5 Ways to Compare and Contrast in English

In this lesson, you can learn how to compare and contrast things in English. Don't forget to compare and contrast in the comments giving your opinions!
When you compare two-or more-things, you need to talk about similarities and differences between them. This is a very global skill; it could be useful in spoken English, or in writing. It can also help you in the IELTS Speaking and IELTS Writing when they ask you to compare and contrast!
In this lesson, you’ll learn different language you can use to talk about how similar or different two things are. We’ll cover many different topics, to show you different ways to use your new language.
Learn more ways you can compare and contrast in an online English lesson: bit.ly/ooe-teachers.
See the full version with this lesson and text here: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/c....
Contents:
1. How to Talk About Big Differences 0:45
2. How to Describe Close Similarities 3:37
3. How to Describe Small Differences 5:31
4. How to Talk About Similarities 7:16
5. Making a Longer Answer 9:27
This lesson will help you:
- Learn useful phrases when you want to contrast big differences.
- Understand how to talk about close similarities with different phrases to compare.
- Use different phrases to contrast small differences.
- Talk about minor similarities with helpful phrases to compare.
- Make your answer longer to compare and contrast in more detail.
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To see more free lessons like this, visit our website: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/.

[@EnglishwithZuhaib]

I have seen many videos on compare and contrast, but this one is way better than the others. Thanks

[@Rulesforyourlife]

Working in industry and working in academia is so different, although both could be equally stressful. Working in academia is a little more relaxing, and you have slightly more freedom to choose the object you're interested in. When you work in industry, you could face different chanllenges everyday, but it's much more rewarding financially.

[@alanphung006]

I've seen lots of videos on KZbin, but this is way better than the others !

[@erfaan2644]

I should say that this lesson was so much better than others I have watched

[@sahramoogemooge4238]

Thank you so much, this has been very helpful

[@santisoriano5905]

Thank you very much!! It helped me out and relieved my stress since i will have my exam this week so thank u❤️✨

[@jonathancastro8487]

1. Cómo hablar sobre las grandes diferencias 0:45 2. Cómo describir semejanzas cercanas 3:37 3. Cómo describir pequeñas diferencias 5:31 4. Cómo hablar sobre similitudes 7:16 5. Hacer una respuesta más larga 9:27

[@luisericklozanocano8422]

Eres mi héroe

[@hollikinstle8777]

As an English teacher, I find this video very well-structured and useful! As someone who loves to learn language, I wish I could find such good resources for, say, Mandarin Chinese.

[@claseuskentaguila3395]

Thanks for this video. I appreciate it

[@doaaayad677]

your channel is very helpful, informative and practical, you guys really know what people actually need to improve their English, you do make a real effort guys, I just found this channel a week ago and so happy about it

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

So glad you enjoy the lessons, Doaa! Thanks for watching!

[@toufiqurrahmantonmoy7138]

Interesting,thank you☺

[@markanaahmed8145]

i am proud of you because i have a long time learning english but whith you i feelbetter

[@busybeeb.4182]

She is just as cute as his sister. They are equally beautiful. The way they gesture is so similar!

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Nice! If you are talking about the sister belonging to the 'she' in your sentence, make sure to use 'her' and not 'him'. Otherwise, well done and thanks for sharing!

[@busybeeb.4182]

Oh wow, that's a mistake I normally wouldn't make o.o. I think it was insomnia-induced!

[@ericsurf6]

Well done BusyBee! Move to the head of the class.

[@berkdeniz8705]

Thanks so much

[@albertoalbertoni9529]

Thanks!

[@ntibagirirwaetienne8158]

It is very useful . Thanks a lot !!!!

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for watching, and glad you found the lesson useful!

[@phuochuynh8372]

I am happy to hear you said about my country here. I am Vietnamese

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for watching, and we're happy you liked the lesson!

[@anitaesmaeilpour3270]

Thank you so much.

[@saadiasasso6633]

very interesting. Thank you

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for watching, Saadia!

[@sendatamie8574]

Great ! thank you !

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for the comment, Sena! Glad you liked the lesson!

[@baatmanabdlmalek4]

Hi thank you both this lesson very useful

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks very much for watching, Baatman! We're happy you found the lesson useful!

