～くらいだ・～ぐらいだ・～くらい…・～ぐらい…・～ほどだ・～ほど… — About; so much that | JLPT N3 grammar

Meaning

Use it for an approximate quantity or a vivid example of degree; くらい／ぐらい are more conversational and ほど more neutral. Do not use them in place of an exact figure or assume every ほど is comparative.

Formation

Quantity／N＋くらい／ぐらい／ほど
Plain form＋くらい／ぐらい／ほど＋result showing degree

When to use it

Where to use it: It fits an 'about' estimate and a visible consequence: so cold the lake froze, or so funny that tears appeared.
Where not to use it: Do not use an approximation where an exact measurement is required, and do not mix this use with ～ほど…ない.

Examples

20 sentences

駅えきから会場かいじょうまでは歩いてあるいて十分じゅっぷんくらいです。
It is about a ten-minute walk from the station to the venue.
この箱はこは子どもこどもでも運べるはこべるくらい軽いかるいです。
This box is light enough for even a child to carry.
会議かいぎは二時間にじかんぐらいでした。
The meeting lasted about two hours.
一人ひとりでは食べきれないたべきれないぐらい大きなおおきなケーキでした。
The cake was so large that one person could not finish it.
背中せなかの痛みいたみはひどく、夜よるも眠れないねむれないほどです。
My back pain is so severe that I cannot sleep even at night.
お腹おなかが痛くいたくなるほど笑いましたわらいました。
I laughed so much that my stomach hurt.
涙なみだが出るでるほど笑っわらった。
I laughed so hard that tears came to my eyes.
ポケットに入るはいるくらい小さなちいさな辞書じしょを買っかった。
I bought a dictionary small enough to fit in a pocket.

12 more examples

湖みずうみは空そらと区別くべつできないほど青かっあおかった。
The lake was so blue that it was impossible to distinguish it from the sky.
一晩ひとばんでは読み切れよみきれないくらい長いながい手紙てがみが届いとどいた。
A letter arrived that was too long to finish in one evening.
足あしが動かうごかないほど疲れつかれました
I am so tired that I cannot move my legs.
声こえが出でないほど驚きおどろきました
I was so surprised that I could not speak.
泣きなきたいくらい嬉しいうれしいです
I am so happy I could cry.
この鞄かばんは子どもこどもでも持てもてるほど軽いかるいです
This bag is so light that even a child can carry it.
手てが痛くいたくなるくらい練習れんしゅうしました
I practised so much that my hands hurt.
町まちが見えみえないほど霧きりが深いふかいです
The fog is so thick that the town is invisible.
何度なんども読みよみたいくらい面白いおもしろい本ほんです
This book is so interesting I want to read it again and again.
千円せんえんほどあれば足りたります
About a thousand yen will be enough.
十分じゅっぷんぐらいここで待っまってください
Please wait here for about ten minutes.
三キロさんキロほど歩きあるきました
I walked about three kilometres.

Important notes

ぐらい is a phonetic variant of くらい; ほど often sounds calmer and more literary.

Common mistakes

The consequence should plausibly demonstrate the degree rather than be an unrelated second event.
Do not add はない unless you are building the separate subjective-maximum pattern.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: 湖みずうみは空そらと区別くべつできないほど青かっあおかった。 Ways of thinking differ from person to person.The lake was so blue that it was impossible to distinguish it from the sky.Nothing is as important as good health.
Sentence 2: 手てが痛くいたくなるくらい練習れんしゅうしました No day is as busy as the day before a deadline.I practised so much that my hands hurt.The way you put out the garbage varies by area.
Sentence 3: 三キロさんキロほど歩きあるきました I walked about three kilometres.There is nowhere I can relax as well as in my hometown.Consultation hours vary depending on the day of the week.