The document provides guidance on using language to compare and contrast information and data. It outlines various words and phrases that can be used to make comparisons, such as "in contrast", "in comparison", "however", and "on the other hand". It also discusses comparing numbers and amounts using words like "more", "less", "fewer". The document demonstrates how to construct comparisons within and between sentences. Finally, it offers examples of comparing data from graphs and tables and language for discussing approximate values.

1. Task 1
1Sourojit Roy

2. 1. Comparisons between sentences
 One way to make comparisons is to start a new sentence with a
word/phrase that shows that you are about to make a
comparison with the previous sentence. The basic words you
need here are:
 In contrast
 The most popular form of holiday among the Welsh was self-
catering with over 60% choosing to cook for themselves. In
contrast, only 5 % of the English chose this form of vacation and
hotel accommodation was much more popular at 48%.
 In comparison
 Almost 50% of the English, Scots and Northern Irish chose to stay
in a hotel for their holiday. In comparison, staying in self-
catering accommodation was much less popular with around 10%
of people choosing this.
2Sourojit Roy

3.  However
The general pattern was for hotel accommodation to be the most popular
with around half the people choosing it. The majority of the Welsh,
however, chose to stay in self-catering accommodation.
 On the other hand
It is clear that a majority of the British chose to stay in hotel for their
holiday. On the other hand, there was an exception to this because
over 50% of the Welsh opted for self-catering accommodation.
 Note that we normally use a comma after In contrast and In
comparison.
 Note that there are lots of different ways to
use compare and contrast and these are just the most basic examples.
If you are looking for a higher band score, it’s good advice to learn
different ways to use these words.
 Note too that typically however is not used as the first word in a
sentence.
3Sourojit Roy

4. 2. Comparisons within sentences
 Another possibility is to compare two pieces of information
within the same sentence. The basic words you need here are:
 while
 While there are 4 million miles of train lines in the UK, there are
only 3 million in France.
 whereas
 Whereas the majority of the French prefer to travel to work by
train, only a small minority of the British do.
 although
 Although 15% of the French read novels, only 5% of the British do.
 but
 Almost 25% of French females study maths with a private tutor,
but nearly 60% study English with one.
4Sourojit Roy

5. 3. Comparisons with more or less/fewer
 This is another obvious way to make comparisons and
contrasts. You should note though that you are normally
going to compare numbers and nouns and not adjectives.
You want to remember these two key bit of grammar:
 Than
 Remember that after more/less/fewer we use than
 5% more girls chose to read books than go to cinema.
 Fewer/less
 If the word is uncountable we use less, if it is countable we
use fewer:
 Fewer mobiles phones were bought in 2013 than 2014.
 Less oil was consumed in 2013 than 2014
5Sourojit Roy

6. 4. Qualify your comparisons with
much/far/slightly or a number
 This is similar. The idea here is that you still use
less/more/fewer but this time you explain how much.
Typically, the best way to do this is to use a number:
 Far fewer people chose to travel by train than by
car. [Where’s the detail?]
 25% fewer people chose to travel by train than by
car. [Better now we have detail and not just a
comparison]

6Sourojit Roy

7. 5. Comparisons with most or least/fewest
 When you are looking for details to include, the
highest/lowest number is almost always important.
This too is a form of comparison.
 The most popular form of entertainment in the UK was
going to the cinema.
 The least common form of transport was taking a taxi.
7Sourojit Roy

8. 6. Comparisons with similar or same or as…..as
 Don’t forget that some of the numbers you will be
comparing are similar. These are the basic words and
structures you need.
 Similar (to)
 The percentages of females and males who studied
languages at university were very similar.
 A similar amount of gas and electricity was used
domestically in homes.
 The figures for 2012 were very similar to the figures for 2013.
 Same as …as
 The percentage of females who studied at universityin 2011
was almost exactly the same as in 2012
8Sourojit Roy

9. 7. Comparisons with differ/different/difference
 If something is similar, it can also be different! Here is
another set of basic variations for you:
 The amount of time spent at home differed by almost
25% according to gender.
 There was a difference of over 25% in the amount of
time males and females spent at home.
 This figure was very different among males, only half of
whom watched television.
9Sourojit Roy

