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English grammar

Not so much X as Y: comparisons that correct

C1 · Advanced Referring to people and things Questions 10

The rule

At C1 many comparisons refine or correct a description rather than rank two things. not so much X as Y means it is more Y than X: It was not so much a holiday as a working trip. more of a … than a …: He’s more of a teacher than a manager. if anything pushes a correction further: Things haven’t improved; if anything, they’re worse. far from + adjective means not at all (far from perfect); a far cry from means very different from. Equality can be stressed with every bit as … as and no less … than (She is no less talented than her brother = just as talented); no more … than denies both (He is no more a doctor than I am = he is not a doctor). Proportion uses the more …, the more / less … with no inversion; nothing like as … as means much less.

Pattern

not so much X as Y · more of a … than a … · …; if anything, … · far from + adjective · a far cry from · every bit as … as · no less … than (equal) · no more … than (neither) · the more …, the more … · nothing like as … as

Examples

  1. It was not so much a holiday as a working trip.

  2. He is more of a teacher than a manager.

  3. Prices have not fallen; if anything, they have risen.

  4. The sequel is every bit as good as the original.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: It was not so much a problem than a challenge.

    Right: It was not so much a problem as a challenge.

    The pair is not so much … as.

  • Wrong: He is more a leader than manager of.

    Right: He is more of a leader than a manager.

    The pattern is more of a … than a ….

  • Wrong: The more I practise, the better do I get.

    Right: The more I practise, the better I get.

    No inversion after the more … the better.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the sentence mean?

    She is not so much shy as careful.

    1. She is careful rather than shy.
    2. She is more shy than careful.
    3. She is shy and careful.
    4. She is neither shy nor careful.
    Show answer

    Answer: A She is careful rather than shy.

    not so much X as Y = more Y than X.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. More you practise, easier it gets.
    2. The more you practise, the more easy it gets it.
    3. The more you practise, the easier it gets.
    4. The more you practise, the easier does it get.
    Show answer

    Answer: C The more you practise, the easier it gets.

    the more …, the easier … with normal word order.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    Things haven’t got better. If _____, they’re worse.

    1. anything
    2. everything
    3. nothing
    4. something
    Show answer

    Answer: A Things haven’t got better. If anything, they’re worse.

    if anything strengthens the correction.

  4. 4Change the sentence.

    Correct it with not so much … as.

    It was a debate, but really it was more of an argument.

    1. It was not so much debate as argument of.
    2. It was not so much a debate than an argument.
    3. It was not as much a debate so an argument.
    4. It was not so much a debate as an argument.
    Show answer

    Answer: D It was not so much a debate as an argument.

    not so much a … as a ….

  5. 5Choose the correct sentence.

    What does far from mean here?

    The plan is far from perfect.

    1. Perfect in the long term
    2. Nearly perfect
    3. Perfect but distant
    4. Not at all perfect
    Show answer

    Answer: D Not at all perfect

    far from + adjective = not at all.

  6. 6This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    He’s more a friend than a boss of.

    1. He’s more a friend of than a boss.
    2. He’s more of friend than of boss.
    3. He’s much of a friend than a boss.
    4. He’s more of a friend than a boss.
    Show answer

    Answer: D He’s more of a friend than a boss.

    The pattern is more of a … than a ….

  7. 7Put the words in the right order.

    The new office is every bit as noisy as the old one

    Show answer

    Answer: The new office is every bit as noisy as the old one.

    every bit as … as = just as.

  8. 8Choose the correct sentence.

    1. She is no less determined than her sister.
    2. She is no less determined as her sister.
    3. She is not less determined than her sister so.
    4. She is no less determination than her sister.
    Show answer

    Answer: A She is no less determined than her sister.

    no less … than = equally.

  9. 9Choose the correct sentence.

    Which sentence means the same?

    The new version is a far cry from the original.

    1. The new version is very different from the original.
    2. The new version cries more than the original.
    3. The new version is almost the same as the original.
    4. The original was far away.
    Show answer

    Answer: A The new version is very different from the original.

    a far cry from = very different from.

  10. 10Fill in the gap.

    You are writing a film review.

    The sequel is every _____ as exciting as the first film.

    1. bit
    2. way
    3. part
    4. piece
    Show answer

    Answer: A The sequel is every bit as exciting as the first film.

    every bit as … as.

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