As-As STRUCTURES

In our everyday life, we usually tell the quality of something by comparing it to other things. We can never differentiate between two things without comparison. And when we compare two or more items, it is necessary that they are of similar proportion or belongs to the same category in as-as structure.

In the English language, we use some structures to compare two or more things of similar proportions. Such a structure is called AS-As Structures. As-As structures are very commonly used to compare things that are of the same proportion. 

In this structure, the first ‘as’ works as an adverb modifying the adverb or adjective after it. Then after as comes adjective or adverb depending on your sentence. Now comes the second ‘as’, which can be used as a conjunction or preposition. If it acts as a conjunction, it is followed by a clause. If it is used as a preposition, it is followed by a noun or pronoun.

You can compare things regarding any context. Like you can compare in form or number, distance, time, quantity, quality, etc. A noun is mostly used after the second ‘as’ in similes. We will learn about it in the next lesson. In this lesson, we will focus on the sentences in which the latter ‘as’ is used as a conjunction, followed by a clause.

Here are some of the examples of As-As structure.

As-Far-As:

‘As far as’ means at some distance or to some extent. We can use ‘as far as’ in any of two the contexts we want. ‘As far as’ and ‘so far as’ are interchangeable but ‘as far as’ is commonly used today. 

Using ‘as far as’ follows the same As-As structure. It depends on you whether you are using a preposition or conjunction after the second ‘as’. And either you are using an adjective or an adverb in your sentence.

Example:

• There are many stars in the sky as far as I can see (distance).
• As far as I know, there aren’t any juices in the refrigerator (to some extent).
• As far as I am concerned, this chapter is over here.
• As far as it’s your idea, I am OK with it.
• As far as I know, you will pass the exam.

As-Many-As:

We use ‘as many as’ when the comparison is regarding quantity. ‘As many as’ is used for the countable amount. We usually use it when the number of anything is possibly large or surprising. Let’s see some examples.

Example:

• I don’t think there are as many students as in other places I have taught.
• You can eat as many apples as you want.
• I have as many dresses as Elsa has.
• Jason has a lot of shoes, but I think I have as many as him.
• This year I will buy as many dresses as my sister.
• Don’t worry about the money, buy as many drinks as you want.
• There were as many as 1000 people in the seminar.

As-Much-As:

As much as is used to compare quantities, we use as much as when the quantity of anything is uncountable or not known to us. We use it with singular, uncountable nouns. Let’s check the use of as much as in sentences.

Example:

• You can drink as much water as you want.
• I am not earning as much money as I used to earn from my previous job.
• You can buy as much fruit as you can eat.
• You can wear as much makeup as you like until and unless you don’t look horrible.
• I never wished for peace as much as I am doing now.

As-long-As:

We use as long as for time. It can also mean “if it is the case that: provided that.” You can use ‘as long as’ in any of the two contexts. It simply means putting a condition of time on action. So long as and as long as interchangeable. Both have the same meaning. But ‘so long as’ is often used in negative sentences.

Example:

• You can keep my book as long as you need it.
• You can use my bike so long as you don’t ride it fast.
• You can stay at my home so long as you don’t buy one for yourself.
• I will be with you as long as I am alive.
• You are allowed to go to the party as long as you come back home early.

As-Soon-As:

We use ‘as soon as’ in sentences when we want something to do immediately. We often use it to emphasize on time. Let’s study some examples.

Example:

• Complete your assignment as soon as possible.
• Come back home as soon as possible.
• Let me know about the test as soon as possible.
• I am hungry, please cook anything as soon as possible.
• I will come to university as soon as I could.
• Please do it as soon as you can.

Important things to know:

Here are a few things which are essential to know about As-As structures.

Using modifiers: you can use words or expressions before as-as structure to emphasize.

Example:

• I can see almost as well at night as I could in sunlight.

Used with negatives:

You can use as-as structures in a negative statement as well. Some of the examples are given in the above-mentioned examples.

Example:

• She isn’t as smart as she pretends.
• He isn’t as sharp as he thinks of himself.
• I have never been as sick as this time.

Used for describing size:

You can use expressions like half, twice, or thrice in front of as-as structures. You do it when you are indicating the size of something while comparing it to some other thing.

Example:

• His car is twice as comfortable as a truck.
• The building is twice as high as a mountain.

Conclusion:

In this lesson, you learned about As-As structures comprising clauses. There can be many as-as structures, but here you have seen a few of them.

Exercise: Rephrase the following sentence using as-as structure. The sentences can be rephrased in many ways.

1. I am more interested in playing cricket than badminton.
2. Me and my sister have equal sandals.
3. You are horrible, like maths.
4. You are good at cooking, like your mother.
5. You are brave, like a lion.

Suggested rephrased sentences

1. I am not interested in badminton as much as in badminton.
2. I have as many sandals as my sister.
3. You are as horrible as maths.
4. You are as good as your mother at cooking.
5. You are as brave as a lion.