Unit 69: COMPARING TWO

Here are some ways to say that two things or people or ideas are the same or different.

When they are different

a We can say the same thing AFFIRMATIVELY (Comparative (Unit 68) + than) or NEGATIVELY (not as...as)

[A]: AFFIRMATIVELY, [N]: NEGATIVELY

[A] Driving a big rig is harder than driving a delivery van. =
[N] Driving a delivery can is not as hard as driving a big rig.

[A] The route was easier than I thought. =
[N] The route was not as difficult as I thought.

[A] He should drive more slowly than that. =
[N] He shouldn't drive as quickly as that.

[A] He gets more money than me. =
[N] I don't get as much money as him.

[A] The meal today was more expensive than yesterday. =
[N] The meal yesterday was not as expensive as today.

b Another way to say not as...as is less...than:

The route was less difficult than I thought.
I get less money than him.

c Sometimes, it is not necessary to use than:

John's English is good but Maria's is better (than John's).

He's looking for a job with more money (than he gets now).

d We can use much, nearly, a little and quite to show:

a big difference

Mornings are much busier than afternoons.
Afternoons aren't nearly as busy as mornings.

a small difference

Drive a little more slowly than that.
Don't drive quite as quickly as that.


When they are the same

Use as...as

He drove as fast as he could. (He could not drive any faster.)

I'm as tall as you are. (We are the same height.)

Is that van as fast as mine? (Are they equally fast?)

To show exactly the same: I'm just as tall as you are.


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Exercise 69.1
Exercise 69.2
Exercise 69.3