Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 89 · A2

not as ... as

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.

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 21 minutes

In this lesson

not as ... asA2 screens of questions
not as much as ... / not as many as ...B1 screen of questions
not as ... as and thanC2 screens of questions
as me / as I amD2 screens of questions
the same as ...E1 screen of questions

Point A of 5

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)

Point A · Exercise 89.1 · part 1 of 2

Read about A, B and C in each scene and complete the sentences. Use a comparative and not as ... as.

  1. Example

    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.

    AnswerA is taller than C but not as tall as B.

  2. 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.

  3. Three coats in a shop window: A costs £40, B costs £90 and C costs £70.

    C is A but .

  4. Three people are talking. A says 'I'm 28.' B says 'I'm 35.' C says 'I'm 22.'

    A is but .

  5. Three friends compare their shelves. A has 300 books, B has 150 books and C has 80 books.

    B has got .

Point A · Exercise 89.1 · part 2 of 2

Read about A, B and C in each scene and complete the sentences. Use a comparative and not as ... as.

  1. 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 .

Point B of 5

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)

Point B · Extra practice

Put in as much as or as many as.

  1. I haven't got money my brother.

  2. We didn't get visitors last year.

  3. I don't go out I used to.

Point C of 5

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.

Point C · Exercise 89.2 · part 1 of 2

Write sentences with as ... as. The meaning stays the same.

  1. Example

    Leeds is bigger than York. York isn't as big as Leeds.

    AnswerLeeds is bigger than York. York isn't as big as Leeds.

  2. My car is newer than yours. Your car isn't .

  3. You finished earlier than me. I didn't .

  4. We sang better than them. They didn't .

  5. I've lived here longer than you. You haven't .

Point C · Exercise 89.2 · part 2 of 2

Write sentences with as ... as. The meaning stays the same.

  1. She's more worried than him. He .

Point D of 5

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.

Point D · Exercise 89.3 · part 1 of 2

Put in as or than.

  1. Example

    Belfast is bigger than Derry. (as / than)

    AnswerBelfast is bigger than Derry.

  2. I don't drink as much tea you. (as / than)

  3. You sleep more me. (as / than)

  4. The food was better I expected. (as / than)

  5. The film isn't as long people say. (as / than)

Point D · Exercise 89.3 · part 2 of 2

Put in as or than.

  1. Wales is smaller Scotland. (as / than)

  2. My bag isn't as heavy yours. (as / than)

  3. We can't stay longer two hours. (as / than)

Point E of 5

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.

Point E · Exercise 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. |

  1. Example

    (age) Marcus is the same age as Erin.

    AnswerMarcus is the same age as Erin.

  2. (street) Priya lives .

  3. (time) Priya finished work .

  4. (colour) Marcus's bike .

Lesson 89 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: the oldest, the most expensiveBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. not as ... as–Not checkedB. not as much as ... / not as many as ...–Not checkedC. not as ... as and than–Not checkedD. as me / as I am–Not checkedE. the same as ...–Not checked