10. 8. Comparisons with numbers
 Another way to make comparisons is to do some simple arithmetic! Here are
some simple variations:
 [5 million] more/less/fewer
 5 million fewer units of gas were sold in 2014.
 Twice
 Twice as many people elected to use gas and not electricity for cooking [note
the twice as …as structure]
 Twice the amount of gas was used for cooking in this period. [note that we
amount with uncountable nouns]

 Three/four etc times
 Four times as many people chose to heat their house with electricity as with gas.
 Half
 Half the number of people chose to use gas as electricity.
 Electricity was half as popular as gas for cooking.
10Sourojit Roy

11. Language for Graphs
 To begin, take a look at the graph below.
 Which country has the highest level of pollution?
 Which country has the lowest?
 The country with the higest level of pollution is USA
and the country with the lowest is New Zealand.
Sourojit Roy 11

12.  Important Language
 Comparatives and superlatives are useful to compare and contrast, but they won't be
enough.
 Here are some other useful words and structures:
 Transitions
 The Middle East produces high levels of oil; however, Japan produces none.
 The USA produces large amounts of natural gas. In contrast, South Korea produces
none.
 European countries make great use of solar power. On the other hand, most Asian
countries us this method of power generation very little.
 Subordinating Conjunctions
 The Middle East produces high levels of oil, whereas / while Japan produces none.
 Whereas / While the Middle East produces high levels of oil, Japan produces none.
 Although the Middle East produced 100 tons oil, Japan produced none.
Sourojit Roy 12

13. Other Structures
 Developing countries are more reliant on alternative energy
production than developed countries.
 Solar power accounts for far less of the total energy
production than gas or coal does.
 Hydropower is not as efficient as wind power.
 Like Japan, South Korea does not produce any natural gas.
 The Middle East produces twice as much oil as Europ
 e.
 Western countries consume three times more oil than the
Middle East.
 Russia consumes slightly more oil than Germany.
 The UAE produced the same amount of oil as Saudi Arabia.
Sourojit Roy 13

14.  Using Approximate Data
 When you compare and contrast, you also need to
learn phrases so you can refer to data that is not exact.
 For example:
 7.1 “just over 7 million tonnes” “
approximately 7 million tonnes”
 65.6 “nearly 70 million tonnes”
“almost 70 million tonnes”
Sourojit Roy 14

15. Sourojit Roy 15
Compare and Contrast Language Practice
Look at the table below. What is being compared?
Natural Gas Consumption and Production, 2001
Country
Consumption* Production*
The USA 588.9 500.0
The United Kingdom 86.1 97.3
The Former Soviet Union 7.1 0.4
The UAE 30.0 35.9
Australia 19.1 28.0
Japan 68.6 0
New Zealand 4.9 5.1
South Korea 18.9 0
China 24.3 25.0
*in millions of tonnes

16. Sourojit Roy 16
Look at the compare and contrast language in the drop down box and choose
the correct word to complete the sentences.
1. New Zealand consumed the gas at approximately 5 million
tonnes.
2. The former Soviet Union produced the amount at 0.4 million
tonnes.
3. The USA was the consumer and producer of gas at 600 million
tonnes and 500 respectively.
4. The USA consumed and produced natural gas than any other
country.
5. South Korea consumed 18.9 millions tonnes of gas; , it
produced none.
6. China’s consumption and production of oil were at 24.3 and
25.0 respectively.
7. The USA, the Former Soviet Union, Japan and South Korea all consumed more
gas they produced.
8. Australia consumed four gas than New Zealand.
9. Zealand produced 5.1 million tonnes of gas, South Korea
produced none.
10. New Zealand consumed 5 million tonnes of gas.

17. Answers
1. least
2. lowest
3. biggest
4. far more
5. however
6. nearly the same
7. than
8. times more
9. While
10. just under
Sourojit Roy 17

18. Thank you……
Sourojit Roy 18