This is another question from the Akron group. We are in the second Buntus Cainte book,lesson 89. We were confused as to why the (leis) is used in these sentences: Bíonn siad chomh hard leis sin. and Bíonn madraí chomh romhar leis sin go minic. The "le" form is not used in: Bíonn sí chomh luath sin gach lá. We were under the impression that "le" was not to be used with the "as". Thanks from Akron, Ohio. Lisa

You would use 'le' with a noun or pronoun to indicate comparison:

Tá bainne chomh maith le huachtar. Milk is as good as cream.

Tá bainne chomh maith leis. Milk is as good as it [is].

Tá bainne chomh maith leis sin. Milk is as good as that. (I.e., 'that it')

Remember that 'leis' here means literally 'with it', that is, the word contains a pronoun.

The sentence above without the 'le' involves no comparison. There's just an adjective, with no noun or pronoun: She's so early every day. (But, Bíonn sí chomh luath le hÚna gach lá. She's as early as Oonagh every day. Bíonn sí chomh luath leis[ean] gach lá. She's as early as he is every day.)

There are many established phrases involving this pattern:

chomh saibhir le rí
as rich as a king

chomh marbh le hart/hArt
as dead as a stone

chomh folláin le breac
as healthy as a trout/a fish

chomh bán le sneachta/heala
as white as snow/a swan

chomh dubh le pic
as black as pitch