Expressing similarities and differences: like, whereas

🔊 المعلّمة تقرأ لك

In Britain, some children receive their primary education at an infant school and then a junior school, whereas others receive it at a primary school that combines the two. Two ways of doing the same thing, side by side in one sentence — and one small word to oppose them: whereas. So which words say that two things are alike, and which say that they are different?

🎓في نهاية هذا الدرس ستكون قادرا على:

التعبير عن التشابه بـ ⁦like⁩ و ⁦similar to⁩ و ⁦similarly⁩ و ⁦both … and …⁩
التعبير عن الاختلاف بـ ⁦whereas⁩ و ⁦unlike⁩ و ⁦different from⁩ و ⁦in contrast to⁩
استخراج جمل التشابه والاختلاف من نصّ، وتصنيف أدوات الربط بحسب قيمتها
المقارنة بين مرحلتين دراسيتين، مع التشبيه بـ ⁦like⁩

🔑يفترض هذا الدرس أنّك تتقن:

صيغ المقارنة في الصفات
أداتا المقابلة ⁦but⁩ و ⁦however⁩
الجملة الأساسية والجملة التابعة

1. Link words of similarity and difference

للتشابه أدواته، مثل ⁦like, similar to, similarly⁩، وللاختلاف أدواته، مثل ⁦whereas, unlike, different from⁩. انتبه إلى ما يلي كلّ أداة: اسم أم جملة.

To show a similarity, English uses link words of comparing: like, likewise, similarly, in comparison with, compared with, both … and …, neither … nor …. Like and similar to are followed by a noun group; similarly opens a new sentence. To show a difference — a contrast — it uses but, however, and yet, while, whereas, unlike, conversely, on the one hand … on the other hand, and also in contrast to and contrary to. Whereas and while join two contrasting facts inside one sentence; unlike is followed by a noun group; different is followed by from in British English, and by than in American English.

Link words of similarity and difference — one example each

Link word	It expresses	Example
like + noun	similarity	Like British children, American children start school at the age of 5.
similar to	similarity	This requirement is more or less similar to what is required by American universities.
similarly	similarity	The doctor advised him to stop smoking. Similarly, he recommended him to eat much less.
whereas + clause	difference	Americans say elementary school, whereas the British say primary school.
unlike + noun	difference	Unlike other countries, the United States does not have a national system of education.
different from	difference	Their car is different from ours.

Like, similar to, unlike + a noun group. Whereas, while + a full clause. Similarly, however + a new sentence.

Complete with like, similar to, whereas or unlike.

1. …… the old system, the present system sets the same subjects for all state schools. 2. Some pupils go to a comprehensive school, …… others go to a grammar school. 3. …… Britain, the United States requires young people to attend school until they are 16. 4. The British requirement for university is more or less …… the American one.

Task 1 — the answers

في كلّ جملة اسأل: تشابه أم اختلاف؟ ثمّ: هل يلي الأداة اسم أم جملة؟

1. Unlike — a difference, followed by a noun group: the old system.
2. whereas — a difference, between two full clauses.
3. Like — a similarity, followed by a noun: in both countries, school is compulsory until 16.
4. similar to — a similarity, followed by a noun group: the American one.

2. Similarities and differences in a text

اقرأ النصّ، واستخرج جمل التشابه والاختلاف، واترك جمل المقارنة بصيغ التفضيل.

Education in Britain

Children are required to be in full-time education between the ages of 5 and 16. Some receive their primary education at an infant school and then a junior school whereas others receive it at a primary school that combines the two. At about 11, they begin their secondary education at a comprehensive school or a grammar school. Secondary schools are much larger than primary schools and students may have to travel longer distances by school bus or public transport. […] Afterwards, some students will start work while a few others will go to a sixth-form college to study for Advanced (A) Levels in two, three, or four subjects in order to enter university. This requirement is more or less similar to what is required by American universities. A National Curriculum was introduced in 1988. It has made the current British educational system different from the previous ones in at least two major aspects. First, unlike the old system, the present system sets the same subjects for all state schools. Children have to study the core subjects of English, mathematics and science, and also the foundation subjects of technology, geography, history, art and physical education. Second, in contrast to the old practice, standards at individual schools are watched closely by parents and the government. […] From Guide to British and American Culture, p. 66

Task 2 — Pick out the sentences describing similarities and differences. Leave out the sentences with comparatives. Which link word does each one use?