[@nooralhuda514]

thanks a lot for this video it is amazing 😍

[@ThoNguyen-zw7eo]

Thanks a lot. I am Vietnamese.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for watching!

[@sujinbabusureshbabu8829]

Thanks a lot sir I am preparing for my Ielts exam You guys are great

[@user-ih2ms3dz2k]

I've seen lots of vedios on KZbin, but this one is way more helpful.

[@pedrobelmont8496]

Interesting and useful topics.....

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks very much for watching, Pedro!

[@raniaceline897]

Thanks

[@Omar-5583]

I didn't understand but I will watch again and nice video :) 👍🏻

[@yongluo1873]

thank you teacher ！

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for watching!

[@mehrezroukaya1569]

Thank you very much for you video

[@uththaraGauthami20000]

Thank you both. It is a very important lesson.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for the comment, Rathna!

[@lifeisstruggleb3248]

Thank you a lot gusy keep going

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for the support!

[@mrlegend7653]

Thank u so much🙏

[@AD-uo1gq]

Thanks for making this useful video.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for watching, Anil!

[@maralyn2693]

You are equally amazing 🥰

[@shyamkrishna1992]

The best to improve english and help for IELTS exams.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Glad it's helpful for you, Shyam! Thanks for watching.

[@johnnytran7440]

Hi Maria/ Olivier the section is so interesting & very useful . It help me to contrast big differences, small differences, slightly differences or close similarities, I will use some useful phrases that you showed me. Once Thank so much Maria and Olivier

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for the kind comment, Johnny! We're happy you found the lesson useful!

[@tesfse7148]

Instructive lesson

[@thalescamargo1044]

Excellent lesson. I really appreciate your valuable work. Basic But an important topic. Thank you so much for the presentation

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Glad you enjoyed it, Thales! Thanks for watching!

[@InahQisfa]

Amazing...👍

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks very much for watching!

[@reneortegasilva7]

Hi, Maria, nice to meet you!!! Oliver, now you have a beard!! Let me say that both are very nice teachers, maybe have the same edge then both are alike on the stile. Can I say equally chatty? I want to say that in my opinion México City, New York and London in the basic idea are the same great cities, but have a little bit differences. México City, have a lot of contrast and you can find a lot of suburbs into the city, and the transportation is not the best. New York have a very exclusive places into the city, you can walk and can't see the differences between the places; obviously if you go to the Bronx it is other place. And the transportations is the best. London, is a very touristic and cultural city everything is so planned. The transportation is so profound and the suburbs looks like a little ranch around the city, but all of them are very similar. All of these three cities are very dangerous there are many robbers, thieves and scammers.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for sharing your response, Rene. Here are a few suggestions for you: 1) '...both are alike in style,' or, '...both have a similar style,' not, '...both are alike on the stile'. 2) '...but are a little bit different,' or, '...but have a few differences,' not, '...but have a little bit differences'. 3) 'Mexico City has a lot of contrast,' not, 'Mexico City, have a lot of contrast'. Hope this helps you!

[@samikhaleel6483]

Good lesson .

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Glad you enjoyed the lesson, and thanks for watching!

[@vasilinapupkina2713]

Thank you for such a useful lesson)

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for the comment, Vasilina! Glad you found the lesson useful!

[@ranarahmani9480]

very useful

[@zoomgremm1105]

Old mates of mine ate so alike Bob and jhon are equally brave Peter is as accomplised as his uncle

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Nice!

[@artsstyle2k155]

Wat a beautiful teacher🥰

[@Frank0901]

It's great.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for the comment!

[@HuyPhamChannel]

From vietnam with love !

[@unusuallyasian4070]

Huy Pham Channel Ayyyeee viet gang

[@oumraouf8912]

You're simply the best better than all the e rest thanks for helping us.very interesting lesson.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Glad you enjoy the lessons, Oum!

[@srimathivenkatraman5830]

after listening session I could came to idea of that I have to work on it more. you guys are really good

[@marianhonestgirl7513]

Good lesson

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Glad you liked the lesson, Marian!

[@cristianprabhakar784]

By using the pair of words like in this video, language seems so beautiful .

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for the comment, Cristian!

