Part 2: Comparing Equal Amounts with As...As
2020-06-19
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1If you read or listened to Part 1 of our program on comparisons of equality, you know that we can compare equal qualities and actions by using the word "as."
2We can also compare equal quantities, or amounts, and we will talk about that on today's Everyday Grammar program.
3Because of how we form equal comparisons, I will call them "as...as comparisons."
4Suppose you are playing a card game with two friends.
5The goal is to have no cards remaining.
6You look and see that the other players each have the same number of cards.
7In English, there are a few ways to express an equal number or quantity between two things.
8One way is to make an as...as comparison.
9Here is what someone might say or write:
10Ayami has as many cards as Zora.
11Let's examine this sentence.
12There is a subject and verb.
13Notice also that the word "as" is used two times and note where it is placed: before and after the thing being compared.
14The structure for comparisons of quantity goes like this:
15as + many (or) much + noun + as
16In the example, "many" is the quantity word and "cards" is the noun.
17You may recall that, for countable nouns, like "cards," we use the word "many."
18For uncountable nouns, like "money," we use the word "much."
19Now, suppose you all are getting hungry.
20You want to order food to be delivered and want your friends to share in the cost.
21So, you ask them how much money they each can spend, and they both can spend an equal amount.
22To express it with an as...as comparison, you could say this:
23Ayami can spend as much money as Zora.
24Notice that the word "much" is used with the noun "money" because "money" is an uncountable noun.
25Sometimes, in these kinds of comparisons, native English speakers may replace the noun with a pronoun.
26So, instead of saying "much money," they might use "much" as a pronoun. Here is what that sounds like:
27Ayami can spend as much as Zora.
28Use of the pronoun suggests the listener already knows that money is being discussed.
29So far, we have put people in the examples.
30But we can also make quantity comparisons between two things.
31Suppose you are looking for a table with a lot of style.
32You visit a furniture store and see two tables that seem equally stylish. Here is one way to express it:
33This table has as much style as that table.
34Here, you are comparing amounts of style, and "style" is an uncountable noun.
35We have talked about expressing equal quantities or amounts.
36But what happens when the quantities are not equal? In as...as comparisons, we use the negative form.
37Let's return to the card game example.
38Suppose your friends do not have the same number of cards.
39How could you express the unequal quantity?
40Ayami does not have as many cards as Zora.
41Now, let's hear the example about the friends' food budgets:
42Ayami cannot spend as much money as Zora.
43Most likely, a native English speaker would use the shortened version, "can't."
44Here is how that would sound:
45Ayami can't spend as much money as Zora.
46Again, a native speaker might also replace " money" with just the pronoun "much," like this:
47Ayami can't spend as much as Zora.
48Now, what about the tables? How could you say their style is not equal? Like this:
49This table does not have as much style as that table.
50By now, you might be thinking, "But there are other ways to say things are equal or unequal."
51You are right! For example, you could use the word "both," as in, "Ayami and Zora can both spend $20."
52Or, to show an unequal amount, you could say, "Zora can spend more than Ayami."
53So why, then, do we use as...as comparisons? The answer is for emphasis.
54These comparisons bring emphasis to the fact that the first thing (which is the subject) is equal to or the same in some way to the second thing.
55Look and listen for these comparisons wherever English is being used.
56Ask yourself who or what is being compared.
57Then think about whether it is a comparison of qualities, actions, or amounts.
58I'm Alice Bryant.
1If you read or listened to Part 1 of our program on comparisons of equality, you know that we can compare equal qualities and actions by using the word "as." We can also compare equal quantities, or amounts, and we will talk about that on today's Everyday Grammar program. 2Because of how we form equal comparisons, I will call them "as...as comparisons." 3Comparing equal quantities 4Suppose you are playing a card game with two friends. The goal is to have no cards remaining. You look and see that the other players each have the same number of cards. 5In English, there are a few ways to express an equal number or quantity between two things. 6One way is to make an as...as comparison. Here is what someone might say or write: 7Ayami has as many cards as Zora. 8Let's examine this sentence. There is a subject and verb. Notice also that the word "as" is used two times and note where it is placed: before and after the thing being compared. 9The structure for comparisons of quantity goes like this: 10as + many (or) much + noun + as 11In the example, "many" is the quantity word and "cards" is the noun. 12You may recall that, for countable nouns, like "cards," we use the word "many." For uncountable nouns, like "money," we use the word "much." 13Now, suppose you all are getting hungry. You want to order food to be delivered and want your friends to share in the cost. So, you ask them how much money they each can spend, and they both can spend an equal amount. To express it with an as...as comparison, you could say this: 14Ayami can spend as much money as Zora. 15Notice that the word "much" is used with the noun "money" because "money" is an uncountable noun. 16Sometimes, in these kinds of comparisons, native English speakers may replace the noun with a pronoun. So, instead of saying "much money," they might use "much" as a pronoun. Here is what that sounds like: 17Ayami can spend as much as Zora. 18Use of the pronoun suggests the listener already knows that money is being discussed. 19So far, we have put people in the examples. But we can also make quantity comparisons between two things. 20Suppose you are looking for a table with a lot of style. You visit a furniture store and see two tables that seem equally stylish. Here is one way to express it: 21This table has as much style as that table. 22Here, you are comparing amounts of style, and "style" is an uncountable noun. 23Unequal quantities 24We have talked about expressing equal quantities or amounts. But what happens when the quantities are not equal? In as...as comparisons, we use the negative form. 25Let's return to the card game example. Suppose your friends do not have the same number of cards. How could you express the unequal quantity? 26Ayami does not have as many cards as Zora. 27Now, let's hear the example about the friends' food budgets: 28Ayami cannot spend as much money as Zora. 29Most likely, a native English speaker would use the shortened version, "can't." Here is how that would sound: 30Ayami can't spend as much money as Zora. 31Again, a native speaker might also replace " money" with just the pronoun "much," like this: 32Ayami can't spend as much as Zora. 33Now, what about the tables? How could you say their style is not equal? Like this: 34This table does not have as much style as that table. 35Why as...as comparisons? 36By now, you might be thinking, "But there are other ways to say things are equal or unequal." You are right! For example, you could use the word "both," as in, "Ayami and Zora can both spend $20." Or, to show an unequal amount, you could say, "Zora can spend more than Ayami." 37So why, then, do we use as...as comparisons? The answer is for emphasis. 38These comparisons bring emphasis to the fact that the first thing (which is the subject) is equal to or the same in some way to the second thing. 39Look and listen for these comparisons wherever English is being used. Ask yourself who or what is being compared. Then think about whether it is a comparison of qualities, actions, or amounts. 40I'm Alice Bryant. 41Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 42________________________________________________________________ 43Words in This Story 44card - n. a small piece of stiff paper that is marked with symbols or pictures and is used for playing games 45deliver - v. to take something to a person or place 46pronoun - n. a word that is used instead of a noun 47style - n. a particular form or design of something 48furniture - n. chairs, tables, beds, etc., that are used to make a room ready for use 49negative - adj. expressing dislike or refusal 50emphasis - n. special importance or attention given to something