Design as…as points to approximately the samedegree of similarity two objects or people (Fig. 2).
Constructions notas…as, notso...as, And notsucha...as point to less similarity And less formal than designs with less .
Example:
Lena is as tall as her father. - Lena same high, How her father.
A car is as fast as a bus. - Car same fast, How and a bus.
Alice is as beautiful as Mary. - Alice same beautiful, How Mary.
Tom is as handsome as Harry. - Volume the same attractive, How Harry.
It's as nice today as it was yesterday. - Today Sosame Fine, How and yesterday.
Rice. 2. Design as…as ()
Mike is not as tall as his father. (= Mike is shorter than his father. /Mike's father is taller than Mike.) - Mike Notsuch high, How his father.
Tom is not as tall as Harry. - Volume Notsuch tall, like Harry.
A car is not so fast as a train. - Car Notlike this fast, How train.
Alice is not as beautiful as Susie. - Alice Notlike this beautiful, How Susie.
The remake of the film is not so interesting as the original version. - New version of the film Notlike this interesting, How original.
It's not such a boring book as the last one. - This Notlike this boring book How the last one.
Rice. 3. Design notas…as ()
Ø Data designs can also be used with adjectives that do not form a degree of comparison, or are limited in their formation.
Example:
I'm as aware of the consequences as you are.
This phenomenon is not as unique as you think.
Data designs are used to form degrees of comparison quantities (Fig. 4, 5).
Example:
I earn asmuch money as you.
Alice has asmany children as Mary.
Tom earns asmuch as Harry.
We have asmany cars as them.
They have asfew visitors as we have.
They have aslittle money as we have.
Rice. 4. Construction as much as ()
IN unofficialstyle after as are used object pronouns (us , them , him , etc.), while in official preference is given pronounin the nominative case standing together with verb.
Example:
I earn asmuch money ashim. (informal)
We have asmany children astheydo. (official)
Rice. 5. Construction as much as ()
Structure notasmuch/many...as used when it is necessary to say that quantities not enough to some extent.
Example:
He doesn't earn asmuch as I do.
Harry does not eat asmuch food as Tom does.
We don't have asmany visitors as them.
Comparative degree of adjectives used in parallel structures type themore…themore.
Example:
The sooner, the better. - How quicker, those better (Fig. 6).
The longer she stayed there, the better she felt. - How longer she stayed there better she felt.
The more I think about this project, the less I like it. - How more I'm thinking about this project less I like him.
Rice. 6. The sooner, the better ()
Examplesidiomaticexpressions:
His hands were as cold as ice .
The wind was as cold as ice .
He was always as cold as ice with her.
First as very often omitted in colloquial speech.
Example:
My aunt Maria is always as busy as a bee. OR My aunt Maria is always busy as a bee.
He wasn't as white as a ghost. OR He wasn't white as a ghost.
When translating these sentences, you must remember that they contain idiomatic expressions, so it is important to understand their meaning.
Example:
That student is as sharp as a tack.
To be as sharp as a tack means to learn everything fast and to know a lot about computers .
Last week I had a very bad cold and was as sick as a dog.
All the employees in that company work very hard. They are always as busy as beavers.
Hanna is a growing puppy and she always seems hungry as a bear.
I drank a lot at the party last night and was as drunk as a skunk.
It's no use talking to him. He won't listen. He is as stubborn as a mule.
Ever since Janet agreed to marry him, John's as happy as a lark.
She goes jogging every day and lifts weights at the gym three times a week. She is as fit as a fiddle.
Jim doesn't study at all. It's as plain as day that he won’t pass the university entrance exam.
After the operation, my grandfather was as weak as a kitten.
Try to match each idiom (1-10) with its definition (a-j).
1. As sharp as a tack
2. As sick as a dog
3. As busy as a beaver
4. As hungry as a bear
5. As drunk as a skunk
6. As stubborn as a mule
7. As happy as a lark
8. As fit as a fiddle
9. As plain as day
10. As weak as a kitten
c) Very smart, intelligent
g) Very easy to see or understand
h) Not very strong
j) Not willing to change one's mind
Ø Please note: when comparing the qualities of the same person or thing, comparative degree adjectives (including monosyllabic ones) is formed with the helpmore .
Example:
His eyes are moreblue than grey. -His eyes are more blue than grey.
She is morelazy than incapable. - She's more lazy than incapable.
IN comparative designs various adverbs in order to strengthen, specify or explain their.
· Adverbs much, alot, abit, alittle, even often used with the comparative degree.
Example:
The book that I wanted to buy turned out to be much more expensive than I thought. - The book I wanted to buy turned out to be muchmore expensive than I thought.
