5 Ways to Compare and Contrast in English

用英文比較和對比的五種方式

Hi, I’m Maria.

嗨，我是Maria。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

歡迎來到Oxford Online English！

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

在本節課裡，您可以學到怎麼用 英文比較和對比事情。

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

在您比較兩個 — 或更多 — 事情時， 您要談論他們之間的

between them.

相似之處或區別。

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

這是一項很全面的技能； 它在英文口說或寫作是很有用的。

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

在本節課裡，您會學到不同的說法 來談論兩件事情怎麼

two things are.

相似或不同。

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

我們會涵蓋很多不同的主題，來告訴您 使用您的新說法的不同方式。

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

我們從看看您怎樣談論較大的區別開始。

Our topic for this section is travel.

我們本單元的主題是旅行。

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

在這個簡短的對話裡，您看到您 可以用來談論差異很大的兩件

are very different.

事情的五個片語。

Do you remember what they were?

您可以記得它們是哪些嗎？

If two things are very different, you can say:

如果兩件事是差異很大的，您可以說：

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.

這些是固定的片語，但是，您可以 調整它們來表達不同的想法。

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.

您也可以使用一個比較級形容詞或副詞。

For example, in the dialogue, you heard:

例如，在對話裡，您聽到：

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

在一個比較級形容詞和副詞之前，您 可以添加一個加強語氣副詞，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.

使用方式更具有會話性。

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

您可以在很多不同情景 使用這些；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.

有一個常見的英文學生們在much 和more上經常犯的錯誤。

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

如果您需要more，那是比較級形容詞的 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，那加了強調，並 表明您在談論一個大的區別。

Don’t say things like:

不要說事情像是：

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?

您可以給這些句子糾錯嗎？

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!

這些是常見的錯誤，所以，要小心！

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

現在，我們來看看您怎樣談論 很相似的事情。

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

在本單元，我們要談論描述人物。

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.

同樣，您聽到描述很相似的人物 的五個片語。

Do you remember them?

您記得它們嗎？

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

如果您想自己再找它們，您可以 回頭，再聽對話。

Try to write them down.

試著寫下它們。

If two people are very similar, you could say:

如果兩個人是很相似的，您可以說：

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:

當然，您可以調整這些片語；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?

這裡是一個給您的任務：您可以想到 您認識的很相似的兩個人物嗎 ？

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

寫下三個句子來描述它們， 使用您剛才聽到的說法。

Pause the video and do it now!

暫停影片現在開始做。

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

您有看到怎樣使用這個對話來 談論人們，但是，您可以使用相同的

phrases to talk about many different things; for example:

片語來談論很多 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.

接下來，您要看看怎麼談論細小的差別。

Our topic for the next section?

下一個單元我們的主題是什麼？

Sports!

體育！

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.

同樣，您聽到了談論細小差別的五個片語。

Can you remember them?

您能記得它們嗎？

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

同樣，如果您想自己找它們，您 可以複習對話並寫下它們。

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

當談論細小差別時，您可以用一個 修飾語加一個比較級形容詞

or adverb, like this:

或者副詞，像是這樣：

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… ”來 表明兩件事情是略微不同的，

this:

像是這樣：

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

在對話裡，我們正在談論我們兩個 都看過的一場足球比賽，但是，

phrases and structures to talk about many different topics.

您可以看到這些談論很多不同 主題的片語和結構。

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.

我們再來看一個主題。

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

在下一個單元，我們在談論食物。

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.

在這裡，我們在談論一間每一道菜品嚐 起來幾乎是一樣的糟糕的餐廳。

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

當然，談論極其相似之處 與談論細小差異是相似的。

The only difference is your focus.

唯一的區別是您的關注點。

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

如果兩件事是略微有差異的，您 可以使用的不同講法取決於

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

您是想要關注差異或是關注相似之處。

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

在這個對話裡，您聽到了描述 一點點相似的五個片語。

Can you remember them?

您能記得它們嗎？

You heard:

您聽到：

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:

當然，您可以調整這些片語來 談論不同的事情；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.

現在，您應當知道怎麼用不同的方式 來談論差異和相似之處了。

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

我們看看您怎麼把您學到的 每一件事情放在一起。

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

當然，當您在自然地講述或寫作時，您 不一定只想談論很大的

talk about only big differences, or only similarities.

差別或只談相似之處。

You may need to use a range of different language.

您可能需要用到一系列不同的講法。

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

您會看到針對不同主題使用 本課程裡一系列講法的

from this lesson.

兩個更長的答案。

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

首先，我們看一個比較兩個城市 的回答：莫斯科和聖彼得堡：

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?

您曾經有在莫斯科和聖彼得堡待過嗎？

What would you add to our description?

您要添加什麼到我們的描述裡？

You can let us know in the comments!

您可以寫在留言板裡告訴我們！

Let’s look at one more longer example.

我們再看一個更長的例子。

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

這一次，我們要來比較在家裡工作 和在辦公室工作。

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

您可以看到這個回答怎麼使用本節 課裡學到的不同片語和

compare these two points?

結構來比較這兩點嗎？

What do you think about this topic?

對這個主題您有什麼看法？

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

您偏愛在家工作， 還是在辦公室工作？

Let us know in the comments.

在留言板裡告訴我們。

Finally, could you make a longer answer like this?

最後，您可以做一個像這樣的 較長的回答嗎？

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

您可以比較您去過的兩個城市、比較 兩道菜、您認識的兩個人，

or something else.

或其他某些事情。

You can use this language to talk about almost anything!

您可以使用這種講法來談論 幾乎任何事情！

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

如果您享受本節課，想要更多的 免費英文課程，訪問我們的網站：

English dot com.

Oxford Online English dot com.

Thanks for watching!

感謝觀看！

See you next time!

下次見！