Comparison using positive adjectives and adverbs

As ... as ...

This structure is used to say that people, things, actions or events are equal in a particular way.

·         A car is as fast as a bus.

·         Alice is as beautiful as Mary.

·         Tom is as tall as Harry.

If we want to say that people, things etc are unequal in a particular way, we can use not so ... as ... or not as ... as ...

·         Tom is not as/so tall as Harry.

·         A car is not as/so fast as a train.

·         Alice is not as/so beautiful as Susie.

No other as ... as ...

This structure can be used to compare one person or thing with the whole group that she/he/it belongs to.

·         No other girl is as intelligent as Alice.

·         No other metal is as useful as iron.

·         No other river is as long as the Niles.

As much/many ... as .../as few/little ... as ...

This structure is used to make a comparison of quantity.

·         I earn as much money as you.

·         Alice has as many children as Mary.

·         Tom earns as much as Harry.

·         We have as many cars as them.

·         They have as few visitors as we have.

·         They have as little money as we have.

In an informal style, we use object pronouns (us, them, him etc.) after as. In a more formal style, subject pronouns are used usually with verbs.

·         I earn as much money as he does.

·         We have as many children as they have.

Not as much/many ... as ...

This structure can be used to say that quantities are not equal in a particular way.

·         He does not earn as much as I do.

·         Harry does not eat as much food as Tom does.

·         We do not have as many visitors as them.