استخرج جمل التشابه والاختلاف، واترك جمل صيغ المقارنة. ما أداة الربط في كلّ جملة؟

Value	Sentence	Link word
similarity	This requirement is more or less similar to what is required by American universities.	similar to
difference	Some receive their primary education at an infant school and then a junior school whereas others receive it at a primary school that combines the two.	whereas
difference	Some students will start work while a few others will go to a sixth-form college.	while
difference	It has made the current British educational system different from the previous ones.	different from
difference	Unlike the old system, the present system sets the same subjects for all state schools.	unlike
difference	In contrast to the old practice, standards at individual schools are watched closely by parents and the government.	in contrast to

« Secondary schools are much larger than primary schools » is left out: it is a comparative, which compares degrees, not a similarity or a contrast.

Task 3 — Which other link words express similarity and difference? Use two of them in sentences of your own about the two systems.

ما أدوات الربط الأخرى للتشابه والاختلاف؟ استعمل اثنتين منها في جملتين عن النظامين.

Similarity: likewise, similarly, both … and …, neither … nor …, in comparison with, compared with. Difference: but, however, and yet, conversely, on the one hand … on the other hand, contrary to. Two sentences built on the texts of the unit: « Unlike the United States, Britain has had a National Curriculum since 1988. » « Both British and American children start school at the age of 5. »

3. Comparing two schools

قارن بين مدرستك المتوسّطة ومدرستك الثانوية، مستعملا أدوات التشابه والاختلاف، ويمكنك التشبيه بـ ⁦like⁩.

To compare two schools, choose a few points of comparison — classes, classrooms, subjects, teachers, timetable — and for each one say what is alike and what is different. Like can also create a simile, a comparison that makes a description vivid: « On the first day, the school was like a maze. »

Do this alone, in writing. Compare your middle school with your secondary school in five sentences. Use at least one link word of similarity (like, both … and …) and two of difference (whereas, unlike, different from), and add one simile with like. Then check: is each link word followed by what it needs — a noun group or a full clause?

قارن وحدك في خمس جمل بين مدرستك المتوسّطة ومدرستك الثانوية، مستعملا أداة تشابه وأداتي اختلاف وتشبيها واحدا.

A model answer

In my middle school, we stayed in the same classroom for most subjects, whereas in my secondary school we move from room to room. Like my middle school, my secondary school has a library and a big playground. Unlike the middle school, it teaches philosophy, so the timetable is different from the one I knew. Both schools, however, have friendly teachers. On the first day, my new school was like a maze!

In the exam, similarity and difference are tested by joining two sentences with a given link word, or by rewriting with another one: « Britain has a National Curriculum. The United States has no national system of education. » becomes « Britain has a National Curriculum, whereas the United States has no national system of education. » or « Unlike the United States, Britain has a National Curriculum. » Have three things ready: ① similarity: like, similar to, similarly, both … and …; ② difference: whereas + a clause, unlike + a noun group, different from; ③ the place of each word: whereas inside the sentence, similarly and however at the start of a new one. The frequent mistake is a full clause after unlike: unlike + a noun group, whereas + a clause.

What I keep — For a similarity: like and similar to + a noun group, similarly at the start of a new sentence, both … and …. For a difference: whereas or while between two clauses (Some go to an infant school whereas others go to a primary school), unlike + a noun group (Unlike the old system…), different from, in contrast to. And like also makes similes: the school was like a maze.

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