Fix the mistake: Comparison, Inversion, and Emphasis

Applications of Comparisons — no more than / no less than

Let us organize confusing comparative expressions. The four expressions no more than / no less than / not more than / not less than frequently appear on entrance examinations.

Basic Rules

no more than: “only” (a small or disappointing nuance)
“He has no more than 500 yen.” (He has only 500 yen.)
no less than: “as many/much as” (a surprising nuance)
“She earns no less than 1 million yen a month.” (She earns as much as 1 million yen a month.)
not more than: “at most”
not less than: “at least”
Whale construction: A is no more B than C is D (A is no more B than C is D)
“A whale is no more a fish than a horse is.”

Points to Note

① Difference between no and not: no more than = only (no expresses complete negation), while not more than = at most (not expresses degree).
② The comparative, the comparative: “The more you read, the more you learn.”
③ no sooner A than B: “B happened as soon as A did.” Past perfect + than + past tense.

Practice

1. Translate “She earns only 50,000 yen a month” into English using no more than.
2. Translate “The work will take at least one year” into English using not less than.
3. Translate the following into Japanese: He is no more honest than a thief.