uwhusky wrote:Are they both correct or is one of them wrong?
so much as
1. but rather: I'm not looking at her so much as I am studying her hat.
2. even : From outside, no one could see so much as a light on in the house.
Not so much as:
Jake is not so (much) curious as (he is) obnoxious.
This car is not so (much) luxurious as (it is) expensive.
That novel is not so (much) intriguing as (it is) exhausting.
=> After as we need a clause. The clause may be understood.
as much as phrases / idioms
1. The same quantity as. As with as many (def. 2), the meaning of much as a large amount here is qualified by what follows. For example, Please help yourself to as much of the meant as you want indicates whatever amount you wish. [Late 1100s]
2. Also, however much, much as. Even though, no matter how much, as in As much as I hate to, I must stay home tonight, or However much it hurts, you ought to admit you were wrong, or Much as Karen would love to see us, she can't get out of her prior commitment. [Late 1500s]
3. Also, so much as. In effect, nearly the same as, as in Mom as much as told Jane she couldn't go, or The clerk so much as accused the customer of shoplifting. These expressions intensify the meaning of the verb and indicate that the action is unexpected. [Late 1300s]
Again:
To show no difference: as much as , as many as, as few as, as little as
* as many as / as few as + countable nouns
* as much as / as little as + uncountable nouns
Examples:
With countable nouns:
* They have as many children as us.
* We have as many customers as them.
* Tom has as few books as Jane.
* There are as few houses in his village as in mine.
* You know as many people as I do.
* I have visited the States as many times as he has.
With uncountable nouns:
* John eats as much food as Peter.
* Jim has as little food as Sam.
* You've heard as much news as I have.
* He's had as much success as his brother has.
* They've got as little water as we have.
