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KitWren
a2A2 Elementary EnglishDescribing and comparingGrammarabout 12 min

As … as and not as … as

Say two things are the same or not the same with as … as and not as … as.

In this lesson you will

  • Use as + adjective + as for equal things
  • Use not as … as for differences
  • Use the same as and different from

Learn

as + adjective + as = equal: My brother is as tall as* my dad.*

not as … as = less: The film wasn’t as good as* the book* (= the book was better).

Also with adverbs: She doesn’t run as fast as* her sister.*

the same as / different from: My phone is the same as yours. Life here is very different from life at home.

Examples

  • This hotel is as expensive as the one in the centre.
  • Buses aren’t as fast as trains.
  • I can’t cook as well as my mum.
  • Your bag is the same as mine!

Vocabulary

equal

the same in size or amount

similar

almost the same

different from

not the same as

the same as

exactly like

quite

fairly, a bit

“quite similar”

Practice

1 / 8

The new flat isn’t ___ big as the old one.

Speaking

Compare yourself with a family member using as…as and not as…as (height, age, cooking, sport, patience).

Recording isn’t available in this browser. You can still practise: say your answer aloud, then type what you said.

Writing

Compare your town now with ten years ago using as…as, not as…as and different from (50–70 words).

0 / 50+ words

Lesson quiz

1 / 5

It’s ___ cold as yesterday.

Review

Key points

  • as … as = equal.
  • not as … as = less.
  • the same as / different from.

What you learned

  • ✓ I can say things are equal.
  • ✓ I can say things are not equal.
  • ✓ I can use the same as and different from.

Grammar reference: Comparatives and superlatives