logounam logo-avi
logouapa

Comparison of equality: As … as …

Presentation / Objective

The same or different?

Have you ever had the dilemma of choosing between two things that you like the same? Do you tend to compare places or products? You can use the comparative of equality to express these ideas.

In this section, you will review the use of equality comparisons between athletes, hotels and sports. This topic will enable you to compare the similarities or differences among objects or situations.
You will read about some sports, what characterises them, as well as their differences and similarities.
Afterwards will also listen to some young women talking about clothes while going out shopping.
You will have to talk about athletes you admire as well as exotic hotels.

Photo of the Louvre of Paris

Hot2340. (2016). El Louvre [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, May 18 from https://pixabay.com/es/par%C3%ADs-francia-el-louvre-2093773/

Photo of Coliseo of Rome

Kirkandmimi. (2016). Coliseo [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, May 18 from https://pixabay.com/es/roma-monumento-coliseo-italia-2093608

Objective

By the end of this topic you will:
Recognise the comparative form as … as and use it to talk about sports, athletes and hotels establishing relationships of equality.

Content

Comparison: (not) as… as

1. Adjective

Use as + adjective + as to say that two things or people are the same in some way.

  • Bogota is as interesting as Buenos Aires. (They both are equally interesting)

Use not as + adjective + as to talk about difference between two things or people.

  • The Two –star hotel isn't as expensive as the four –star hotel. (The four-star hotel is more expensive

MatthewRR. (2016). Hotel [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, May 09 from https://pixabay.com/es/santorini-oc%C3%A9ano-isla-hotel-2090252/

2. Adverb

It can also used as+ adverb + as to say that an activity is performed in a very similar way or even in the same way.

  • Julia cooks as well as Peter (Julian and Peter are both good cooks).
Woman and men cooking

089photoshootings. (2014). Julia and Peter cooks [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, May 09 from https://pixabay.com/es/mujer-cocina-hombre-vida-cotidiana-1979272/

Use not as + adverb + as to talk about the difference between two things or people.

  • Susan couldn’t run as quickly as Mary. (Mary runs faster)
Girls running

Rien13. (2016). Mary runs faster [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, May 09 from https://pixabay.com/es/corriendo-deportes-racing-atl%C3%A9tico-1904186/

3. many as… as

Use as many + plural noun + as to say the number of things are equal.

  • Guadalajara receives as many tourist as Monterrey.

Use not as many as to say that two things are not equal.

  • Guatemala doesn't have as many pyramids as Mexico.
Pyramid

K_tzito. (2016). Pyramid [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, May 09 from https://pixabay.com/es/piramide-palenque-paisaje-1649598/

4. as much as

Use as much + uncountable nouns + as, to compare two things

  • New York has as much traffic as Sao Paulo.

Use not as much as to say that two things are not equal.

  • Mexico doesn't produce as much wine as Italy.
Traffic in Nueva York

Hugorouffiac. (n. d.). Nueva York [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, May 09 from https://pixabay.com/es/nueva-york-rojo-amarillo-1819861/

5. As … as + possibility

as ... as is also used to express possibility or ability.

  • Can you come as soon as possible?
  • Go to as many places as you can.
  • We got here as fast as we could.

6. To complete a comparison with as… as, you can use

  1. a noun ( +verb)
  2. a subject pronoun + verb or an auxiliary verb
  3. a possessive noun or possessive pronoun
    1. I dance as well as my sister (dances).
    2. I dance as well as she dances.
      I dance as well as she does.
    3. My car is as old as Tom's.
      My car is as old as his.

Formal

Informal

He is as tall as I am.

He is as tall as me.

(as me/ as her/ as him/ as us / as them)

Form

The following table will help you understand the form and use of comparing things that are of similar proportion.

as adjetive as
My car is as comfortable as yours
My class is not as difficult as yours
as adverb as
My sister drives as carefully as me
I don`t sing as well as my best friend.

To summarise comparison of equality is used to show that two things or people are similar. There is no difference between the subject and the object. It can be used with adjectives, adverbs and nouns.

Reading

Activity 1

Universal Sports

As you have seen in the contents, you can use as … as to compare things that are of similar proportion.

Use the arrows to navigate from photo to photo, or click on the bullets at the bottom to browse images.

Click on each image to see its description.

Do you recognize this sports?

Which one do you like the best?

Which one do you like?

Which one do you dislike? Why?

Listening

Activity 2

Shop until you drop

Do you like shopping?
Where do you go shopping?

There are many ways to compare things or people. Remember how the comparisons were made in the previous text. Some sports are equally exciting, and you can express that by using as … as. When you go shopping, you can find two things you like, and then decide which to buy because both are nice.

Writing

Activity 3

Amazing Athletes

You have already read a passage comparing some sports and a listening comparing shopping. It is important to remember that as …. as can be used to compare things in the same degree.

Use the arrows to navigate from photo to photo, or click on the bullets to browse images.

