Comparison of Quantities

Equal Quantities

To compare two quantities that are equal, we use the pattern:

as + Adjective + (Noun) + as

The quantity adjective you use depends if the noun in the comparison is countable or uncountable.

Countable nouns

Use as many and as few with countable nouns. Note that the noun may be omitted when it is understood from the context, as in the last example below.

Examples

• They have as many children as we do.
• We have as many customers as they do.
• Tom has as few books as Jane.
• There are as few houses in his village as in mine.
• You know as many people as I do.
• I have visited the States as many times as he has.
• I have three brothers. That's as many as you have. ("brothers" is understood)

Uncountable nouns

Use as much or as little with uncountable nouns. Note that the noun may be omitted when it is understood from the context, as in the last example below.

Examples

• John eats as much food as Peter.
• Jim has as little patience as Sam.
• You've heard as much news as I have.
• He's had as much success as his brother has.
• They've got as little water as we have.
• I'm not hungry. I've had as much as I want. ("food" is understood)

Unequal Quantities

To compare two quantities that are unequal, we use the pattern:

Adjective + (Noun) + than

Countable nouns

Use more and fewer with countable nouns. Note that the noun may be omitted when it is understood from the context, as in the last example below.

Examples

• They have more children than we do.
• We have more customers than they do.
• Tom has fewer books than Jane.
• There are fewer houses in his village than in mine.
• You know more people than I do.
• I have visited the States more times than he has.
• I have three brothers. That's more than you have. ("brothers" is understood)

Uncountable nouns

Use more or less with uncountable nouns. Note that the noun may be omitted when it is understood from the context, as in the last example below.

Examples

• John eats more food than Peter.
• Jim has less patience than Sam.
• You've heard more news than I have.
• He's had more success than his brother has.
• They've got less water than we have.
• I'm not hungry at all. I've had more than I want. ("food" is understood)