Not so much X as Y: vergelijkingen die corrigeren

Voorbeelden

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

   Het was niet zozeer een vakantie als wel een werkreis.

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

   Hij is meer een leraar dan een manager.

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

   De prijzen zijn niet gedaald; eerder gestegen.

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

   Het vervolg is in alle opzichten even goed als het origineel.

Veelgemaakte fouten

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

  ✓Goed: It was not so much a problem as a challenge.

  Het paar is not so much … as.

• ✗Fout: He is more a leader than manager of.

  ✓Goed: He is more of a leader than a manager.

  Het patroon is more of a … than a ….

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

  ✓Goed: The more I practise, the better I get.

  Geen inversie na the more … the better.

Oefenvragen

Probeer elke vraag eerst zelf en open dan „Toon antwoord” voor de oplossing en de reden.

1. 1Kies de juiste zin.

   Wat betekent de zin?

   She is not so much shy as careful.

   1. AShe is careful rather than shy.
   2. BShe is more shy than careful.
   3. CShe is shy and careful.
   4. DShe is neither shy nor careful.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A She is careful rather than shy.

   not so much X as Y = meer Y dan X.

2. 2Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AMore you practise, easier it gets.
   2. BThe more you practise, the more easy it gets it.
   3. CThe more you practise, the easier it gets.
   4. DThe more you practise, the easier does it get.
   Toon antwoord

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

   the more …, the easier … met gewone woordvolgorde.

3. 3Vul het gat in.

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

   1. Aanything
   2. Beverything
   3. Cnothing
   4. Dsomething
   Toon antwoord

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

   if anything versterkt de correctie.

4. 4Verander de zin.

   Corrigeer het met not so much … as.

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

   1. AIt was not so much debate as argument of.
   2. BIt was not so much a debate than an argument.
   3. CIt was not as much a debate so an argument.
   4. DIt was not so much a debate as an argument.
   Toon antwoord

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

   not so much a … as a ….

5. 5Kies de juiste zin.

   Wat betekent far from hier?

   The plan is far from perfect.

   1. APerfect in the long term
   2. BNearly perfect
   3. CPerfect but distant
   4. DNot at all perfect
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D Not at all perfect

   far from + bijvoeglijk naamwoord = helemaal niet.

6. 6Deze zin klopt niet. Kies de verbetering.

   He’s more a friend than a boss of.

   1. AHe’s more a friend of than a boss.
   2. BHe’s more of friend than of boss.
   3. CHe’s much of a friend than a boss.
   4. DHe’s more of a friend than a boss.
   Toon antwoord

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

   Het patroon is more of a … than a ….

7. 7Zet de woorden in de juiste volgorde.

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

   Toon antwoord

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

   every bit as … as = net zo.

8. 8Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AShe is no less determined than her sister.
   2. BShe is no less determined as her sister.
   3. CShe is not less determined than her sister so.
   4. DShe is no less determination than her sister.
   Toon antwoord

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

   no less … than = even … als.

9. 9Kies de juiste zin.

   Welke zin betekent hetzelfde?

   The new version is a far cry from the original.

   1. AThe new version is very different from the original.
   2. BThe new version cries more than the original.
   3. CThe new version is almost the same as the original.
   4. DThe original was far away.
   Toon antwoord

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

   a far cry from = heel anders dan.

10. 10Vul het gat in.

    U schrijft een filmrecensie.

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

    1. Abit
    2. Bway
    3. Cpart
    4. Dpiece
    Toon antwoord

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

    every bit as … as.