COMPARISON and CONTRAST Vocabulary

Introduction to Writing a Comparison and Contrast Essay

What is Comparison?

Comparison points out how two things or more things are the same or similar. Some expressions for showing sameness are:

?as...as

?the same...as

?as many...as (for countable nouns)

?as much...as (for uncountable nouns)

?as much as

For example: A Ford costs $20,000. A Toyota costs $20,000. The Ford has four doors. The Toyota has four doors.

1.The Ford is as expensive as the Toyota.

2.The Ford is the same price as the Toyota.

3.The Ford has as many doors as the Toyota.

4.The Ford costs as much (money) as the Toyota.

It is also possible to use BOTH, EACH or NEITHER or NEITHER NOR to show sameness. The Ford and the Toyota are both $20,000.

1.Both the Ford and the Toyota are $20,000.

2.Each is the same price.

3.Neither the Ford nor the Toyota is as expensive as a Porsche.

4.Neither is expensive.

To show that two things are almost the same you can use:

?similar

?similar to

?(BE) alike

?(BE) like

?about/almost/nearly/more or less the same

For example: The Ford has four doors, power steering, and a top speed of 160 mph. The Toyota has four doors, power steering and a top speed of 150 mph.

1.The Ford and the Toyota are similar cars. 5. The Ford and Toyota are about

2.The Ford is similar to the Toyota. the same.

3.The Ford and the Toyota are almost the same.

4.The Ford is like the Toyota.

What is Contrast?

Contrast is when you show how two or more things are different. Some expressions for showing difference between two things are:

?not as ....as

?fewer...than (countable nouns) or less than (uncountable nouns)

?not as many...as

?not as much...as

For example: The Toshiba computer costs $3,500. The IBM computer costs $4,000.

The Toshiba comes with 4 programs. The IBM comes with 6 programs.

The Toshiba has 80 GB of memory. The IBM has 100 GB of memory.

1.The Toshiba is not as expensive as the IBM .

2.The Toshiba has fewer programs (than the IBM).

3.The Toshiba has less memory (than the IBM).

4.The Toshiba does not have as many programs as the IBM.

5.The Toshiba does not cost as much (money) as the IBM.

Comparatives

1.The Toshiba is cheaper than the IBM.

2.The NEC is more expensive than the Toshiba.

3.The Toshiba is less expensive than the IBM.

Superlatives

To show relationships between more than two things use superlatives - usually adjectives with -est added.

?the most

?the least

For example: The Nike shoes cost $120 The Reeboks cost $150 The Dunlops cost $50.

1.The Reeboks are the most expensive shoes.

2.The Dunlops are the least expensive shoes.

3.The Dunlops are the cheapest shoes.

COMPARISON and CONTRAST: STRUCTURE AND VOCABULARY

FAST FOOD OR HOME COOKED?

McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King! Fast food outlets provide a great option for active families. However, many of us prefer home-cooked meals. While the food is similar in many ways, there are some important differences between fast food and home cooked food.

Fast food outlets and home cooked meals share some similarities. The first similarity is that they both provide a variety of choices. There are many selections available in fast food outlets: soups, salads, hamburgers, chicken, tacos, and more. Of course if the ingredients are available, anything can be cooked in your own kitchen. Each can be relatively inexpensive. Fast food can be very cheap since many meals can be under $3.00. Home cooked meals can also be reasonable especially if ingredients are carefully considered for the cost. Both fast food and home cooked meals can be delicious. We know that many people enjoy the taste of fast food because it is popular around the world. Home cooked meals can certainly be very tasty too if they are prepared just as you like them.

Although there are a number of similarities there are several differences between fast and home cooked meals. The first difference is that fast food can be considerably more fattening since oil is frequently used in the cooking process. In contrast, the fat content can be controlled in home cooking. Another important difference is the amount of time that each takes. Fast food is obviously quicker because menus are limited and a number of staff are involved in the preparation and cooking process. Home cooked meals, however, take longer to complete since one person is usually responsible for the entire meal. Yet another difference is

convenience. Fast food is ready made and always available whereas home

cooked meals are.

We can see that fast and home cooked meals are similar in many ways but very different in others. I prefer home cooked meals since I like preparing my own food and can be sure of the ingredients. Enjoying a meal at home with my family is a great end to my busy day!

Do the following.

1. Find and underline comparatives and other words used from the handouts

"Introduction to Writing…" and "Comparison and Contrast…"

2. Find and circle the topics discussed with regard to the similarities and

differences.

3. Can you find other words like 'but' that are used when talking about differences?

COMPARISON AND CONTRAST DIAGRAM

Subject 1: Fast Food Subject 2: Home-Cooked Food

HOW ARE THEY ALIKE?

variety of choices

HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?

Fast Food with regard to? Home-Cooked Food

health less fattening

more fattening