C says 'I'm 22.'
A is but .
A is older than C but not as old as B.
Three friends compare their shelves. A has 300 books, B has 150 books and C has 80 books.
B has got .
B has got more books than C but not as many as A.
A says 'I don't read much.' B says 'I read a lot.' C says 'I read quite a lot, but not a lot.'
C reads .
C reads more than A but not as much as B.
89.2 Write sentences with as ... as. The meaning stays the same.
Leeds is bigger than York. York isn't as big as Leeds.
Leeds is bigger than York. York isn't as big as Leeds.
My car is newer than yours. Your car isn't .
My car is newer than yours. Your car isn't as new as mine.
You finished earlier than me. I didn't .
You finished earlier than me. I didn't finish as early as you.
We sang better than them. They didn't .
We sang better than them. They didn't sing as well as us.
I've lived here longer than you. You haven't .
I've lived here longer than you. You haven't lived here as long as me.
She's more worried than him. He .
She's more worried than him. He isn't as worried as her.
89.3 Put in as or than.
Belfast is bigger ___ Derry. (as / than)
than
Belfast is bigger than Derry.
I don't drink as much tea ___ you. (as / than)
I don't drink as much tea as you.
You sleep more ___ me. (as / than)
You sleep more than me.
The food was better ___ I expected. (as / than)
The food was better than I expected.
The film isn't as long ___ people say. (as / than)
The film isn't as long as people say.
Wales is smaller ___ Scotland. (as / than)
Wales is smaller than Scotland.
My bag isn't as heavy ___ yours. (as / than)
My bag isn't as heavy as yours.
We can't stay longer ___ two hours. (as / than)
We can't stay longer than two hours.
89.4 Read what Priya, Marcus and Erin say, then complete the sentences. Use the same age, the same street etc. | Priya | Marcus | Erin | |---|---|---| | I'm 27. | I'm 33. | I'm 33. | | I live on Oak Lane. | I live on Park Street. | I live on Oak Lane. | | I finished work at 5.30. | I finished work at 5.30. | I finished work at 6 o'clock. | | I haven't got a bike. | My bike is green. | I've got a bike. It's green. |
(age) Marcus is the same age as Erin.
Marcus is the same age as Erin.
(street) Priya lives .
Priya lives on the same street as Erin.
(time) Priya finished work .
Priya finished work at the same time as Marcus.
(colour) Marcus's bike .
Marcus's bike is the same colour as Erin's.