Transformation of sentences

Interchange of the degrees of comparison

Study the following examples. No other man was as strong as Hercules. (positive) Hercules was stronger than any other man. (comparative) Hercules was the strongest of all men. (superlative) Mt Everest is higher than all other peaks. (comparative) No other peak in the world is as high as Mt Everest. (positive) Everest is the highest peak in the world. (superlative) Kashmir is the most beautiful place I have seen. (superlative) No other place I have seen is as beautiful as Kashmir. (positive) Kashmir is more beautiful than any other place I have seen. (comparative) Nothing else travels as fast as light. (positive) Light travels faster than anything else. (comparative) Of all things in the world light travels fastest. (superlative) Mumbai is one of the biggest cities in India. (superlative) Very few cities in India are bigger than Mumbai. (comparative) Most cities in India are not as big as Mumbai. (positive)
Transforming sentences beginning no sooner This can be done in two ways using the expressions as soon as and scarcely (hardly) had when No sooner had I reached the station than the train left. As soon as I reached the station, the train left. Scarcely (or hardly) had I reached the station when the train left. No sooner had the thief run out of the jail than the guard fired at him. As soon as the thief ran out of the jail, the guard fired at him. Scarcely had the thief run out of the jail when the guard fired at him. No sooner did I enter the room than the intruder ran away. As soon as I entered the room, the intruder ran away. Scarcely had I entered the room when the intruder ran away. Transforming sentences containing too to This can be done by using so that. The boy was too clever to be taught. The boy was so clever that he could not be taught. John is too poor to continue his studies.

John is so poor that he cannot continue his studies. We are too late to catch the train. We are so late that we cannot catch the train. The old man was too tired to walk. The old man was so tired that he could not walk.

As as This structure is used to say that people, things, actions or events are equal in a particular way. A car is as fast as a bus. Alice is as beautiful as Mary. Tom is as tall as Harry.

If we want to say that people, things etc are unequal in a particular way, we can use not so as or not as as Tom is not as/so tall as Harry. A car is not as/so fast as a train. Alice is not as/so beautiful as Susie.

No other as as This structure can be used to compare one person or thing with the whole group that she/he/it belongs to. No other girl is as intelligent as Alice. No other metal is as useful as iron. No other river is as long as the Niles.

As much/many as /as few/little as This structure is used to make a comparison of quantity. I earn as much money as you. Alice has as many children as Mary. Tom earns as much as Harry. We have as many cars as them. They have as few visitors as we have. They have as little money as we have.

In an informal style, we use object pronouns (us, them, him etc.) after as. In a more formal style, subject pronouns are used usually with verbs. I earn as much money as he does. We have as many children as they have.

Not as much/many as This structure can be used to say that quantities are not equal in a particular way. He does not earn as much as I do. Harry does not eat as much food as Tom does. We do not have as many visitors as them.

After as and than, we normally use an object pronoun (e.g. him, her, me, them etc.). Subject pronouns are also used in a formal style. Note that when a subject pronoun is used, it is normally followed by a verb. Compare: She is as tall as him. (Less formal) She is as tall as he is. (More formal) (BUT NOT She is as tall as he.)

Subject pronouns are unusual without a following noun. I am taller than him. (Less formal) I am taller than he is. (More formal)

Exercise
Complete the following sentences using appropriate pronouns. 1. You sing as well as (her / she) 2. She runs as fast as does. (he / him) 3. I work as hard as (him / he) 4. She is as old as is. (he / him) 5. You are as efficient as (them / they) 6. We are richer than (they / them)

Answers
1. You sing as well as her. OR You sing as well as she does. 2. She runs as fast as he does. OR she runs as fast as him. 3. I work as hard as him. OR I work as hard as he does.

4. She is as old as he is. OR She is as old as him. 5. You are as efficient as them. OR You are as efficient as they are. 6. We are richer than them.