Equality and Inequality Comparisons

1. What Are Equality and Inequality Comparisons?

We use as … as and not as … as to compare two people, things or actions.

• as … as = the quality or action is at the same level
• not as … as = the first person or thing has less of that quality

These patterns are an alternative to comparative forms such as taller than. They focus on whether a quality or action is equal or lower.

• John is tall. Mike is tall. → John is as tall as Mike. (same)
• John is tall. Mike is short. → Mike is not as tall as John. (less)

2. As … as (Equality)

Structure: as + adjective + as
Meaning: two things are the same

Examples:

• tall → as tall as
• fast → as fast as
• expensive → as expensive as

Sentences:

• John is as tall as Mike.
• This car is as fast as that car.
• This hotel is as expensive as that one.

After the second as

After the second as, use an object pronoun in informal English or a subject + verb in more formal English:

• "She is as tall as me." (informal)
• "She is as tall as I am." (more formal)

The same choice is possible with adverbs: "She runs as fast as him." / "She runs as fast as he does."

3. Not as … as (Inequality)

Structure: not as + adjective + as
Meaning: the first person/thing has less of this quality. For example, not as tall as = shorter than.

Examples:

• tall → not as tall as
• fast → not as fast as
• big → not as big as

Sentences:

• Mike is not as tall as John.
• This car is not as fast as that car.
• My room is not as big as my brother’s room.

4. Using Adverbs

Use an adjective after be (She is as fast as her brother). Use an adverb after an action verb (She runs as fast as her brother).

We can also use as … as with adverbs.
Structure: as + adverb + as

Examples:

• fast → as fast as
• well → as well as

Sentences:

• She runs as fast as her brother.
• He speaks English as well as his teacher.

We can also use not as … as with adverbs: He doesn’t speak English as well as his teacher.

5. Comparing Quantities

Use as much … as with uncountable nouns and as many … as with plural countable nouns.

Noun type	Equality	Inequality
uncountable: time, water, money	as much + noun + as	not as much + noun + as
plural countable: books, classes, chairs	as many + noun + as	not as many + noun + as

Examples:

• I have as much free time as Lena.
• We don’t drink as much coffee as they do.
• Leo has as many classes as Sara.
• We don’t own as many books as our neighbours.

Modifiers and multiples

Use modifiers to show a small or large difference:

• "Mia is just as tall as Leo."
• "This phone is almost / nearly as expensive as that one."
• "My bike is not nearly as fast as yours."
• "This bottle has twice as much water as that one."

6. Using “The Same … As”

Use the same + noun + as to say that a feature, type or amount is equal.

• John is the same height as Mike. (= John is as tall as Mike.)
• My bag is the same colour as yours.
• We go to the same school as our cousins.
• My phone isn’t the same model as yours.

7. Common Errors

Do not mix the as … as structure with a comparative form and than.

8. Summary

• as … as = the same level
• not as … as = a lower level
• as much/many … as = the same quantity
• the same … as = the same feature, type or amount