Your report will be even better if you make it shorter. - Your report will be evenbetter, if you make it shorter.
She would be a lot happier if you visited her more often. - She would muchhappier if you visited her more often.
· Adverbs almost, nearly, not quite, nowherenear used with the construction as…as.
Example:
The second part of the book is almost as interesting as the first part. - Second part of the book almostlike thissameinteresting, How first part.
This device is not nearly as good as the one you showed me yesterday. - This device at allNotsuchgood, How the one you showed me yesterday.
He's not quite as confident as Susie. - He NotSosureVto myself, How Susie.
This painting is nowhere near famous as the first. - This picture farNotlike thisfamous, How first.
· Expression byfar used with superlative adjectives.
Example:
This film is byfarthefunniest that I have seen recently. - This film - the funniest of all the ones I've seen lately.
She is byfarthemostefficient manager in our company. - She is undoubtedly most qualified manager in our company.
· We can use superlative degree adjectives combined with ordinal numbers (second , third , fifth , etc.) to indicate object size, especially when it comes to place names.
Example:
Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system.
Canada is the world's second largest country.
Geneva is the third largest city in Switzerland.
Type designs twiceaslarge, threetimesaslarge, halfaslarge widely used for size comparison, quantities, speed and other measurable characteristics.
Example:
Your house is twice as large as mine. - Your home Vtwotimesmore mine.
His report is half as long as her report. - His report VtwotimesBriefly speaking her report.
Her bag is five times as heavy as you bag. - Her bag Vfiveonceheavier your bag.
She is half your age. - She twice as young you.
Type designs three times larger, four times bigger, four times smaller, five times faster are also used quite often.
Example:
His computer is tentimesfasterthan mine. - His computer ten times faster than mine.
These light bulbs are five times brighter than those. - These light bulbs Vfiveoncebrighter than those.
· There are also designs that emphasize quantity specified in the offer.
Example:
This box weighs asmuchasfiftykilograms. - This box weighs as much as fifty kilograms.
The new hotel can accommodate as many as a thousand people. - The new hotel can accommodate tothousandsHuman.
I bought this vase for as little as ten dollars. - I bought this vase totalfortendollars.
Choose the correct answer.
1. Teenage girls smoke almost ___________ boys in many of the villages in West Java.
2. This coat is just ___________ the other coat.
a) so expensive than
b) as expensive as
c) not as expensive as
3. I am _______________ Mike. I'm fatter.
a) not so thin as
c) not as fat as
4. Buying a house is getting ______________.
a) the most difficult
b) more and more difficult
c) as much difficult
5. The older you get ___________.
a) as soon you get tired.
b) tired the soonest
c) the sooner you get tired
6. Her hateful eyes were __________.
a) as blind as a bat
b) as cold as ice
c) as white as snow
7. Her hair is ___________ than blond.
8. I would even ______________ you went with us.
c) more happy than
9. Your dog is ___________ mine.
a) twice times larger than
b) not as twice large than
c) twice as large as
10. You are almost _______________ your brother.
1. After comparative degree the conjunction “is used” than", corresponding to the Russian union " how»:
His poems are more popular than his novels.
His poems are more popular how his novels.
2. To compare two items of the same quality in affirmative and interrogative sentences an adjective in the positive degree is placed between “ as….as” with the meaning " the same….as, the same…. How":
Jane is as charming as Ann.
Jane same charming, How Ann.
I'm sorry I'm late. I got here as fast as I could.
Sorry for being late. I got here as fast as could.
IN negative sentences used “ not so……as”, “not as…… as” (not like......like):
The cake is not so delicious as the ice – cream.
Cake not as tasty (delicious) as ice cream.
3. Russian comparative degree after the expressions “ twice, three times etc.” transferred to English an adjective in the positive degree, standing between “ as…… as”:
Gasoline is now in twice as expensive than it was a few years ago.
Now petrol is twice as expensive as it was a few years ago.
Those buildings three times higher these.
Those buildings are three times as high as these ones.
When the second object of comparison is not mentioned, then " as» is not used after an adjective:
He five times older. He is five times as old.
4. Comparative expressions such as: “ half as much, twice as much times younger, twice lighter, etc.." are expressed in English by the words: “ half as much/many (half the size), half my age, half the weight":
She twice his age. She is half his age.
My suitcase twice as light as yours.
My suitcase is half the weight of yours.
5. Expressions like: “ as good as possible” translated into Russian " How it can be better»:
Your report should be as interesting as possible.
Your report should be as interesting as possible.
