Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Instituto de Letras
Departamento de Lnguas Modernas - Ingls 2

Comparing and contrasting modifying comparatives

Reference
Observe these lines from Alexandra and Jimmy Wong and answer the questions
that follow:

Im not the most politically correct person

And I came here to say that I'm actually Chinese, and that's a whole 'nother country
And it's bigger...yeah, way bigger.
But when it comes to love, Alex, there are no boundaries

What do you use comparatives and superlatives for?

What are the rules for using each one of them? Get in pairs and discuss the rules with
your partner.

Comparing and contrasting modifying comparatives

When we want to talk about similarities and differences we can use adjectives in their
comparative forms

Max is taller than Judy.

Youre more intelligent than me.

or we can use (not) as (adjective) as

Her hair is as long as mine.

This ones not as interesting as his first book. Remember that not as interesting
as means less interesting than'.

We can also use expressions like different from, similar to and the same as.

Shes very different from her sister. Theyre very different.

Sri Lankan food is similar to Indian food. Theyre similar.
Andrew is the same age as Lily. Their ages are the same. We use same with
nouns.

Modifying comparisons

A big difference much, a lot, far

We can modify comparative adjectives to show that there is a big difference between
things.

Sales in July were much higher than sales in June.

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 Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Instituto de Letras
Departamento de Lnguas Modernas - Ingls 2

Shes a lot taller than you.

This ones far more expensive than the blue one.

We can also say that things are completely or totally different from each other.

They may be twins but theyre completely different from each other.

A small difference slightly, a little, a bit, not much

We can show there is a small difference.

Sales in August were slightly lower than sales in July.

Youre a bit younger than me.
These are not much more expensive than those.

No difference exactly, more or less, roughly

We can show that there is no difference or almost no difference.

Hes exactly the same age as me. ( No difference)

The figures for December are more or less the same as the figures for
November. (a tiny difference)

Comparison-contrast organization:

When we compare and contrast two different things, we examine their similarities and
differences. The following tables give examples of words that structure a paragraph
organized by a comparison-contrast relationship.

Compare

to compare comparison

similarity (between) to be similar (to)

to be equal (to) to be the same as

to be alike in the same way

to resemble resemblance

just as to have something in common

Contrast

to contrast contrast

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 Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Instituto de Letras
Departamento de Lnguas Modernas - Ingls 2

difference (between) to be different (from)

to differ (from) less than, more than, bigger than

unlike on the other hand

however although

nevertheless whereas

while but

Practice
Reading Selection
1. Here is a comparison-contrast paragraph that discusses the body language of
North and South Americans.

When comparing the body language of North and South Americans, we find more
differences than similarities. For example, North Americans do not prolong eye contact
during a conversation, whereas South Americans do. A person from North America
usually meets the other persons eyes for a few seconds, looks away, and then back
again, but a South American looks directly into the other persons eyes and considers it
impolite if he does not. Another difference is the contrast in using hand movements
while speaking. The South American uses many hand gestures; however, the North
American uses them only occasionally. The North and South Americans have more in
common when you consider the distance each maintains when they are talking with
someone. Unless there exists a close friendship, both the North and South American
stand about two to three feet away from the other person. By studying the differences in
body language of a group of North and South Americans, we could probably figure out
each persons nationality.

2. Discussion Questions

a. Do you talk with your hands when you are having a conversation? Within Brazilian
culture, while talking, do you think men or women use their hands more often? Explain
your answer.

b. How far away do you stand while talking with a friend? With a stranger? With your
boss?

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 Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Instituto de Letras
Departamento de Lnguas Modernas - Ingls 2

c. What kind of eye contact do you maintain when having a conversation? Does eye
contact depend on who you are speaking with? Explain.

3. Writing Exercises

a) Here is the Reading Selection again. Study it and underline all words and
phrases that indicate comparison-contrast.

When comparing the body language of North and South Americans, we find more
differences than similarities. For example, North Americans do not prolong eye contact
during a conversation, whereas South Americans do. A person from North America
usually meets the other persons eyes for a few seconds, looks away, and then back
again, but a South American looks directly into the other persons eyes and considers it
impolite if he does not. Another difference is the contrast in using hand movements
while speaking. The South American uses many hand gestures; however, the North
American uses them only occasionally. The North and South Americans have more in
common when you consider the distance each maintains when they are talking with
someone. Unless there exists a close friendship, both the North and South American
stand about two to three feet away from the other person. By studying the differences in
body language of a group of North and South Americans, we could probably figure out
each persons nationality.

b) Model Paragraph: Study the following comparison-contrast paragraph.

Underline the topic sentence. Circle all words and phrases that signal a
comparison-contrast relationship.

Researchers have found that parents view boy babies and girl babies differently as early
as the first week of life. Little girls are said to be unlike boys in both facial
characteristics and personality. Boy babies are usually bigger than girl babies and are
actually described stronger as and more alert than little girls. On the other hand, little
girls are seen as sweeter, gentler and more passive than little boys. Although two infants
may look alike or be equally fragile, parents handle boy babies with less care than the
girls. Even though little boys and girls seem different to their parents as early as one day
old, these differences do not necessarily exist in reality.

c) Write a paragraph comparing and contrasting one of the following pairs:

1. UFRGS students and UCLA students

2. Gachos and cariocas

3. Brazilians and Argentinians

4. The educational systems of Brazil and another country.

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 Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Instituto de Letras
Departamento de Lnguas Modernas - Ingls 2

Fill in the outline below with your topic sentence, some details to be used in your
discussion and your concluding sentence. Remember to use some comparison-
contrast vocabulary to structure your paragraph. Study the list of examples and
the model paragraph above before writing. Write your final paragraph on
separate paper.

1) Topic Sentence

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

2) Discussion

A. ____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

B. ____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

C. ____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

3) Conclusion

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Sources:

http://fulbright.state.gov/uploads/79/f1/79f107ebb94a3e838d9bbe7306caa8e5/Teaching-Writing-
Packet_part2.pdf

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-reference/comparing-and-contrasting-%E2%80%93-
modifying-comparatives