5 Ways to Compare and Contrast in English

用英语来比较和对比的五种方法

Hi, I’m Maria.

嗨，我是Maria。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

欢迎来到Oxford Online English！

In this lesson, you can learn how to compare and contrast things in English.

在本节课里，您可以学习怎样用 英语比较和对比事情。

When you compare two—or more—things, you need to talk about similarities and differences

在您比较两个 — 或更多 — 事情时， 您要谈论他们之间的

between them.

类似之处或区别。

This is a very global skill; it could be useful in spoken English, or in writing.

这是一项非常全面的技能； 它在英语口语或写作是很有用的。

In this lesson, you’ll learn different language you can use to talk about how similar or different

在本节课里，您会学到不同的讲法 来谈论两件事情是

two things are.

怎样类似的或不同的。

We’ll cover many different topics, to show you different ways to use your new language.

我们会涵盖很多不同的主题，来告诉您 使用您的新讲法的不同方式。

Let’s start by seeing how you can talk about big differences.

我们从看您怎样谈论较大的区别开始。

Our topic for this section is travel.

我们本单元的主题是旅行。

So, you went to Vietnam and Laos, right?

So, you went to Vietnam and Laos, right?

What did you think?

What did you think?

They were both great, but totally different.

They were both great, but totally different.

It’s hard to compare them.

It’s hard to compare them.

It’s strange, really, because they’re so close geographically, but in other ways

It’s strange, really, because they’re so close geographically, but in other ways

they’re almost nothing alike.

they’re almost nothing alike.

What was the biggest difference?

What was the biggest difference?

I’d say the pace of life.

I’d say the pace of life.

In Vietnam everything moves so much faster.

In Vietnam everything moves so much faster.

Laos is way more relaxed.

Laos is way more relaxed.

Which did you like better?

Which did you like better?

It’s hard to say.

It’s hard to say.

I liked them both, but for different reasons.

I liked them both, but for different reasons.

In this short dialogue, you saw five phrases you can use to talk about two things which

在这个简短的对话里，您看到您 可以用来谈论很不同的两件

are very different.

事情的五个短语。

Do you remember what they were?

您可以记得它们是哪些吗？

If two things are very different, you can say:

如果两件事很不同的，您可以说：

They’re totally different.

They’re totally different.

It’s hard to compare them.

It’s hard to compare them.

They’re almost nothing alike.

They’re almost nothing alike.

These are fixed phrases, but you can adapt them to express different ideas.

这些是固定的短语，但是，您可以 调整它们来表达不同的想法。

For example:

例如：

They’re so different.

They’re so different.

It’s impossible to compare them.

It’s impossible to compare them.

They’re nothing alike.

They’re nothing alike.

You can also use a comparative adjective or adverb.

您也可以使用一个比较形容词或副词。

For example, in the dialogue, you heard:

例如，在对话里，您听到：

Everything moves so much faster.

Everything moves so much faster.

Laos is way more relaxed.

Laos is way more relaxed.

Before a comparative, you can add an intensifier like much, so much, or way to show that you’re

在一个比较形容词或副词之前，您 可以添加一个加强词，像是much、

talking about a big difference.

so much，或者是way to show that you’re talking about a big difference。

Using way is more conversational.

使用方式是更具有会话性的。

You can use these in many different situations; for example:

您可以在很多不同的情形 使用这些；例如：

Lisbon is much cheaper than most European cities.

Lisbon is much cheaper than most European cities.

The museum was so much more interesting than I expected.

The museum was so much more interesting than I expected.

Shanghai is way bigger than anywhere I’ve been before.

Shanghai is way bigger than anywhere I’ve been before.

There’s a common mistake which English learners often make here with much and more.

有一个常见的英语学生们在much 和more上经常犯的错误。

If you need more, it’s part of the comparative, like more interesting.

如果您需要more，那是比较词的 一部分，像是more interesting。

If you add much, it adds emphasis and shows that you’re talking about a large difference.

如果您添加much，那增加了强调，并 表明您在谈论一个大的区别。

Don’t say things like:

不要说事情像是：

Tokyo is much expensive than other Asian cities.

