as long as we have — as ... as with auxiliaries (GiU Unit 107)

The frame

Our neighbours have lived here a long time, but we’ve lived here longer. Our neighbours haven’t lived here as long as we have. ✓

Words: haven’t + lived + here + as + long + as we have.

The machine

as + adverb + as = equality; with a negative main verb → less than:

• They haven’t lived here as long as we have = we’ve lived here longer
• I can’t run as fast as you (can)
• She doesn’t work as hard as he does

Auxiliary-only tail

The second clause keeps just the auxiliary, not the repeated verb phrase:

• ✓ as long as we have (✗ as long as we have lived here)
• ✓ as fast as you can · as hard as he does

This is ellipsis — English avoids repeating what’s already understood.

the same … as (noun slot version)

Your hair is the same colour as mine. ✓

Order: your + hair + is + the + same + colour + as + mine.

	structure	example
as … as	as + adj/adv + as (no noun between)	as long as we have
the same … as	the same + noun + as	the same colour as mine · the same age as her

• the same is fixed — the article never drops (✗ same colour as mine)
• Always as to close it, never than (✗ the same colour than)
• Second half = possessive pronoun / object pronoun, no noun repeat: as mine, as hers, as me

as … as vs than

	structure	meaning
as … as	two things equal (or, negated, one is less)	not as tall as = shorter
than	comparative + than	taller than

• He isn’t as tall as me = I’m taller (or equal) — equality frame
• He is taller than me — comparative frame

Source

Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use, Unit 107 — Comparison 3 (as…as / than). Ebot lesson 2026-09-05.