Non-equivalence

The following words and/or constructions are used to show non-equivalence (i.e. not the same).

not as.	.. as	greater than		unequal (ly)
word +	er than	not as many..	. as	unlike
more..	. than	neither... nor	... as	not the same as
fewer.	. than	not as much..	. as	not all
less...	than	not equal to

Examples

1. Learning a computer language is not as difficult as it seems.

2. A mainframe is bigger and more expensive than a microcomputer.

3. For less than $10,000, you could have a very good microcomputer.

4. Ten years ago, there were fewer computers in use than today.

5. Neither minicomputers nor microcomputers could be as complex as large mainframes.

6. Unlike minicomputers, microcomputers are not very flexible.

7. An analog computer is not the same as a digital computer.

8. Not all businesses have computerized their accounting departments.

The superlative

The following words and/or constructions are used to show one item compared with others (i.e. the superlative).

Examples

1. The bigger the computer, the more complex the operations it can do.

2. The smaller the problem, the less challenging it is to the computer programmer.

Exercise 1

The following sentences are taken from Unit 4 'Computer Capabilities and Limitations'. Decide whether each sentence expresses equivalence, non-equivalence, or the superlative, then underline the words expressing the comparison.

equivalence 1. Speeds for performing decision-making

operations are comparable to those for arithmetic operations.

......................................... 2. Even the most sophisticated computer, no

matter how good it is, must be told what to do.

......................................... 3. A computer can perform similar operations

thousands of times, without becoming bored, tired or even careless.

......................................... 4. For example, modern computers can solve

certain classes of arithmetic problems millions of times faster than a skilled mathematician.

......................................... 5. One of the most important reasons why

computers are used so widely today is that almost every big problem can be solved by solving a number of little problems.

......................................... 6. Finally, a computer, unlike a human being,

has no intuition.

Exercise 2

Read the text on 'Microcomputers' (Unit 8) again, and as you read complete the table below by writing the sentence or that part of the sentence that expresses a comparison.

PART 2

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