Tokyo is much expensive than other Asian cities.

The food in Mexico was much more cheaper than in the States.

The food in Mexico was much more cheaper than in the States.

Can you correct these sentences?

您可以纠正这些句子吗？

Tokyo is much more expensive than other Asian cities.

Tokyo is much more expensive than other Asian cities.

The food in Mexico was much cheaper than in the States.

The food in Mexico was much cheaper than in the States.

These are common mistakes, so be careful!

这些是常见的错误，所以，要小心！

Now, let’s see how you can talk about things which are very similar.

现在，我们来看看您怎么谈论 很相似的事情。

In this section, we’re going to talk about describing people.

在本单元，我们要谈论描述人。

Have you met his brother?

Have you met his brother?

Yeah!

Yeah!

They’re so alike; I could hardly tell them apart!

They’re so alike; I could hardly tell them apart!

I kept mixing up their names.

I kept mixing up their names.

I know!

I know!

It’s weird, right?

It’s weird, right?

They could be twins.

They could be twins.

It’s funny because they look so similar, and they seem to have the same personality,

It’s funny because they look so similar, and they seem to have the same personality,

too.

too.

Equally chatty, equally funny…

Equally chatty, equally funny…

His brother is just as sarcastic as he is, too.

His brother is just as sarcastic as he is, too.

Yeah, true.

Yeah, true.

Again, you heard five phrases to describe people who are very similar.

同样，您听到描述很相似的人 的五个短语。

Do you remember them?

您记得它们吗？

If you want to find them yourself, you can go back and listen to the dialogue again.

如果您想自己在找它们，您可以 回头，再听对话。

Try to write them down.

试着写下它们。

If two people are very similar, you could say:

如果两个人是很相似的，您可以说：

They’re so alike.

They’re so alike.

I can hardly tell them apart.

I can hardly tell them apart.

They look so similar.

They look so similar.

They’re equally chatty.

They’re equally chatty.

He’s just as sarcastic as his brother.

He’s just as sarcastic as his brother.

Of course, you can adapt these phrases; for example:

当然，您可以调整这些短语；例如：

The way they talk is so similar.

The way they talk is so similar.

They’re equally funny.

They’re equally funny.

She’s just as impatient as her mother.

She’s just as impatient as her mother.

Here’s a task for you: can you think of two people you know who are very similar?

这里是一个给您的任务：您可以想到 您认识的很相似的两个人吗 ？

Write down three sentences to describe them, using the language you just saw.

写下三个句子来描述它们， 使用您刚才听到的讲法。

Pause the video and do it now!

暂停视屏现在做。

You’ve seen how to use this language to talk about people, but you can use the same

您有看到怎样使用这个对话来 谈论人们，但是，您可以使用相同的

phrases to talk about many different things; for example:

短语来谈论很多 不同的事情；例如：

I can hardly tell these two wines apart.

I can hardly tell these two wines apart.

I hated both cities; they’re equally terrible.

I hated both cities; they’re equally terrible.

Playing golf is just as boring as watching it.

Playing golf is just as boring as watching it.

Next, you’re going to see how to talk about small differences.

接下来，您要看怎么谈论小区别。

Our topic for the next section?

下一个单元我们的主题是什么？

Sports!

体育！

Good game, right?

Good game, right?

Yeah, it was.

Yeah, it was.

They played a bit better than last week, I thought.

They played a bit better than last week, I thought.

Yup.

Yup.

They were just a little sharper in those key moments.

They were just a little sharper in those key moments.

I thought the keeper did slightly better, too.

I thought the keeper did slightly better, too.

He wasn’t quite as hesitant as he was last week, and you could see the defence looked

He wasn’t quite as hesitant as he was last week, and you could see the defence looked

more solid.

more solid.

They looked good going forward, too.

They looked good going forward, too.

They were just a touch faster moving the ball around.

They were just a touch faster moving the ball around.

True.

True.

They weren’t doing that last week.

They weren’t doing that last week.

Again, you heard five phrases to talk about small differences.

同样，您听到了谈论小区别的五个短语。

Can you remember them?

