What As ... As Comparison Is
A comparison with as ... as says two people or things are equal in one way: just as tall, just as expensive. English puts the adjective between two as's.
EQUALas + adjective + as
The adjective tall sits between two as's.
My brother is as tall as my father.
The two heights are the same, so the adjective sits between as and as.
LESSnot as + adjective + as
The bus isn't as fast as the train.
The bus is slower than the train.
MOREadjective + -er + than
The train is faster than the bus.
This says the same thing as the card before it, with a comparative.
Between the two as's, the adjective stays in its base form, with no -er and no more: as tall as, as expensive as.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"Lan and her mother are both 158 cm tall. Lan is her mother."
- Question 2
"Today isn't yesterday. I don't need my coat."
The three forms
POSITIVE
Sbeasadjectiveas…
Đà Nẵng is as hot as Huế in summer.
Be changes with the subject and the time, as usual: is, are, was, were.
NEGATIVE
Sisn't / wasn'tasadjectiveas…
The second test wasn't as difficult as the first one.
Not comes after be. The first thing has less of it than the second.
QUESTION
Is / WasSasadjectiveas…?
Is the new café as good as the old one?
Be moves in front of the subject. The as ... as part does not change.
MORE → EQUAL
- taller thanas tall as
- bigger thanas big as
- more expensive thanas expensive as
- better thanas good as
Drop -er, drop more, drop than · better and worse go back to good and bad · the adjective is the dictionary form
TRY IT
- Question 1
"This street is as as the main road at 5 p.m."
- Question 2
"The hotel wasn't as as it looked in the photos."
- Question 3
"Nam isn't as old as Minh, so Minh is than Nam."
When to use it
Two things are equal
Our new flat is as big as the old one.
Neither flat is bigger.
Signal words: as cheap as · as old as · as good as
A polite way to criticise
The coffee here isn't as strong as at home.
It sounds softer than saying weaker or worse.
Signal words: not as good as · not as clean as · not as easy as
Then and now
The market isn't as busy as it was ten years ago.
Comparing a place or a person now with the past.
Signal words: as it was · as they were
Fixed phrases
Call me as soon as possible.
Very soon. In text messages people often write ASAP.
Signal words: as soon as possible · as much as possible
As … as vs. the same as
As ... as compares two things in one way, and that way is an adjective. The same as says two things are exactly alike. To say which way they are alike, put a noun in the middle: the same age as, the same colour as.
| AS + ADJECTIVE + AS | THE SAME (+ NOUN) + AS | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | equal in one way | exactly alike |
| In the middle | an adjective: as cheap as | no word, or a noun: the same size as |
| Example | My score was as high as Lan's score. | My score was the same as Lan's score. |
| Never say | as same as · as higher as | same as (no the) · the same like |
TRY IT
- Question 1
Two cups look exactly alike: "This cup is that one."
- Question 2
"My daughter is height as your son."
Common mistakes
Incorrect:My bike is as newer as your bike.
Correct:My bike is as new as your bike.
Between the two as's the adjective stays in its base form; -er belongs with than.
Incorrect:Our kitchen is big as the living room.
Correct:Our kitchen is as big as the living room.
The pattern needs an as on both sides of the adjective, not only after it.
Incorrect:The book is as interesting than the film.
Correct:The book is as interesting as the film.
Than goes with comparatives. A comparison that starts with as also ends with as.
Incorrect:This hotel is as more expensive as the other one.
Correct:This hotel is as expensive as the other one.
More belongs to comparatives. Between two as's, a long adjective has no more.
Incorrect:Her bag is same as my bag.
Correct:Her bag is the same as my bag.
In this pattern, same needs the in front of it.
Incorrect:My shoes are the same like your shoes.
Correct:My shoes are the same as your shoes.
After the same, use as, not like.
Quick check · 7 questions
Choose the correct word:
My cousin is as old as me. We were born in the same year.
- A. old — Correct
- B. older
- C. oldest
Answer: A. old
The two cousins are the same age, so use as ... as. The adjective in the middle does not change: as old as. Older goes with than.
Choose the correct word:
The tea is as hot as the coffee. Wait a minute before you drink it.
- A. as — Correct
- B. same
- C. more
Answer: A. as
One as goes before the adjective and one goes after it.
Choose the correct form:
The beach in Quy Nhơn is as beautiful as the beach in Nha Trang.
- A. beautiful — Correct
- B. more beautiful
- C. beautifuller
Answer: A. beautiful
There is no more inside as ... as. Short and long adjectives both stay in their base form.
“The blue bag isn't as heavy as the black bag.” Which sentence means the same?
The black bag is heavier.
- A. The black bag is heavier. — Correct
- B. The blue bag is heavier.
- C. The two bags are the same weight.
Answer: A. The black bag is heavier.
The blue bag is not as heavy as the black one, so the black bag is heavier.
Choose the correct form:
Is your address the same as your sister's?
- A. the same as — Correct
- B. same as
- C. the same like
Answer: A. the same as
Keep the, and use as after same, not like.
Choose the correct form:
Please send me the file as soon as possible.
- A. as soon as possible — Correct
- B. soon as possible
- C. as sooner as possible
Answer: A. as soon as possible
As soon as possible means very soon, as early as you can. Learn all four words together.
Choose the correct form:
Khoa's shirt and Việt's shirt are both dark blue, so Khoa's shirt is the same colour as Việt's.
- A. the same colour as — Correct
- B. as colour as
- C. same colour like
Answer: A. the same colour as
Colour is a noun, so it goes between the same and as. Keep the, and after the same use as, not like.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 12 questions