6. “Most" used before adjectives not only to form the superlative degree (the most), but also with the meaning “ extremely, very" In this case, the noun in singular used
With the indefinite article, and in plural– without article:
This is the most fascinating novel. This is a very exciting novel.
These are most fascinating novels. These are very exciting novels.
“Most" also used before a noun with the meaning “ majority, most»:
Most young people are fond of sport.
Most young people enjoys sports.
After " most" with this meaning the preposition “ of", when the noun to which it refers has with it definite article, demonstrative or possessive pronoun, i.e. when it denotes a certain group of objects or a certain amount of something:
Most of my friends live in Ufa.
Most of my friends lives in Ufa.
Where did you spend your summer holidays? - I spent most of my time in the Crimea.
Where did you spend your summer holiday? - I spent most of the time in Crimea.
7. The comparative degree can be strengthened by using “ much" or " far" with the meaning " much, significantly»:
The Volga is much longer than the Thames.
Volga much (considerably) longer than the Thames.
Her dictionary is far better than yours or mine.
Her dictionary much better yours or mine.
Note: Russian combination " much more" in the meaning " much larger number"corresponds to English" much more" before uncountable nouns and “ many more" before countable:
She has much more free time than he.
She has much more free time than he has.
I've got many more friends than she.
I have much more friends than she has.
8. The superlative degree can be strengthened by using the words “ by far" or " far":
The deposits of oil in Russia are by far the richest in the world.
Oil deposits in Russia much richer than anyone else in the world.
9. To express comparison in English, there are also such constructions as:
A) " more (less)…… than” (more (more), less (less)…… than):
This text is more (less) difficult than that one.
This text more (less) difficult than That.
B) “ the……the” (than…… that), For example: " the more….the better”
(more the better)
What time shall we leave? - The sooner the better.
What time will we leave? – The faster the better.
IN) " the same......as” (same......as):
Tom is the same age as George.
Volume the same age, How George.
G) " than (as) me/him/her/them/us”:
You are taller than me(I am). You're taller than me.
They have more money than us(we have).
They have more money than ours.
The rule for comparing adjectives and adverbs is quite simple. You need to remember only 2 degrees of comparison - comparative and superlative, and a couple of other exceptions that will very easily pop up in your head, even if you learned English using foreign labels:
- better - the best
- worse - the worst
- older - the oldest
- elder - the eldest
As a rule, students have the least difficulties with degrees of comparison. What is of more interest are other ways of comparing things. After all, as has been repeated many times before, it is important to speak (at a certain stage) not only competently, but also in a variety of ways. It is beautiful speech, “diluted” with various structures, that makes the interlocutor listen to you, and not look for a softer sofa to fall asleep to the monotonous “boo-boo-boo.” Therefore, we offer you, along with the necessary degrees of comparison, other means of comparing objects. By the way, in this material you can also repeat the rules about adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, infinitives and gerunds. So it’s nice for you to kill two birds with one stone!
Table. Comparisons in English
| Design | Example |
|---|---|
| as… as- the same... as | His hands were as cold as ice as sly as a fox |
| not so/as…as- not so (oh) ... as | It is not so/as cold as it was yesterday. |
| such a/ so… as- the same... as | It is not such an interesting book as his last one. |
| twice/ three times/ half etc. as…as- two/ three times, etc./ half the same... as | Their house is twice as big as ours. |
| the same as- same as | Your jacket is the same as the one I bought last month |
| look, sound, smell, taste + like- look, sound, smell, have the taste of something… | She looks like an angel. |
| less...than- less... than | The green sofa is less expensive than the black one, but the blue one is the least expensive of all. |
| the least…of/in-least….of anything | |
| the + comparative degree - than…., the…. | The sooner you"ll start, the sooner you"ll finish. |
| comparative degree+ and + comparative degree | Life is getting harder and harder. |
| prefer doing / noun to do/noun- prefer something to something else | I prefer watching TV to going out. |
| would prefer + to + infinitive + rather that + infinitive - do something rather than do something | I would prefer to eat in rather than go to a restaurant. |
| would rather/ sooner + infinitive+THAN+ infinitive - it would be better to do something than anything | I"d rather look for a new flat than stay in this house any longer. |
| offer+ whereas / while + sentence- … while …. | Tom likes living in the country whereas his sister likes living in the city. |
Now take a grammar lesson
Comparative constructions with adjectives - Comparative constructions with adjectives
Comparative constructions with adjectives in English are used in all degrees of comparison.
Positive degree
1. as ... as; the same ... as (same... as; just... as). Express the identity of the qualities of two objects.She is as beautiful as her mother. She is as beautiful as her mother.
