As much uncountable as possible!

Posted by Pak Guru on December 6th, 2017 | 0 comments | compare contrast, grammar, Indo English, se, signals, word order

These days gadgets do not consume power as much as they used to.

This should read:

• These days gadgets do not consume as much power as they used to.

Actually there are three grammar issues we need to consider here:

1. as..as with verbs
2. as..as with uncountable and plural count nouns
3. as..as with singular count nouns

Before we examine these separately, here is a text to illustrate all three:

Life is so unfair. My friend can eat and drink as much as he likes and not get fat. He eats as many Big Macs as I eat. He drinks as much beer as I drink. However, he does not have as large a stomach as I have!

1. as..as with verbs

You have seen phrases like as much as, as far as, as long as, as fast as, etc. These phrases are used when far, long, fast behave as adverbs:

• He can eat and drink as much as he likes. (‘much’ affects the meaning of the verbs ‘eat’ and ‘drink’)
• I drinks as much as he likes. (‘much’ affects the meaning of the verb ‘drink’)
• etc.

2. as..as with uncountable and plural count nouns

When far, long, fast, etc. behave as adjectives, then you need to change the word order:

• He eats as many Big Macs as I eat. (‘many’ affects the meaning of the noun ‘Big Macs’)
• He drinks as much beer as I drink. (‘much’ affects the meaning of the noun ‘beer’)
• etc.

Notice that when you’re focusing on nouns, your only options are much (for uncountable nouns) and many (for plural countable nouns)!

 Indonesians need to be careful here because in Bahasa Indonesia the uncountable noun is positioned before ‘as much as’, for example “Kalau anjing anda keracunan, kasih dia air kelapa sebanyak mungkin!”

3. as..as with singular count nouns

This can be difficult to translate into English if your first language does not have countable and uncountable nouns.

• He does not have as large a stomach as I have. 
• I have joined a fitness centre and soon I will have as small a stomach as he has.

Notice the singular countable noun always has the article ‘a‘! Notice also that you are no longer restricted to many and much. Any adjective can be used!

 Again, Indonesians need to be careful because in Bahasa Indonesia the singular count noun is positioned before ‘as much as‘, for example “Nanti kalau saya punya uang saya mau bikin rumah sebesar mungkin!”