#800 比較の文法：as...as

皆さん、こんにちは！今日は、英語で何かを比べるときに非常によく使う、とても便利な表現についてレッスンをしましょう。

Today's grammar lesson is about making comparisons using the structure "as...as." This simple phrase is used to show equality, meaning two things are the same in some way. We put an adjective or an adverb between the two "as" words. For example, "Your car is as old as my car." (Both cars are the same age.)

We use the same structure to ask questions: "Is he as strong as you?" We use the negative form, "not as... as," to show that one thing is less than the other. For example, "Tokyo is not as cold as Sapporo." Learning this simple structure is a great way to communicate more clearly.

(今日の文法レッスンは、「as...as」という構文を使った比較についてです。この簡単なフレーズは、二つのものが何らかの点で同じであるという同等性を示すために使われます。二つの「as」の間に形容詞や副詞を入れます。例：「あなたの車は私の車と同じくらい古いです。」)

(質問をするときも同じ構文を使います。「彼はあなたと同じくらい強いですか？」また、否定形「not as... as」を使って、一方が他方よりも劣っていることを示します。例：「東京は札幌と同じくらい寒くはない。」このシンプルな構造を学ぶことは、より明確にコミュニケーションをとるための素晴らしい方法です。)

A Short Story: Lily and the Little Cat

(短い物語：リリーと小さな猫)

Lily loved animals. She was as gentle as a lamb, and her heart was as big as the sky. One sunny afternoon, she saw a little stray cat. The cat was as tiny as her hand, and its fur was as white as fresh snow. Lily slowly reached out her hand. She wanted to know if the cat was as friendly as it looked. The little cat hesitated, its eyes as green as emeralds, but then it softly rubbed against her leg. It was as soft as a cloud.

Lily decided to take the little cat home. Her mother was not as sure as Lily about having a pet, but Lily promised to care for it. The cat quickly became as happy as could be in its new home. It was as playful as a kitten, and its purr was as loud as a tiny motor. Lily and the cat were as close as two friends could be, sharing their days, as peaceful as a quiet afternoon.

(リリーは動物が大好きでした。彼女は子羊と同じくらい穏やかで、心は空と同じくらい広かったです。ある晴れた午後、彼女は小さな野良猫を見つけました。その猫は彼女の手と同じくらい小さく、毛は新雪と同じくらい白かったです**。リリーはゆっくりと手を差し伸べました。その猫が見た目と同じくらい友好的かどうか知りたかったのです。小さな猫はエメラルドと同じくらい緑色の目をしてためらいましたが、そっと彼女の足に体を擦り寄せました。それは雲と同じくらい柔らかかった**です。)

(リリーはその小さな猫を家に連れて帰ることにしました。母親はリリーと同じくらいペットを飼うことに確信を持っていませんでしたが、リリーは世話をすると約束しました。猫はすぐに新しい家でこの上なく幸せになりました。子猫と同じくらい遊び好きで、ゴロゴロという音は小さなモーターと同じくらい大きかったです。リリーと猫は、静かな午後と同じくらい穏やかに日々を分かち合う、親友同士と同じくらい仲良しでした。)

Key Vocabulary

(重要な単語)

 * comparison: the act of evaluating two or more things to determine similarities and differences.

   (比較)

 * equality: the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.

   (同等、平等)

 * structure: the arrangement and relationship between the parts of a sentence.

   (構文、構造)

 * opposite: a person or thing that is completely different from another.

   (反対の、逆の)

Key English Phrase

(重要な英語フレーズ)

The phrase is "to see eye to eye." (トゥ・シー・アイ・トゥー・アイ)

This means to agree with someone completely. It fits the theme of equality because it suggests two people are looking at the same thing with the same view.

(これは、誰かと完全に意見が一致することを意味します。二人が同じ視点、つまり同じ見解を持っていることを示唆するため、「同等性」というテーマに合っています。)

How to Use It in Conversation

(会話での使い方)

 * "My boss and I see eye to eye on the new plan."

   (「私と上司は新しい計画について完全に意見が一致している。」)

 * "It's difficult for them to see eye to eye on politics."

   (「彼らが政治について完全に意見を一致させるのは難しい。」)

 * "My children rarely see eye to eye on what movie to watch."

   (「私の子供たちは、どの映画を観るかについて意見が一致することはめったにない。」)

 * "It helps when you and your partner see eye to eye."

   (「あなたとあなたのパートナーの意見が一致していると助かる。」)

 * "The two countries finally saw eye to eye on the trade agreement."

   (「両国はついに貿易協定について意見が一致した。」)

Quiz Time!

1. What does "equality" mean in the context of grammar?

a) That one thing is bigger than another.

b) That two things are the same in some way.

c) That two things are completely different.

2. The phrase "to see eye to eye" means to...

a) look directly at someone.

b) have a strong disagreement.

c) have the same opinion as someone.

3. Fill in the blank: "My house is as old __ your house."

a) than

b) so

c) as

4. Fill in the blank: "Is the bus __ fast __ the train?"

a) the / as

b) as / as

c) not / so

5. Fill in the blank: "Tokyo is __ __ hot __ Okinawa."

(空欄に適切な単語を入れてください。「東京は沖縄と**** **暑く__**。」)

6. In the story, the little cat's fur was as white as...?

a) a cloud.

b) fresh snow.

c) a lamb.

7. In the story, Lily's mother was not as sure as Lily about...?

a) the cat's name.

b) caring for the cat.

c) having a pet.

Ask your teacher if you are not sure of the correct answers!

I hope this lesson helps you with comparisons! Can you compare two things using the "as...as" structure in the comments? I look forward to hearing your answers!

Miami Eikaiwa Blog: https://miamieikaiwa.blogspot.com/?m=1

Quiz Answers

1. b) That two things are the same in some way.

理由：equality（同等性）は、二つのものが何らかの点で等しいことを意味します。

2. c) have the same opinion as someone.

理由：「to see eye to eye」は「完全に意見が一致する」という意味です。

3. c) as

理由：「as...as」の構文は、二つの「as」を使って同等性を比較します。

4. b) as / as

理由：肯定文で同等性を尋ねるには、「Is... as fast as...」という構文を使います。

5. not / as / as

理由：否定の比較の構文「not as hot as」を使います。（「東京は沖縄と同じくらい暑くはない」という意味になります。）

6. b) fresh snow.

理由：物語のテキストに「its fur was as white as fresh snow」と明記されています。

7. c) having a pet.

理由：物語のテキストに「Her mother was not as sure as Lily about having a pet」と明記されています。