Who is your favorite professional athlete? Why?

Do you think professional athletes earn too much money?

Why or why not? Which sport's athletes do you think earn the money?

Do you know any famous Mexican Athletes?

Look at the pictures and Match the it with the names.

Do you admire any athlete?

Write 60-80 words about some athletes that you know. Compare them using the structure as…as
Consider the points on the following rubrics, so you can identify where the evaluation will be directed.

My favourite athletes

My favourite athletes

Daron Rahlves is as tall as Wolf Wigo. However, Patrick is the tallest of them all. Wolf is as tall as Maureen, but Tara is the shortest of them all. Patrick Elias is as handsome as Wolf, and he is as fitted as Daron. All of them are as successful as any worldwide famous athletes.

Speaking

Activity 4

Places to remember

You have used the structure as ... as in different skills such as writing, reading and listening. In this section, you will use this structure comparing two exotic places.

Use the arrows to navigate from photo to photo, or click on the bullets to browse images.

Do you like traveling?

Do you prefer summer vacations or winter vacations?

Do you prefer to travel alone or in a group? Why?

Do you prefer to travel by train, bus, plane, car or ship?

What countries would you like to visit? Why?

Would you prefer to stay at a hotel/motel or camp while on vacation?

If you could go anywhere in te wrold where would you go?

What is your favorite destination to travel? Beach , Mountains, cities?

Click on each concept to visualise the corresponding information. Look at pictures and read the information about some exotic hotels.

Hotel Glace

Place: Quebec, Canada
Prices: From 259 US dollars and up
Amenities:

  • Ice bed with Nordic sleeping bag.
  • Hot tubs and sauna under the stars
  • Winter Activities
  • Access to the snow slides, Snow Rafting and Ice Skating Paths
  • Chapel
  • Breakfast
  • Access to the Indoor Water Park
More information: Click here
: Ice Hotel Quebec

Pixel. (2015). Ice Hotel Quebec [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, May 09 from https://www.flickr.com/photos/pixel1949/16842414851/

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

Place: Saariselkä, Finland
Prices: 323 US dollars and up
Amenities:

  • Smoke saunas and ice swimming
  • Two international restaurants.
  • Meeting business
  • Provide transport
  • Equipment rental clothes, skies, snowshoes, sleds, and bicycle.
  • Breakfast
  • Gift shop
More information: Click here
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

Patcharapol Saelee. (2016). Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, May 09 from https://www.flickr.com/photos/152529693@N02/32354901073

Atlantis

Place: The Palm, Dubai
Prices: 331 US dollars and upp
Amenities:

  • Luxurious conditions
  • Diving
  • Water Sports
  • Swimming pools
  • Elegant and spacious restaurant
  • Spa
  • Swimming with Dolphins
  • Aquarium
  • Meeting Business
More information: Click here
Hotel Atlantis

González, A. (2011). Atlantis Dubai [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, May 09 from https://www.flickr.com/photos/112937297@N06/11747192566/

Huilo Huilo

Place: South of Chile, South America
Prices: starts at 77 up to 472 US dollars.
Amenities:

  • Rooms or cabins eco friendly .
  • Different sized cabins from two up to 8 people
  • An architectural wonder inspired by the plant life of the southern forests.
  • Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve.
  • Eco friendly Restaurants
  • Breakfast
More information: Click here
Hotel Hulio

Bowes, B. (2011). Hulio Hulio [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, May 09 from https://www.flickr.com/photos/benbowes/6995559138

Make comparison using as ... as or not as .... as. Here are some aspects that you can compare:

  • expensive
  • interesting
  • exhotic
  • attractive
  • elegant
  • convenient
  • luxurious
  • beautiful
  • peaceful
  • romantic
  • far away
  • relaxing

Click on the next link so you can record yourself. When you finish, listen to it and evaluate yourself using the rubrics.

“Vocaroo”

It is essential that your recording should be no shorter than 40 minutes and no longer than 90 minutes. Please make sure it has the characteristics described in the rubrics.

Self-assessment

Check your progress


After revising all the grammar about the comparison as … as and doing some reading, speaking, listening and writing exercises. You will do an exercise to check your progress.

References

Basic references

• Coe, N., Harrison, M., & Paterson, K. (2006). Oxford Practice Grammar. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.
• Eastwood, J. (2002). Oxford Guide to English Grammar. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press.
• John, E. (2002). Oxford Guide to English Grammar. Oxford, Inglaterra: Oxford University Press.
• Thomson, A. A. (1980). A Practical English Grammar. (Oxford, Ed.) Oford.
• Cambridge Dictionary. (n. d.). As … as. Retrieved on 2017, May 18 from http://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/as-and-as-expressions/as-as

Complementary

• Intermediate students of English. (3rd. ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
• Learn English Feel Good. (n. d.). The passive voice 2 (Mixed tenses). Retrieved on 2017, May 18 from http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/esl-passive-voice-exercise2.html