Direct link to YouTube video: https://youtu.be/So6sMv–440
Explanations + Extra Practice Activities
Comparing with AS…AS and NOT AS…AS
We can use as…as and not as…as to compare people, things, and actions.
There are four main structures to remember. 👇
👥 1. Comparing People or Things: Same Degree
Use: Subject 1 + be + as + adjective + as + Subject 2 (+ be)
Use this structure when two people or things have the same degree of a quality.
Josh is as tall as Sara (is).
This means:
➡️ Josh and Sara are equally tall.
More examples:
This car is as expensive as that car.
My English is as good as yours.
Sarah is as busy as her manager.
💡 The second be verb is often optional:
Josh is as tall as Sara.
Josh is as tall as Sara is.
Both sentences are correct. The second is simply repeats the verb from the first part of the sentence.
📉 2. Comparing People or Things: Less
Use: Subject 1 + be + not + as + adjective + as + Subject 2 (+ be)
Use this structure when Subject 1 has less of a quality than Subject 2.
Josh is not as tall as Sara (is).
This means:
➡️ Josh is less tall than Sara.
More examples:
This car isn’t as expensive as that car.
My English isn’t as good as yours.
Sarah isn’t as busy as her manager.
Again, the second be verb can often be omitted:
Josh isn’t as tall as Sara.
Josh isn’t as tall as Sara is.
Both are correct. ✅
🏃 3. Comparing Actions: Same Degree
Use: Subject 1 + action verb + as + adverb + as + Subject 2 (+ auxiliary)
Use this structure when two people do something to the same degree or in the same way.
Josh drives as carefully as Sara (does).
This means:
➡️ Josh and Sara drive equally carefully.
More examples:
Sarah speaks as clearly as her teacher (does).
I work as hard as my coworkers (do).
Josh runs as quickly as Sara (does).
💡 The auxiliary verb at the end can often be omitted:
Josh drives as carefully as Sara.
Josh drives as carefully as Sara does.
Both sentences are correct. ✅
The auxiliary depends on the verb structure:
Josh drove as carefully as Sara did.
Josh is driving as carefully as Sara is.
Josh can drive as carefully as Sara can.
🚫🏃 4. Comparing Actions: Less
Use: Subject 1 + auxiliary + not + action verb + as + adverb + as + Subject 2 (+ auxiliary)
Use this structure when Subject 1 does something less well, quickly, carefully, slowly, etc. than Subject 2.
Josh doesn’t drive as carefully as Sara (does).
This means:
➡️ Josh drives less carefully than Sara.
More examples:
Sarah doesn’t speak as clearly as her teacher (does).
I don’t work as hard as my coworkers (do).
Josh doesn’t run as quickly as Sara (does).
The auxiliary at the end can also be omitted:
Josh doesn’t drive as carefully as Sara.
Josh doesn’t drive as carefully as Sara does.
Both are correct. ✅
⭐ The Main Difference
👤 People and things → Adjectives
Josh is as tall as Sara.
Josh isn’t as tall as Sara.
🏃 Actions → Adverbs
Josh drives as carefully as Sara.
Josh doesn’t drive as carefully as Sara.
Remember:
🟢 AS + adjective/adverb + AS = the same degree
🔴 NOT AS + adjective/adverb + AS = less than
Once you understand whether you are comparing a person or thing or comparing how an action is performed, choosing the correct structure becomes much easier.
Extra Practice Activities
Quiz! Test your knowledge!
🟢 Part 1 — Comparing People & Things
AS + ADJECTIVE + AS / NOT AS + ADJECTIVE + AS
Instructions: Use the adjective in bold to make a complete comparison sentence.
1. 🧠 Comparing Intelligence
Josh is smart.
Sara is smart.
They are equally smart.
✏️ Answer:
Josh is as smart as Sara.
2. 🐆 Comparing Speed
A cheetah is fast.
A horse is fast, but the cheetah is faster.
✏️ Answer:
A horse is not as fast as a cheetah.
3. 💰 Comparing Prices
Laptop A is expensive.
Laptop B is expensive.
They cost the same amount.
✏️ Answer:
Laptop A is as expensive as Laptop B.
4. 📏 Comparing Height
Josh is tall.
Sara is tall, but Josh is taller.
✏️ Answer:
Sara is not as tall as Josh.
5. 📚 Comparing Difficulty
Today’s test is difficult.
Yesterday’s test was difficult too.
The students found them equally difficult.
✏️ Answer:
Today’s test is as difficult as yesterday’s test.
6. 📱 Comparing Age
My phone is new.
Your phone is new, but your phone is newer.
✏️ Answer:
My phone is not as new as your phone.
7. 😴 Comparing Tiredness
Josh is tired.
Sara is tired too.
They are equally tired.
✏️ Answer:
Josh is as tired as Sara.
8. 🧳 Comparing Weight
My suitcase is heavy.
Your suitcase is heavy, but mine weighs more.
✏️ Answer:
Your suitcase is not as heavy as my suitcase.
9. 🌡️ Comparing Temperature
Seoul is warm today.
Busan is warm too.
Both cities are 25°C.
✏️ Answer:
Seoul is as warm as Busan.
10. 🏠 Comparing Size
House A is big.
House B is big, but House A has much more living space.
✏️ Answer:
House B is not as big as House A.
🟡 Part 2 — Comparing Actions
AS + ADVERB + AS / NOT AS + ADVERB + AS
Instructions: Use the adverb in bold to make a complete comparison sentence.
1. 🚗 Comparing Driving
Josh drives carefully.
