Than or As

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

Does anybody know of any rules in the English language about when to use Than or As when dealing with comparatives and superlatives? I know it instinctively as a native speaker but I can't find any rules that dictate when one should use either, or know how to describe it to a non native speaker.

Examples:

Jimmy is as good a tennis player as Joan

Jimmy is a little bit taller than I am

Jimmy isn't as good a tennis player than Joan is

Jimmy isn't as tall as Mike but is taller than Pete.

any help is appreciated as hell.

[Redstone]

1. #3 is wrong. The others are correct. Jimmy could be

a BETTER player THAN Joan is.

Redstone

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

3. Thank you kind sir

I realize now that number three is grammatically incorrect.

[trof]

2. I think of 'compare' vs 'contrast'.

'As' compares.
'Than' contrasts.
Think 'same as' or 'different than', although I think 'different from' is more correct.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

5. Thanks trof

:hi:

[Redstone]

9. "Different from" is indeed more correct. WAY more correct. Even if the Brits

say "different to." Hey, these are the same people who call a bedspread a "counterpane," so I don't think we need to look to them for guidance.

Redstone

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. When speaking of the baseball team from Oakland, you use "As". It's the Oakland As.

Not the Oakland Than.

Swear to God, we have raised a nation of idiots.

:eyes:

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

6. Thank you for your helpful input

:shrug:

If you would like to actually answer the question though, that would be very nice.

[hippywife]

7. As far as I remember

Than = contrast
As = comparison

:hi:

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

8. Thank you!

:hi: