Which word should replace the underlined word? “My cat is as heavy [than] my dog.”

Use Standard Grammar, Usage, and Spelling to Edit · TELPAS Grade 3 writing. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Reporting category 2: find and fix an error in a short text. On the real test some of these are typed answers or sentence rewrites. Here they are multiple choice so they can be checked.

The question

Choose the best answer.

Read the sentence. The underlined word has an error. My cat is as heavy [than] my dog. Which word should replace the underlined word?

• AasCorrect answer
• Bthen
• Clike
• Dmore

Why “as” is correct

This tests the pattern as … as for saying two things are equal. When a sentence begins the comparison with as, it must finish with as: as heavy as. Than goes with -er words, as in heavier than.

Why the other answers are wrong

• then — Then is about time (first this, then that); it does not compare.
• like — As heavy like is not a correct English pattern.
• more — As heavy more my dog does not make sense.

Practice more of this

More writing practice for Grade 3, or see the TELPAS practice test for 3rd grade.