As...As Comparisons
A2 · ElementaryAdjectivesAs + adjective + as says two things are equal — 'My brother is as tall as me' — without needing a comparative form at all.
What you'll learn
- as + adjective + as: two things are equal (as tall as, as good as)
- not as + adjective + as: the first thing is less (not as expensive as)
- twice/three times/half as + adjective + as: comparing by a multiple
- The adjective itself never changes form — no -er, no more
Comparing without a comparative
You already know comparatives like taller and more expensive. But English has another, equally common way to compare two things: as + adjective + as, which says the two things are equal, not that one is 'more' than the other.
'My brother is as tall as me' means we're the same height — it says nothing about who is taller.
Not as...as: the first thing is less
Adding not before as...as flips the meaning to 'less than', not 'more than'. 'This coffee isn't as good as the one at the other cafe' means it's worse, not better.
This is often more natural than a comparative + than in everyday speech: 'It's not as expensive as I thought' sounds more common than 'It's less expensive than I thought'.
Comparing by a multiple
To say exactly how many times bigger, faster, or more something is, put a multiple word (twice, three times, half) directly before as: 'twice as fast as', 'half as expensive as', 'three times as big as'.
Real English
Watch out
As...as always uses as on both sides — than only belongs with comparative forms like smarter than.
Inside as...as, use the plain adjective (fast), never the comparative form (faster).
The second half of the comparison also needs as, not that.
The multiple word (twice, half) goes directly before as + adjective, not after the adjective.
Real life — Comparing two neighborhoods
"Is the new neighborhood as quiet as this one?"
"Pretty much — maybe not quite as quiet, but close."
"What about rent?"
"Honestly, it's almost twice as expensive as here."
Practice
Exercise 1 · Choose the correct form
My brother is ___ me.
Exercise 2 · Choose the correct form
This coffee isn't ___ the one at the other cafe.
Exercise 3 · Choose the correct form
She runs ___ as her brother.
Exercise 4 · Choose the correct form
This car is ___ that one.
Exercise 5 · Choose the correct form
The movie was ___ everyone said it would be.
Exercise 6 · Fix the mistake
Fix the mistake:
Exercise 7 · Choose the correct form
This restaurant is ___ the one downtown.
Exercise 8 · Complete the sentence
Complete: This bag is ___ that one. (equal weight — use as...as with 'heavy')
Exercise 9 · Complete the sentence
Complete: My new phone is ___ my old one. (twice the speed — use 'fast')
Exercise 10 · Build the sentence
Exercise 11 · Choose the correct form
Which is correct?
Quick challenge
Five quick questions to check what stuck.
Question 1 / 5
Score: 0/0
She's ___ me.
You learned
- As + adjective + as says two things are equal.
- Not as + adjective + as says the first thing is less, not more.
- Use twice/three times/half directly before as + adjective + as for a specific multiple.
- Always as...as, never as...than — and always the plain adjective, never the comparative, inside the pattern.
Related grammar lessons
-ed vs -ing Adjectives
Learn the difference between adjectives like bored and boring — -ed describes how someone feels, -ing describes the thing or situation that causes the feeling.
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Learn how to compare things in English with -er/-est and more/most, including the spelling rules and the irregular forms you just have to memorize.
Adjective Order
Learn the natural order for stacking two or more adjectives before a noun — opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material — so your descriptions sound native.
Adjective Forms
Learn the common suffixes that turn nouns and verbs into adjectives (-ful, -less, -ous, -able, -ive) and the prefixes that make an adjective negative (un-, in-, im-, dis-, ir-).