[@judithreid6789]

I love it

[@saurabhnagrale4861]

Awesome video

[@blessingsblessings6775]

Thank you for everything you do for us. Could you please make videos about CAE exam tips? I have to take this exam in november and C1 level seems to me really difficult. But I need this certificate for my job. thanks in advance.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Aida, thanks for the support! We're glad you enjoy the lessons. We have some CAE lessons that might be helpful for you: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/free-cambridge-exam-preparation-lessons.

[@krishanuchatterjee1765]

It is hard to compare football and cricket, they're totally different but equally enjoyable. Both sport require same number of player, but the rule of playing vary widely, although both sport use ball.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Nice, Krishanu! Excellent response. Here are a few suggestions for you: 1) 'Both sports require...' not, 'sport'. 2) '...require the same number of players,' not, '...require same number of player'. 3) '...rules of playing vary widely,' not, '...rule of playing vary widely'. Hope this helps!

[@nacentnepoet3816]

Rupa is as sarcastic as her sisters Ram is as impatient as his sister The way Hari talks is so similar to his brother.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Great!

[@Islam_makes_Peaceful_soul]

It is good lecture, but it is hard to me get across. Could you add more vedios with different examples. it might be explained things in vedio new for me. Thanks!! Good one!!

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Glad you enjoyed the lesson, Salim! We might be able to have similar videos in the future. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@Mauropmg]

Recentely i have been in Edimburg and Rome, both cities are amazing. Edimburg hava so many castles and they were shinning at night, the wether is more cold than rome, the nature is also very different.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Nice! Here are a few suggestions for you: 1) 'Edimburg has so many castles,' not, 'have'. 2) '...the weather is colder than Rome,' not, '...the wether is more cold than rome'. Hope this is useful for you!

[@fikadutadese9633]

Nice to improve english help for us

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for watching, Fikadu!

[@fikadutadese9633]

@@Oxfordonlineenglish1 welcome

[@helena3990]

I love the way you are talking each other,, it's soo delightful,, Thank you very much ♥️🙏🌷

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for the kind comment, and glad you liked the lesson!

[@XXX-sz5lt]

My friend Tom talk as much as his mother. He and his sister are similar to their cousins, all are tall and talkative. They talk more than their parents.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Nice, Dana! Don't forget the 's' on a 3rd person present simple verb: 'My friend Tom *talks*...'

[@sarahbonilla6336]

thank you guys so much for helping me

[@sunflower8683]

Hello from Vietnam

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hello!

[@xuandinh8180]

I'm Vietnamese and I think learning Japanese is such more difficult than learning English. Because English has only a alphabet with most of symbols are like Vietnamese; Japanese has three alphabet: hiragana, katakana and kanji with symbols are totally different from Vietnamese. Can you help me to check my mistakes?

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Nice answer! Here are three corrections for you: 1. 'An alphabet', not 'a alphabet'. 2. ...has only an alphabet with *symbols like Vietnamese.* 3. Japanese has three *alphabets*... Thanks for sharing!

[@xuandinh8180]

Thank you so much 😊

[@firewfikre9925]

Cool I think it was interesting

[@andressavianaabreu9360]

São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are totally different. Rio is much more picturesque than São Paulo because there are a lot of beaches and the weather is better, too. Well, São Paulo is a beautiful city, too. But I think that Rio is much more. Though São Paulo is slightly safer than Rio.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Nice example, Andressa!

[@ahmetsanli8451]

ıt's quite as good as your other videos.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for the comment, Ahmet!

[@alexdclopes1973]

I prefer working at home to working in an office. Working at home is much more relaxing and it's at the same time exciting...coffee time...nap time...(lol)...I really like home working.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Nice answer, Alex! I agree, although you have to stop the naps getting out of control :) One point: if you're comparing using two verbs, they should both be in the -ing form; e.g. 'Working at home is better than working in an office.' Also, you prefer sth *to* sth else; e.g. 'I prefer working at home *to* working in an office.' Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@alexdclopes1973]

Thank you very much for teaching. I'm learning a lot from yours videos. I'm just a beginner and still working on my English studies; I'm studying on my own, but I want to improve my English and Oxford Online English videos helps me to do it. Thank you very much!

[@pinco_pallo]

Once I was chatting online when a person typed "less or more", but I guess the right way to write it is "more or less", isn't it? Perhaps are they the same? Thank you. :-)

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Good question, Daniele! 'More or less' is correct; 'less or more' is not.