您能记得它们吗？

Again, you can review the dialogue and write them down if you want to find them yourself.

同样，如果您想自己找他们，您 可以复习对话并写下它们。

When talking about small differences, you can use a modifier plus a comparative adjective

当谈论小区别时，您可以使用一个 修饰词加一个比较形容词

or adverb, like this:

或者比较副词，像是这样：

They played a bit better.

They played a bit better.

They were just a little sharper.

They were just a little sharper.

The keeper did slightly better.

The keeper did slightly better.

They were a touch faster.

They were a touch faster.

You can also use quite as… as… to show that two things are slightly different, like

您也可以使用“quite as… as… ”来 表明两件事情是略微不同的，

this:

像是这样：

He wasn’t quite as hesitant as he was last week.

He wasn’t quite as hesitant as he was last week.

In the dialogue, we were talking about a football match that we both saw, but you can use these

在对话里，我们正在谈论我们两个 都看过的一场足球比赛，但是，

phrases and structures to talk about many different topics.

您可以看到这些来谈论很多不同 主题的短语和结构。

For example:

例如：

Taking the train will be a bit faster.

Taking the train will be a bit faster.

She’s a little older than her husband.

She’s a little older than her husband.

This isn’t quite as spicy as the last time you made it.

This isn’t quite as spicy as the last time you made it.

Let’s look at one more topic.

我们在看一个主题。

In the next section, we’re going to talk about food.

在下一个单元，我们在谈论食物。

What did you think?

What did you think?

It was tasty, but the dishes didn’t vary much.

It was tasty, but the dishes didn’t vary much.

Everything tasted much the same.

Everything tasted much the same.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

Did you try the shrimp?

Did you try the shrimp?

Yeah.

Yeah.

That was probably the best, but the main dishes were all pretty similar.

That was probably the best, but the main dishes were all pretty similar.

Tomato, sweet, slightly spicy…

Tomato, sweet, slightly spicy…

Maybe we just didn’t order the right things.

Maybe we just didn’t order the right things.

I don’t think it’s that.

I don’t think it’s that.

I’ve been there before, and it was more or less like tonight.

I’ve been there before, and it was more or less like tonight.

It was a bit disappointing, especially for the price.

It was a bit disappointing, especially for the price.

It was nearly as expensive as that Japanese place we went to for my birthday!

It was nearly as expensive as that Japanese place we went to for my birthday!

Yeah, I know.

Yeah, I know.

Let’s not go back.

Let’s not go back.

Here, we were talking about a bad restaurant, where everything tasted almost the same.

在这里，我们在谈论一间每一道菜品尝 起来几乎是一样的糟糕的餐厅。

Of course, talking about close similarities is similar to talking about minor differences.

当然，谈论极其相似之处 类似于谈论微小的差异。

The only difference is your focus.

唯一的区别是您的关注点。

If two things are slightly different, you can use different language depending on whether

如果两件事情是略微有差异的，您 可以使用的不同讲法取决于

you want to focus on the differences or on the similarities.

您是想要关注在区别或是在相似之处。

In this dialogue, you heard five phrases to describe slight similarities.

在这个对话里，您听到了描述 略微相似的五个短语。

Can you remember them?

您能记得它们吗？

You heard:

您听到：

The dishes didn’t vary much.

The dishes didn’t vary much.

Everything tasted much the same.

Everything tasted much the same.

The main dishes were all pretty similar.

The main dishes were all pretty similar.

It was more or less like tonight.

It was more or less like tonight.

It was nearly as expensive as that Japanese place we went to for my birthday.

It was nearly as expensive as that Japanese place we went to for my birthday.

Of course, you can adapt these phrases to talk about different things; for example:

当然，您可以调整这些短语来 谈论不同的事情；例如：

Apartments here don’t vary much.

Apartments here don’t vary much.

You can do it today or tomorrow—it’s much the same to me.

You can do it today or tomorrow—it’s much the same to me.

A lot of small towns in the UK are pretty similar.

A lot of small towns in the UK are pretty similar.

There are different versions of rugby, but the basic idea is more or less the same.

