толкова... колкото
As ... as
Put толкова before the quality and колкото before what you compare it with: толкова висок, колкото баща си (as tall as his father).
How It Works
1. The pattern. толкова + adjective or adverb + колкото + what you compare with:
- Той е толкова висок, колкото баща си. (He is as tall as his father.)
- Не е толкова трудно, колкото мислиш. (It isn't as hard as you think.)
After толкова, a comma goes before колкото: толкова трудно, колкото мислиш.
2. Amounts. Толкова can also compare amounts: Имам толкова пари, колкото и ти (I have as much money as you). Колкото alone means as much as: Яж колкото искаш (Eat as much as you like). Without толкова, no comma goes before колкото here.
3. Unequal comparisons are different. For more than, use по-… от or отколкото: Днес е по-студено, отколкото вчера (It is colder today than yesterday). Do not mix the two patterns: толкова goes with колкото, and по- goes with от or отколкото.
4. Related pairs. Колкото…, толкова means the more …, the more. Като compares likeness rather than degree: висок като баща си (tall like his father).
Examples (6)
- Днес не е толкова студено, колкото вчера.
It isn't as cold today as it was yesterday.
- Изпитът не беше толкова труден, колкото мислех.
The exam wasn't as hard as I thought.
- Иван вече е толкова висок, колкото баща си.
Ivan is already as tall as his father.
- Работи толкова, колкото може.
He works as much as he can.
Here толкова compares amounts, not a quality.
- София не е толкова голяма, колкото Лондон.
Sofia isn't as big as London.
- Никой не готви толкова вкусно, колкото баба ми.
Nobody cooks as well as my grandmother.
Common Mistakes
Using отколкото after толкова.
Не е толкова трудно, отколкото мислиш.Не е толкова трудно, колкото мислиш.Отколкото introduces an unequal comparison or preference; it does not follow equal-degree толкова. A literal по- form is not required. After толкова, use колкото.
Using от after толкова.
Не е толкова студено от вчера.Не е толкова студено, колкото вчера.От compares with по- forms, as in по-студено от вчера. The equal comparison needs колкото.
How It Connects
Learn This First
As ... as follows comparatives with от.
Related Patterns
- отколкотоThan with a Clause
Unequal comparison or preference with a clause; it need not contain a literal по- form.
Level 3 - колкото..., толковаThe More ..., The More
The same two words in the opposite order mean the more …, the more.
Level 4 - като + Comparison or RoleComparisons and Roles with Като
Compares likeness instead of degree.
Level 3 - по- + Adjective or AdverbComparatives with По-
The comparative forms that pair with от and отколкото.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice толкова... колкото in Bubblegum
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