CHAPTER II

CONTENTS

Comparing Things
In everyday life we often find two different things or objects. Sometimes it is necessary
to describe two things / objects in order to clarify the difference. Well, here are examples
of dialogue about comparing things in English. Please click the play button to hear the
correct pronunciation.

(A): Which sofa should we buy?

(B): This one is larger, but it is also more expensive.

(A): I need a new watch.

(B): The Classie is nicer than the Timebox. That one is less affordable though.

(A): Which runner are you cheering for?

(B): Sammy. He’s the fastest. But Timmy is the most handsome. (Sammy.

(A): I like the blue sweater.

(B): I think the red one is better. But the green one is the best.

(A): How much sugar should I add?

(B): Only a little. That’s too much!

If you have any question regarding this topic, don’t be hesitate to write it below as a
comment. (material adapted from: eslgold)

http://letspeakenglish.info/2010/07/21/comparing-things-membandingkan-sesuatu/

Other ways of comparing things

Words like: as … as, the same (as), like
Main points

 You use ‘as… as…’ to compare people or things.

 You can also compare people or things by using ‘the same (as)’.
 You can also compare people or things by using a link verb and a phrase
beginning with ‘like’.
1. You use ‘as… as…’ to compare people or things that are similar in some way.You use
‘as’ and an adjective or adverb, followed by ‘as’ and a noun group, an adverbial, or a
clause.

You're as bad as your sister.

The airport was as crowded as ever.

I am as good as she is.

Let us examine it as carefully as we can.

2. You can make a negative comparison using ‘not as… as…’ or ‘not so… as…’.

The food wasn't as good as yesterday.

They are not as clever as they appear to be.

He is not so old as I thought.

3.You can use the adverbs ‘almost’, ‘just’, ‘nearly’, or ‘quite’ in front of ‘as… as…’.

He was almost as fast as his brother.

Mary was just as pale as before.

She was nearly as tall as he was.

In a negative comparison, you can use ‘not nearly’ or ‘notquite’ before ‘as… as…’.

This is not nearly as complicated as it sounds.

The hotel was not quite as good as they expected.

4. When you want to say that one thing is very similar to something else, you can use ‘the
same as’ followed by a noun group, an adverbial, or a clause.

Your bag is the same as mine.

I said the same as always.

I said the same as always.

If people or things are very similar or identical, you can also say that they are ‘the same’.
Teenage fashions are the same all over the world. The initial stage of learning English is
the same for many students.

You can use some adverbs in front of ‘the same as’ or‘the same’.

almost just much roughly

exactly more or less nearly virtually

He did exactly the same as John did.

You two look almost the same.

You can use ‘the same’ in front of a noun group, with or without ‘as’ after the noun
group.

They reached almost the same height.

It was painted the same colour as the wall.

5. You can also compare people or things by using a link verb such as ‘be’, ‘feel’, ‘look’,
or ‘seem’ and a phrase beginning with ‘like’.

It was like a dream.

He still feels like a child.

He looked like an actor.

The houses seemed like mansions.

You can use some adverbs in front of ‘like’.

a bit exactly least more quite somewhat

a little just less most rather very

He looks just like a baby.

Of all his children, she was the one most like me.

6. If the noun group after ‘as’ or ‘like’ in any of these structures is a pronoun, you use an
object pronoun or possessive pronoun.

Jane was as clever as him.

His car is the same as mine.

7. You can also use ‘less’ and ‘least’ to make comparisons with the opposite meaning to
‘more’ and ‘most’.

They were less fortunate than us.

He was the least skilled of the workers.

We see him less frequently than we used to.

ASKING FOR AND GIVING PERMISSION

Asking for and giving permission
Read these dialogues with a partner!
Tuti : May I borrow your pen, please? I left mine at home
Idah : Yes, you may. Here you are.
Tuti : thank you very much.
Badri : May I use your phone, please? I want to call my father
Arsyih : Yes, of course
Badri : Thank you very much.
Ana : May I come to your house this afternoon, please? I want to see
your new bike.
Rina : Certainly
Ana : Thank you very much.
Budi : Can I smoke in this room, please?
Rina : I’m sorry, you can’t. This is a non-smoking area.

Expressing requests and offers

EXPRESSING REQUESTS AND OFFERS

Asking people to do things

1
Husband: So anyway, I said to him that I didn`t think it was right just to give him the job
like that without an interview and no job description …
Wife: Sorry to interrupt, darling. I think the baby`s crying. Do you think you could just
go up and see if she`s all right? And perhaps give her some milk?
Husband: Mmm.

2
Man: Yes, madam, can I help you?
Woman: Yes, I bought these from here two days ago and the heel`s broken. Can you
change them?
Man: Oh dear. I`m so sorry. I`ll just see if we got another pair for you.

3
Father: Turn that wretched music down, will you? Or better still, turn it off.
Child: Oh, all right.

4
Woman: I think we need an advertising campaign on television and in the press. I really
want to push this project. John, would you mind looking after the television. Is that all
right?
Man: Mmm, fine. Er… when shall we start?

5
Man: Anita, will you come here a minute? Could you tell me the file on sales in France? I
just need to check on delivery arrangements. Oh, and Anita I`d love a cup of coffee if
that`s at all possible.
Woman: Oh yes, Mr James.

6
Man: I`m awfully sorry to bother you. I`m sure people are always asking you this as
you`re always standing here, but you wouldn`t have change for a pound, would you? It`s
for the phone box.
Man: Here you are.
Man: Thanks a lot.