JLPT N4 grammar

〜ほど〜ないmeaning and usage

Meaning

A is not as C as B

This point is also listed at N3.

How to form it

  • nounほどい-adjective (-く form)ない
  • nounほどな-adjective (stem)じゃない
  • verb (plain form)ほど〜ない

How it is used

“A is not as ~ as B”, with B as the yardstick; the predicate must be negative. For a positive comparison, use 「より」. 「思ったほど〜ない」 means “not as ~ as I expected”.

Examples

  1. 月は太陽ほど明るくない。

    The moon is not as bright as the sun.

  2. 今年の夏は、去年ほど暑くないです。

    This summer isn't as hot as last year's.

  3. テストは思ったほど難しくなかった。

    The test wasn't as hard as I'd thought.