Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 107 · B1

Comparative 3 (as ... as / than)

Not as ... as means less than; as ... as in positive sentences means equally; twice as ... as multiplies; it is the same as, never the same like; and after than or as, me and I am are both fine.

Start the lesson

16Steps · about 28 minutes

In this lesson

not as ... asA4 screens of questions
as ... as in positive sentences and questionsB2 screens of questions
the same asC1 screen of questions
than me or than I amD1 screen of questions
Put it together+2 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 4

not as ... as

Three friends have won the lottery. Sue won £20,000, Jo £15,000 and Dave £10,000.

Jo is rich. She is richer than Dave. But she isn't as rich as Sue: Sue is richer than she is.

Not so ... as is also possible. Less than is similar to not as ... as.

  • Grandad isn't as frail as he seems. (he seems frailer than he is)
  • Town wasn't as busy as usual.
  • Lisa didn't do as well in her exam as she'd hoped.
  • It's not as cold today. (yesterday was colder)
  • I don't read as many books as my sister does.
  • "Was it fifty quid?" "No, not as much as that."
  • It's chilly, but it's not so windy as on Sunday.
  • I spent less money than you.
  • I play golf less than I used to.

Point A · Exercise 107.1 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences with as ... as.

  1. Example

    I'm tall, but you're taller. I'm not as tall as you.

    AnswerI'm not as tall as you.

  2. My pay is good, but yours is better. My pay isn't .

  3. You know a bit about gardening, but I know more. You don't .

  4. The shop is quiet today, but it was quieter on Monday. The shop isn't .

  5. I still feel rough, but I felt much worse earlier. I don't .

Point A · Exercise 107.1 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences with as ... as.

  1. The Smiths have been members of the club for years, but we've been members even longer. The Smiths haven't .

  2. I was a little anxious before my driving test, but normally I'm far more anxious. I wasn't .

Point A · Exercise 107.2 · part 1 of 2

Write a new sentence with the same meaning.

  1. Example

    Grandad is stronger than he seems. Grandad isn't as frail as he seems.

    AnswerGrandad isn't as frail as he seems.

  2. Example

    I didn't spend as much as you. You spent more than me.

    AnswerYou spent more than me.

  3. The walk was shorter than I'd feared. The walk wasn't .

  4. The repairs didn't cost as much as we'd budgeted for. The repairs cost .

  5. I go to the gym less than I used to. I don't .

  6. My beard isn't as thick as it used to be. I used to .

Point A · Exercise 107.2 · part 2 of 2

Write a new sentence with the same meaning.

  1. I speak French better than you do. You don't .

  2. There are fewer people in this class than the other one. There aren't .

Point B of 4

as ... as in positive sentences and questions

In positive sentences and questions, use as ... as, not so ... as. Also twice as ... as, three times as ... as.

  • Sorry for the delay. I replied as quickly as I could.
  • There's loads of food. Have as much as you want.
  • Can you send me the form as soon as possible, please?
  • Let's cycle. It's just as fast as driving at this time of day.
  • Rent is twice as high as it was when we moved in.
  • Their kitchen is roughly three times as big as ours.

Point B · Exercise 107.3 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences with as ... as and one of these: fast, hard, long, often, quietly, soon, well.

Use these

fasthardlongoftenquietlysoonwell

  1. Example

    Sorry for the delay. I replied as fast as I could.

    AnswerSorry for the delay. I replied as fast as I could.

  2. It was a hard question. I answered it I could.

  3. "How long can I stay?" "You can stay you like."

  4. I need the figures quickly, so let me know possible.

  5. I love seeing my grandparents, so I visit them I can.

Point B · Exercise 107.3 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences with as ... as and one of these: fast, hard, long, often, quietly, soon, well.

Use these

fasthardlongoftenquietlysoonwell

  1. The baby had just gone to sleep, so I shut the door I could.

  2. You think you're the only one who's busy, but I train just you do.

Point C of 4

the same as

We say the same as, never the same like.

  • Laura's wages are the same as mine.
  • Laura gets the same wages as me.
  • Dev is the same age as James.
  • Sarah hasn't changed. She looks the same as she did at school.

Point C · Exercise 107.4

Write sentences with the same as.

  1. Example

    Dev and James are both twenty-three. Dev is the same age as James.

    AnswerDev is the same age as James.

  2. You and I both have red hair. Your hair mine.

  3. I got to the station at 9.10 and so did you. I got to the station you.

  4. My birthday is 14 May. So is Tom's. My birthday Tom's.

Point D of 4

than me or than I am

After than and as, use me, him, her, us or I am, he is, she can. Not usually than I on its own.

  • You're taller than me. You're taller than I am.
  • He isn't as tall as her. He isn't as tall as she is.
  • They've got more money than us. They've got more money than we have.
  • I can't swim as fast as him. I can't swim as fast as he can.

Point D · Extra practice

Complete each sentence with me, her, us and so on, or with I am, she is and so on.

  1. You're taller than . (I)

  2. He isn't as old as . (she)

  3. They've got more money than . (we)

Put it together · Exercise 107.5 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences with one of these: as, him, is, less, me, much, soon, than, twice.

Use these

ashimislessmemuchsoonthantwice

  1. Example

    I'll text you as soon as the results come out.

    AnswerI'll text you as soon as the results come out.

  2. My friends arrived earlier I expected.

  3. I live on the same street Katherine. We're neighbours.

  4. He's hopeless at maths. I'm far better at it than .

  5. This morning there was traffic than usual.

Put it together · Exercise 107.5 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences with one of these: as, him, is, less, me, much, soon, than, twice.

Use these

ashimislessmemuchsoonthantwice

  1. I don't watch telly as as I used to.

  2. Your phone is quite cheap. Mine cost as much as yours.

  3. My cousin and I are almost the same age. I'm a few months younger than she .

  4. I was gobsmacked. Nobody was more surprised than .

Lesson 107 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Superlative (the longest, the most enjoyable etc.)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. not as ... as–Not checkedB. as ... as in positive sentences and questions–Not checkedC. the same as–Not checkedD. than me or than I am–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked