N ほど〜ない

今日は昨日ほど寒くないです。

Kyō wa kinō hodo samukunai desu.

Today is not as cold as yesterday.

ほど only pairs with a negative — ほど寒いです is wrong

日本語は英語ほど難しくないです。

Nihongo wa eigo hodo muzukashikunai desu.

Japanese is not as hard as English.

Encouraging someone just starting out

この店は前ほど安くないです。

Kono mise wa mae hodo yasukunai desu.

This shop is not as cheap as it used to be.

It can compare the past with now