as much, if not more, than

[teleostomi]

1) State governments affect the lives of the average citizen just as much, if not more, than the national government.

Shouldn't we replace "than" with "as?" Are those both OK?

2) and 3) are both from a textbook. Could you tell me which is the correct answer? Each option seem fine with me, so I wonder what the intention of the author was.

2) Are you going out with him tonight?

a) Yes, I'm looking forward to it.
b) No. I'm going out with them.
3) Did small dinosaur eggs often produce big dinosaurs?

a) No, they were not able to produce.
b) Yes, some grew very big.

[Rusty]

1) State governments affect the lives of the average citizen just as much, if not more, than the national government.

Shouldn't we replace "than" with "as?" Are those both OK?

2) and 3) are both from a textbook. Could you tell me which is the correct answer? Each option seem fine with me, so I wonder what the intention of the author was.

2) Are you going out with him tonight?

a) Yes, I'm looking forward to it.
b) No. I'm going out with them.
3) Did small dinosaur eggs often produce big dinosaurs?

a) No, they were not able to produce.
b) Yes, some grew very big.


1) State governments affect the lives of the average citizen just as much, if not more, than the national government.

Shouldn't we replace "than" with "as?" Are those both OK?
(This should be:
State governments affect the lives of the average citizen just as much as, if not more than, the national government).

2) and 3) are both from a textbook. Could you tell me which is the correct answer? Each option seem fine with me, so I wonder what the intention of the author was. (One (a or b) gives an answer related to the question that was asked. The other (a or b) gives some unrelated information. It is very common to hear people giving this sort of imprecise answer).

Quote:
2) Are you going out with him tonight?

a) Yes, I'm looking forward to it. (Unrelated information. The question was not "Are you going to enjoy it?").
b) No. I'm going out with them. (This is related. It answers the question, "Who are you going out with?").

Quote:
3) Did small dinosaur eggs often produce big dinosaurs?

a) No, they were not able to produce. (This is related to the eggs. The question is about the eggs).
b) Yes, some grew very big. (This gives information about the dinosaurs, not about the eggs).