[@sarahbonilla6336]

idk thats a google

[@wei-chenhsu3961]

A friend of mine is just as sentimental as I am. The way we think is very alike, and we are equally humorous.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Nice sentences!

[@koilongshe2456]

That's comparative right ..!?

[@nguyenlethuyduyen6302]

Can you please tell me what kind is the word 'way" in 2:41 and what does it mean? Thank you

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

'Way' here is an adverb which intensifies the adjective, similar to words like 'very' or 'much'.

[@nguyenlethuyduyen6302]

thank you

[@mahimam7957]

Great

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for the comment!

[@emilylucky6028]

Thanks I needed this for school

[@niyahigbetter]

...thanks

[@fahimeemadi3398]

In my opinion working at home is much better than office .. it is impossible to compare them because it is obvious that working at home has flexible schedule also much convenient .although they are equally responsibility for me and they are as difficult as that one.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Nice! Don't forget your articles: '...than an office,' not, '...thank office' and, '...has a flexible schedule...' not, '...has flexible schedule'.

[@Andy-dp3hg]

English Streamlines I am a Vietnamese American love how to learn English stream my life... ❤️

[@armankozhamkulov1922]

Please could you explain the construction "much more" clearer . I don't see the difference between Tokyo and food in Mexico that you give as example at 3.22. Why do we use more expensive and much more cheaper?

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Arman, 'much' simply emphasizes. Something that is 'much cheaper' is a considerable amount cheaper. Something that is 'cheaper' is simply comparing that it is a lower price, but not a considerable amount. Hope this helps you!

[@armankozhamkulov1922]

I think I need to ask full question for make it clearer. In this video at time 3.21 you told that (Tokyo is much expensive than other Asian cities) is incorrect sentence but (The food in Mexico was much cheaper than in the States) is correct sentence. I can't see Why?

[@AhmedZAli-ee1nj]

Excuse me sir, could you describe the following sentence grammatically: We need a few more oranges. Especially the word (a few) . To which part of speech it relates .

[@saloniuppal]

Nice☺️👍

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for watching, Saloni!

[@lewrobertmz294]

help me please? comparing and contrasting Short memorandum and MOU

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for sharing your comment. Our certified English teachers can help you with online classes. You can book a trial lesson here: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/book-first-class.

[@andressavianaabreu9360]

Anne and Jenny are so similar, I couldn't notice any difference. They are equally funny, and Anne is totally as outgoing as Jenny.

[@nguyennhuts]

im from Vietnam ;)

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for watching!

[@DinhThucChannel]

I am Vietnamese. I think we are learned English more difficult because Vietnamese and english structure sentences very different make us confused. Don’t know how to using correctly the grammar

[@Mauropmg]

In my case work in home its is not good, because i live with some others people.I know there will be others people ait worl as well, but it is different, in that case they are focused on their jobs.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for sharing. Here are some corrections for you: 1) '...working from home is not good because...' not, '...work in home its is not good, because...'. 2) '...I live with some other people,' not, '...i live with some others people'. 3) '...other people at work as well, but...' not, '...others people ait worl as well, but...'. Hope this is useful for you!

[@AdamAdam-zc5xn]

1 mil sub ah! How but very under Stand thx I know now thx sooo much

[@AdamAdam-zc5xn]

Hi

[@AdamAdam-zc5xn]

Ok

[@javiermateos5941]

In my opinion, working at home and working in an office is slightly different. Firstly, the time you save going to your room instead of going to your office is far less. Secondly, the office is created just for work thus facilities are not nearly as much as there are in your home. Thirdly, the more focused you work the less matter where you are working.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Nice, Javier! Thanks for watching and sharing your answer. Here are some corrections for you: 1) '...and working in an office are slightly different,' not, 'is'. 2) I believe you want to say 'the time you save...is far more,' not, 'less'. 3) '...thus there are not nearly as many facilities as there are...' not, '...thus facilities are not nearly as much as there are...'. Hope this helps you!

[@Gearless1234]

If u think about it they're all the same Just with small differences that make it huge

[@user-vv1pv7cj3q]

Time with key phrases 1:40

[@user-vv1pv7cj3q]

2:00

[@mjjipos8713]

Can i ask question?

