To the Extent (〜ほど)
〜ほど
Indicates degree or extent, meaning 'to the extent that' or 'as much as'. Often used in negative comparisons meaning 'not as... as'.
Pattern
A は B ほど Adjective (negative) / Verb ほど Adjective
Explanation
〜ほど is used to express the degree or extent of something. One of its most common uses at the N4 level is in negative comparisons: A は B ほど [adjective negative], meaning 'A is not as [adjective] as B.'
This negative comparison pattern is the counterpart to より. While より says 'A is more than B,' ほど with a negative says 'A is not as much as B.' Both can describe the same relationship from different angles.
ほど can also be used with verbs and expressions to indicate extent, as in 食べられないほど辛い (so spicy I can't eat it). This usage expresses 'to the degree that...' and is very expressive in Japanese.
Examples
大阪は東京ほど大きくない。
おおさかはとうきょうほどおおきくない。
Oosaka wa Toukyou hodo ookiku nai.
Osaka is not as big as Tokyo.
日本語は思ったほど難しくなかった。
にほんごはおもったほどむずかしくなかった。
nihongo wa omotta hodo muzukashiku nakatta.
Japanese wasn't as difficult as I thought.
泣きたいほど嬉しかった。
なきたいほどうれしかった。
nakitai hodo ureshikatta.
I was so happy I could cry.
今日は昨日ほど寒くないです。
きょうはきのうほどさむくないです。
kyou wa kinou hodo samuku nai desu.
Today is not as cold as yesterday.
Common Mistakes
Wrong
大阪は東京ほど大きいです。
Correct
大阪は東京ほど大きくないです。
When using ほど for comparison, the adjective is usually in negative form. Positive form changes the meaning.
Wrong
大阪は東京ほどに大きくない。
Correct
大阪は東京ほど大きくない。
ほど is not followed by に in this comparative pattern.
Wrong
大阪は東京ほど大きいじゃない。
Correct
大阪は東京ほど大きくない。
い-adjectives use the くない negative form, not じゃない.
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