Can I say "Wood is not stronger than steel."?

Yes, you can say all those things-- but the meanings change a bit:


Wood is not as strong as steel = Wood is less strong than steel
Wood is not stronger than steel = Wood is as strong as or less strong than
This car is not as expensive as that one = This car is less expensive than that one.
This car is not more expensive than that one = This car is as

Mister Micawber

('Not as strong/expensive as' can be interpreted as = 'stronger than / more expensive than', but that is not the normal interpretation.)

Hi,
is that interpretation sometimes possible or would it sound odd? Here's an example: would natives find this natural?

Steel is not as strong as wood.

Kooyeen

Mister Micawber

('Not as strong/expensive as' can be interpreted as = 'stronger than / more expensive than', but that is not the normal interpretation.)

Hi,
is that interpretation sometimes possible or would it sound odd? Here's an example: would natives find this natural?

GoodmanSteel is not as strong as wood. It is stronger. -I think this statement has some flaws in logic

Hi,
yes, that's why I was asking MM what he meant. He said those structures could be interpreted that way, even though that's not the usual interpretation.
But I would say your example d

Kooyeen

GoodmanSteel is not as strong as wood. It is stronger. -I think this statement has some flaws in logic

Hi,
yes, that's why I was asking MM what he meant. He said those structures could be interpreted that way, even though that's not the usual interpretation.

Hi,
I think your last example is different. Rising as quickly as gas doesn't prevent it from being worse, or better, etc.

But if you say that "steel is not only as strong as wood, but it's much stronger than wood", then being "as strong as wood" is a condition that doesn't go well with being "stronger than wood". So it doesn't make sense to me. Unless I change that sentence, for exam

Hi,

Here's my example again... do natives find it perfectly natural?

Steel is not as strong as wood. It is stronger.

This seems OK to me. It would usually be said with stress on the first 'as'. Very often, one would also add something like

Steel is not just/merely as strong as wood. It is stron

I see Clive, thanks.
Then it's the same in Italian. The usual interpretation is the same as the English one, but the alternative one is possible too.
Adding "just" reminds me of a similar situation, where "just" can be added too. (I wouldn't eat anything / I wouldn't eat just anything). And stress and intonation play an important role, yeah.
Thanks!

Your wrote: Steel is not as strong as wood. It is stronger.

In this kind of contrast structure, this sentence posted some doubts in my head and I wonder how many see it that way. Or am I the only one?

By drawing a parallel to your logic, then “A roof over your head in does not cost as much as

Goodman“A roof over your head in does not cost as much as , it costs more” is a correct structure in your opinion, is that correct?
Hi,
yes. MM confused me a little when he mentioned a less usual interpretation, which is the interpretation of my example and your e