[@muhammadrafiqulislamkhan6994]

Is it correct to say two different things compare without "That of " and "Those of" ? Where Museum and I are diffierent subject. ইজ ইট কারেক্ট টু সে টু ডিফারেন্ট থিংকস কম্পেয়ার উইয়াউট দ্যাট অফ অর দোস অফ? হেয়ার মিউজিম এন্ড আই (person and museum are comparing here, though both are different subject but here they are comparing each other ,I suggest we must use That of here after than ...the correct answer should be than that of I expected )পারসন এন্ড মিউজিয়াম আর কম্পেয়ার, বোথ আর ডিফারেণ্ট অ্যাণ্ড দে আর কম্পেয়ারিং ইচ আদার, সো উই মাস্ট ইউস দ্যাট অফ। ইন দিস কেস উই সুড সে, দ্যাট অফ আই এক্সপেকটেড) (would you please answer me? Why do you not use that of here before I expected ? Thanks for video.) উড ইউ প্লিজ এনসার মি? হোয়াই ইউ নট ইউস দ্যাট অফ? থ্যাংকস ফর ভিডিও।

[@blessingsblessings6775]

well, could you please translate these sentences ?

[@muhammadrafiqulislamkhan6994]

Aida Sabiyeva I translate my question for you. Please check it.

[@krishanuchatterjee1765]

Muhammad Rafiqul Islam Khan It's not Bangladesh. Your English is very poor. You shall first study elementary grammar book. 😊😊

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Muhammad, thanks for the comment. Can you write an example of what you're talking about? Most of the examples from the lesson are used without 'that of' and 'those of', for example, you could say 'People are as interesting as museums,' to compare two different things: 'people' and 'museums'.

[@michaeljittery8627]

gooob video

[@vuingo4900]

See you next time

[@harmailgill7346]

How I improve my writing and speaking plz tell me way

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Thanks for sharing your comment. Our certified English teachers can help you with online classes. You can book a trial lesson here: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/book-first-class.

[@jayeshsisodiya2936]

Porbandar and Ahmedabad Porbandar and Ahmedabad are totally/completely/so different. It is hard /impossible to compare them. They are (almost) nothing alike. Porbandar is much cheaper than Ahmadabad but the tourist places in Ahmadabad are much more interesting than Porbandar. Atmosphere in Porbandar is a bit/slightly better than Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad isn't quite as peaceful as Porbandar. The History of Porbandar is a little older than Ahmedabad. Even through, the differences about standard of living of both cities are hardly apart. They are so alike/similar/pretty similar. They equally believe in high education. Awareness about education in Porbandar is just as much as Ahmedabad has. However, Road Transportation facilities of Porbandar has not nearly as well as Ahmedabad has but Luxuriousness of people of Porbandar doesn’t vary as much as Ahmedabad. It is much/more or less /almost the same.

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Nice, Jayesh! Here are a few things to consider: 1) 'The atmosphere,' not, 'atmosphere'. 2) '...the differences in the standard of living...' not, '...the differences about standard of living...'. 3) '...living of both cities are hardly different,' not, 'apart'. Hope this is useful for you!

[@mamdouhal-rogi2960]

I was have two friends in my school,they were so funny and handsome, i was cannot detect deference between them .

[@graze2991]

Mamdouh Al-rogi it will trigger englishmman

[@alexanderpadalka5708]

🗽

[@lolmagine7235]

Wassup guys 🐶

[@aliglimmer6071]

Isn't "much more relaxing" an incorrect sentence?

[@aliglimmer6071]

I meant at 11:03. And I noticed you put a comma before because. I wonder would that be okay?

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Ali, 'much more relaxing' is a correct sentence! For example, in 'The beach is much more relaxing than the city,' I am using 'much' to emphasize the comparative 'more relaxing'. The comma is used before 'because' is also okay in this sentence. We have a lesson on commas that might also help you: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/commas.

[@dieuanhtran3802]

- they look so similar - they are equally beautiful - i cant tell this two wine apart

[@Oxfordonlineenglish1]

Hi Dieu, thanks for sharing! One suggestion: 'I can't tell these two wines apart,' not, 'i cant tell this two wine apart'. Thanks for watching!

[@dieuanhtran3802]

Oxford Online English thank you for replying me ❤️❤️