Comparing and Contrasting

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

• Jamie Vardy is faster than Harry Kane.
• Riyad Mahrez is more skilful than Marouane Fellaini.

or we can use (not) as (adjective) as

• Sergio Aguero scored as many goals as Jamie Vardy this season (24). 
• Chelsea were not as successful as last season. Remember that ‘not as interesting as’ means ‘less interesting than'.

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

• Claudio Ranieri is very different from Jose Mourinho. They’re very different.
• Arsenal's style of play is similar to Barcelona's. They’re similar.
• Liverpool play in the same city as Everton. We use same with nouns.

Modifying comparisons

When we compare things, we can use different words to say that there are big differences, small differences or no difference between two things. 

A big difference – much, a lot, far

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

• Leicester City were much better than the rest of the Premier League this season.
• Stoke City's Peter Crouch (198 cm) is a lot taller than Leicester City's N'Golo Kante (169 cm).
• Manchester Utd's Anthony Martial was far more expensive than Leicester City's Jamie Vardy.

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

• They may play for the same team but Yaya Toure and Jesus Navas are completely different from each other.

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

We can show there is a small difference.

• Arsenal finished the season slightly stronger than Tottenham.
• Manchester City are a bit better than Manchester Utd.
• Mesut Ozil is not much better than than Riyad Mahrez.

No difference – exactly, more or less, roughly

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

• Manchester City finished on exactly the same number of points as Manchester Utd this season. (No difference)
• Arsenal finish in more or less the same position every year. (a tiny difference)