Sara drives carefully too.
They are equally careful drivers.
✏️ Answer:
Josh drives as carefully as Sara.
Also correct:
Josh drives as carefully as Sara does.
2. 🏃 Comparing Running
Josh runs quickly.
Sara runs quickly too, but Sara is faster.
✏️ Answer:
Josh does not run as quickly as Sara.
Also:
Josh does not run as quickly as Sara does.
3. 🗣️ Comparing Speaking
I speak clearly.
My teacher speaks clearly too.
We speak equally clearly.
✏️ Answer:
I speak as clearly as my teacher.
Also:
I speak as clearly as my teacher does.
4. 💼 Comparing Work
Josh works hard.
Sara works hard too, but Sara works harder.
✏️ Answer:
Josh does not work as hard as Sara.
5. 🍽️ Comparing Eating
I eat quickly.
You eat quickly too, but you finish your meals sooner.
✏️ Answer:
I do not eat as quickly as you.
Also:
I do not eat as quickly as you do.
6. 🎤 Comparing Singing
Josh sings well.
Sara sings well too.
The judges gave them both 90%.
✏️ Answer:
Josh sings as well as Sara.
Also:
Josh sings as well as Sara does.
7. 🔊 Comparing Speaking Volume
My brother speaks loudly.
I speak loudly too, but my brother’s voice can be heard much farther away.
✏️ Answer:
I do not speak as loudly as my brother.
8. 💻 Comparing Studying
Josh studies efficiently.
Sara studies efficiently too.
They get similar results in the same amount of time.
✏️ Answer:
Josh studies as efficiently as Sara.
9. 🚶 Comparing Walking
Tom walks quickly.
Mike walks quickly too, but Mike finishes the same distance sooner.
✏️ Answer:
Tom does not walk as quickly as Mike.
10. ✍️ Comparing Writing
Anna writes neatly.
Lisa writes neatly too.
Their handwriting is equally neat.
✏️ Answer:
Anna writes as neatly as Lisa.
🔴 Part 3 — Advanced Comparisons
Tenses, Auxiliaries & More Challenging Comparisons
Instructions: Use the adjective or adverb in bold to make a complete sentence. Pay attention to the tense and the auxiliary.
1. 🚗 Present Continuous
Josh is driving carefully right now.
Sara is also driving carefully right now.
They are equally careful.
✏️ Answer:
Josh is driving as carefully as Sara is.
The final is can be omitted:
Josh is driving as carefully as Sara.
2. 💼 Past Continuous
Josh was working hard yesterday.
Sara was working hard too, but she worked more hours.
✏️ Answer:
Josh was not working as hard as Sara was.
Or:
Josh was not working as hard as Sara.
3. 📈 Present Perfect
Josh has worked hard this year.
Sara has worked hard too.
They have put in the same amount of effort.
✏️ Answer:
Josh has worked as hard as Sara has.
Or:
Josh has worked as hard as Sara.
4. 🏃 Using CAN
Josh can run fast.
Sara can run fast too.
They can run at the same speed.
✏️ Answer:
Josh can run as fast as Sara can.
Or:
Josh can run as fast as Sara.
5. 🚗 Negative with CAN
Josh can drive safely.
Sara can drive safely too, but Sara is a better driver.
✏️ Answer:
Josh cannot drive as safely as Sara can.
Or:
Josh cannot drive as safely as Sara.
6. 📖 Simple Past
Josh studied carefully for the exam.
Sara studied carefully too, but Sara got a higher score.
✏️ Answer:
Josh did not study as carefully as Sara did.
Or:
Josh did not study as carefully as Sara.
7. 🔮 Using WILL
Josh will work hard tomorrow.
Sara will work hard too, but she plans to work longer hours.
✏️ Answer:
Josh will not work as hard as Sara will.
Or:
Josh will not work as hard as Sara.
8. 🎤 Comparing WELL
Josh sings well.
Sara sings well too, but the judges gave Sara a higher score.
✏️ Answer:
Josh does not sing as well as Sara.
Or:
Josh does not sing as well as Sara does.
9. 😠 Comparing Emotions
Josh is angry.
Sara is angry too, but Sara’s anger is stronger.
✏️ Answer:
Josh is not as angry as Sara.
Or:
Josh is not as angry as Sara is.
10. 🎵 A Subtle Meaning Difference
Josh sings badly.
Sara sings badly too, but Sara’s performance is worse.
✏️ Answer:
Josh does not sing as badly as Sara.
This means:
Sara sings worse than Josh.
⚠️ Compare:
Josh does not sing as well as Sara.
This means:
Sara sings better than Josh.
🏆 Final Challenge
Can You Choose the Correct Structure?
Use the word in bold and decide whether you need as…as or not as…as.
1. 👤
Josh is tall.
Sara is tall.
They are exactly the same height.
✏️ Answer:
Josh is as tall as Sara.
2. 👤
Josh is heavy.
Sara is heavy, but Josh weighs more.
✏️ Answer:
Sara is not as heavy as Josh.
3. 🏃
Josh runs quickly.
Sara runs quickly, but Sara finishes the race first.
✏️ Answer:
Josh does not run as quickly as Sara.
4. 🎤
Josh sings well.
Sara sings well.
The judges give them exactly the same score.
✏️ Answer:
Josh sings as well as Sara.
5. ⭐ Challenge
Josh can speak English fluently.
Sara can speak English fluently too.
They speak with the same level of fluency.
✏️ Answer:
Josh can speak English as fluently as Sara.
Or:
Josh can speak English as fluently as Sara can.