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As … as and not as … as
A2 A2 grammar · lesson 11 of 25
You already compare things with comparatives like taller and more expensive. Here you learn another way: as … as for things that are the same, and not as … as for things that are different.
As … as: the same
Use as + adjective + as to say two things are equal. The adjective does not change: no -er, no more.
Tom is as tall as his father.
My bag is as heavy as yours.
This test was as easy as the last one.
The film is as good as the book.
Not as … as: less
Use not as + adjective + as to say the first thing is less than the second. It often means the same as a comparative with the opposite adjective.
| Not as … as | Comparative with the same meaning |
|---|---|
| A bike isn’t as fast as a car. | A car is faster than a bike. |
| My room isn’t as big as yours. | Your room is bigger than mine. |
| Ken isn’t as old as Omar. | Omar is older than Ken. / Ken is younger than Omar. |
This hotel isn’t as expensive as the one by the sea.
I’m not as good at maths as my sister.
Today isn’t as cold as yesterday.
The new phone isn’t as nice as the old one.
Useful extras
- just as … as = exactly the same: She is just as clever as her brother.
- the same as + noun: Your bag is the same as mine.
- After the second as we use a noun or an object pronoun: as tall as me, as fast as him.
Common mistakes
✗ She is as taller as me.
✓ She is as tall as me.
✗ My car is as fast than yours.
✓ My car is as fast as yours.
✗ He is not so old like me.
✓ He isn’t as old as me.
✗ This bag is as the same as mine.
✓ This bag is the same as mine.