Intermediate English Course - Level 6A - Lesson 9 of 10

As -- As in Comparatives

Listen to four English conversations using comparative adjectives and adverbs

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Script
Grammar
Quiz

Conversation #1

Man: How is your new job?
Woman: Okay, but it is not as fun as my last job.
Man: Oh, really? Why?
Woman: Well, there are not as many social events and it is not as chill as my last job.
Man: Oh, no, that's too bad. What about pay and benefits?
Woman: I earn about as much as before, but I had better benefits.
Man: Well, so it's not all bad.

Conversation #2

Woman: I hear you got a new house.
Female: I did. We just moved in last week.
Man: How is it?
Woman: Good. It is not as big as my last place, but it is cheaper.
Man: How is the neighborhood?
Woman: It is not as convenient as my last place, but I like it.

Conversation #3

Man: Can you pick up my friend at the airport? I have to work tonight.
Woman: Sure, I can do that. What does he look like?
Man: Well, he's about as tall as me, and he has blonde hair. It's the same color as mine.
Woman: Wow, he sounds like your twin.
Man: No, I am not nearly as handsome as he is. You'll see.
Woman: I'll be the judge of that.

Conversation #4

Man: How's the new cafe?
Woman: Not good. It's not as good as the last one.
Man: How are the prices?
Woman: About the same, but the coffee is not as good as before.
Man: Oh, no. I'm bummed to hear that.
Woman: There is one good thing, though.
Man: Oh, yeah. What's that?
Woman: Well, because the quality has dropped off, it's not nearly as crowded as before, so it's easy to find a seat.
Man: Well, at least that's good.

As — As / Comparative Adjectives and Adverbs

Point 1: The words ‘as — as’ can go before and after an adjective to compare two things.

My new car is not as fast as my last car.
This new job is just as boring as my last job.
My French is not as good as my Spanish.
Thai grammar is not as hard as Japanese grammar.

Point 2: The phrase ‘not as — as’ is commonly used to show one thing is inferior to another item.

I am not as tall as my dad. My dad is taller than me.
Japan is not as big as Brazil. Brazil is bigger.
Money is not as important as health. Health is more important.
Winter is not as warm as Summer. Summer is warmer.

Point 3: The phrase ‘as — as’ shows two things have equal status or quality. It does not mean one item is better.

My new house is as big as my last house.
My mom is about as tall as my sister.
My city is about as big as the capitol.
The test was as hard as the last one.

Point 4: The same patterns apply to comparing adverbs.

I do not earn as much as I did at my last job.
I don’t speak as fluently as I did before.
My new car does not steer as easily as my last car did.
I don’t play the piano as well as I used to.

Point 5: Me vs I am - With pronouns, there are two ways to make a comparison in spoken English.

He is as tall as me.
He is as tall as I am.
I am not as lucky as her.
I am not as lucky as she is
They are not as fortunate as us.
They are not as fortunate as we are.

Point 5: My dad is vs. My dad - In spoken, speakers can add the auxiliary verb or modal, but it is not necessary.

I am not as tall as my dad.
I am not as tall as my dad is.
I cannot cook as well as my mom
I cannot cook as well as my mom can.
I do not play tennis as well as my sister.
I do not play tennis as well as my sister does.

Answer these questions about the interview.

Extensive Listening for Intermediate Students