Almost as old

[Luckysquirty]

Dracula is almost as old as the hills.

"almost as old" is confusing.

"Almost" is an adverb. "Old" is an adjective. What part of speech is the first "as," another adverb modifying "old"?

 

[jutfrank]

I suppose it is like an adverb, yes. I can't see what else you could call it.

I think it modifies old, yes.

 

[PaulMatthews]

Dracula is almost as old as the hills.

"almost as old" is confusing. "Almost" is an adverb. "Old" is an adjective. What part of speech is the first "as," another adverb modifying "old"?

Dracula is almost as old as the hills.

Yes, the first "as" is an adverb of degree modifying "old".

The comparative meaning can be seen here:

"Dracula is almost x old; the hills are y old; x=y"