Ashley has got the same marks as Brandon. Ashley received the same grades as Brandon.
2. not so ... as; not as ... as (not like ... like; not like ... like). This construction expresses the different qualities of two objects.
Emma is not as graceful as Olivia. Emma is not as graceful as Olivia.
Thomas is not so reach as Joseph. Thomas is not as rich as Joseph.
3. is [number of times] as ... as. It is used if, when comparing, one of the objects is superior to the other by a certain number of times. If the second object in the sentence is not mentioned, then the construction is used is [number of times] as ...
Emily's wardrobe is twice as capacious as Kimberly's. Emily's closet is twice as large as Kimberly's.
Ethan is twice as young. Ethan is half his age.
Comparative degree
1. than (than). This conjunction is located after the adjective in the comparative degree.Jason has got points more than Steven. Jason earned more points than Steven.
2. much/far (considerably/much/much); by far (certainly/much); even (even); still (still). These words enhance the meaning of the comparative construction in the sentence.
Patrick sees into the computers much better than his friend. Patrick knows computers much better than his friend.
This movie is far longer than the previous one. This film is much longer than the previous one.
She is greater by far than everyone at this party. She is definitely the most gorgeous person at this party.
This story is even more tangled than I thought. This story is even more complicated than I thought.
This forest is still dense. This forest is even denser.
3. the... the... (than..., the...). This design indicates the cause-and-effect nature of the compared qualities.
The longer we stay here the farther he leave. The longer we stay here, the further he goes.
Superlative degree
the; the ... in; the ... of. These designs are used to highlight an object that is superior in quality to all others. Usually one object is compared with many.It is the most beautiful place I"ve ever seen. This is the most beautiful place that I've ever seen.
William is the best racer in this bout. William is the best rider in this race.
David is the most reliable person of them all. David is the most reliable person among them.
A boy of sixteen is often as tall as his father.
A boy of sixteen is as tall as his father.
- Double alliance not so…as and not as…as- not the same... as, not as... as - in negative sentences when denying the same quality.
Not is not so (as) tall as his brother.
He is not as tall as his brother.
Please note:
- If the second part of the conjunction as is followed by a personal pronoun in the third person, then usually the verb of the sentence is repeated.
- If the conjunction as is followed by a personal pronoun in the first or second person, then the verb can be omitted. For example:
I am not as strong as he is. I'm not as strong as him.
She is not so beautiful as you (are). She's not as beautiful as you.
- A variation of the design given in paragraph 1 with a double union as…as is a construction whose element (standing before as…as) is the counting adverb twice - twice (more, etc.) or half - twice (less, etc.) or a cardinal number with the word time - once. Constructions of this type with the adverb twice or with the numeral and the word time in Russian correspond to combinations of two (three, etc.) times + adjectives with a direct meaning in the comparative degree.
twice as much as… - twice (twice) more (than)…
three times as long as… - three times longer (than)…
four times as high as… - four times higher (than)…
For example:
The price of meat was twice as high as the price of fish.
The price of meat was twice (twice) the price of fish.
Your flat is three times as large as ours.
Your apartment is three times larger than ours.
Constructions of this type with the counting adverb half in Russian correspond to the combinations twice (double) + an adjective with the opposite meaning in the comparative degree.
half as large as… - half (half) less (than)…
half as long as... - half (half) shorter (than)...
For example:
Your flat is half as large as mine. Your apartment is half the size of mine.
Please note:
When comparing the union as-as in constructions of this type can be omitted, while the adjective is also omitted, but the corresponding noun is used to compensate for these omissions. For example:
Your flat is three times the size of mine. Your apartment is three times larger than mine.
- Constructions the...in... And the...of...- to highlight a person or object with highest degree manifestations of any quality or property (superlative adjective) when comparing three or more persons or objects.
Tom is the tallest in our group. Tom is the tallest in our group.
She is the prettiest of them all. She's the prettiest of them all. - Comparative adjective + than…(how…):
A mountain is higher than a hill. A mountain is higher than a hill.
My mother is ten years younger than my father. My mother is 10 years younger than my father.
Please note:
- If after than follows an infinitive, then the particle to in the infinitive can be omitted.
It is nicer to walk with someone than (to) go alone. It's more pleasant to walk with someone than alone.
It is sometimes better to walk than (to) take a bus. Sometimes it's better to walk than to take the bus. - If after than followed by a personal pronoun in the third person, the verb in the sentence is usually repeated. If after than followed by a first or second person pronoun, the verb may be omitted. For example:
Not is stronger than you. He is stronger than you (than you)
She has more good marks than he has. She has more good grades than him.