There are different versions of rugby, but the basic idea is more or less the same.

My nephew is almost as tall as me now!

My nephew is almost as tall as me now!

Now, you should know how to talk about differences and similarities in different ways.

现在，您应该知道怎样用不同的方式 来谈论区别和相似之处了。

Let’s see how you can put everything you’ve learned together.

我们看看您怎样把您学到的 每一件事放在一起。

Of course, when you’re speaking or writing naturally, you don’t necessarily want to

当然，当您在自然地讲或写，您 不一定只想谈论很大的

talk about only big differences, or only similarities.

差异或只谈相似之处。

You may need to use a range of different language.

您可能需要使用一系列不同的讲法。

You’re going to see two longer answers on different topics, using a range of language

您会看到针对不同主题使用 本课程里一系列讲法的

from this lesson.

两个更长的答案。

First, let’s see an answer comparing two cities: Moscow and St Petersburg:

首先，我们看看一个比较两个城市 的答案：莫斯科和圣彼得斯堡：

If you visit Russia, you should definitely visit both Moscow and St Petersburg.

If you visit Russia, you should definitely visit both Moscow and St Petersburg.

They’re completely different cities.

They’re completely different cities.

St Petersburg feels much more European than Moscow, while Moscow is a bit grittier, but

St Petersburg feels much more European than Moscow, while Moscow is a bit grittier, but

very interesting.

very interesting.

Things like accommodation, food, transport and so on are much the same in both places.

Things like accommodation, food, transport and so on are much the same in both places.

It’s slightly easier to find a cheaper place to stay in St Petersburg, but Moscow has a

It’s slightly easier to find a cheaper place to stay in St Petersburg, but Moscow has a

bit more variety when it comes to eating out.

bit more variety when it comes to eating out.

To get around, take the metro, which is just as efficient in both cities.

To get around, take the metro, which is just as efficient in both cities.

Have you been to Moscow or St Petersburg?

您曾经有在莫斯科和圣彼得斯堡待过吗？

What would you add to our description?

您要添加什么到我们的描述里？

You can let us know in the comments!

您可以在评论里让我们知道！

Let’s look at one more longer example.

我们在看一个更长的例子。

This time, we’re going to compare working at home with working in an office.

这一次，我们要比较在家里工作 和在办公室工作。

It’s hard to compare working at home and working in an office.

It’s hard to compare working at home and working in an office.

People think that working at home would be much more relaxing, but that’s not always

People think that working at home would be much more relaxing, but that’s not always

true.

true.

You still have to do just as much work, so it can be equally stressful.

You still have to do just as much work, so it can be equally stressful.

Of course, you have slightly more freedom to plan your own day, but you also have to

Of course, you have slightly more freedom to plan your own day, but you also have to

be a bit more responsible, because otherwise you end up wasting a lot of time.

be a bit more responsible, because otherwise you end up wasting a lot of time.

In the end, you save time commuting, but most people waste a little more time, so you spend

In the end, you save time commuting, but most people waste a little more time, so you spend

nearly as much time working as if you just went to work.

nearly as much time working as if you just went to work.

Can you see how this answer uses different phrases and structures from the lesson to

您可以看到这个回答怎样使用本节 课里学到的不同短语和

compare these two points?

结构来比较这两点吗？

What do you think about this topic?

对这个主题您有什么看法？

Would you prefer to work at home, or work in an office?

您偏爱在家工作， 还是在办公室工作？

Let us know in the comments.

在评论栏里让我们知道。

Finally, could you make a longer answer like this?

最后，您可以做一个像这样的 较长的答案吗？

You could compare two cities you’ve visited, two different cuisines, two people you know,

您可以比较您去过的两个城市，比较 两道菜，您认识的两个人，

or something else.

或其他某些事情。

You can use this language to talk about almost anything!

您可以使用这种讲法来谈论 几乎任何事情！

If you enjoyed this lesson, visit our website for more free English lessons: Oxford Online

如果您享受本节课，想要更多的 免费英语课程，访问我们的网站：

English dot com.

Oxford Online English dot com.

Thanks for watching!

感谢观看！

See you next time!

下次见！