0
Guest Posted 23 years ago
Grammar
Compared with or to
Can you please tell me when to use compared with and when to use compared to?
Thank you
Thank you
Top answer
Oh! Oh! Pick me!
- Oh!
- Oh!
- Pick me!
- I know!
- Strictly speaking - as I learned the other day - an ordinary comparison should be "compared with".
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
13 Answers
0
Oh! Oh! Pick me! I know!
Strictly speaking - as I learned the other day - an ordinary comparison should be "compared with".
"Compared to" is supposed to be used when you are suggesting that something (or someone) is comparable to something else; in the same class.
e.g. "He compared me to Hitler." = He said I was like Hitler.
but "He compared me with Hitler" =
Strictly speaking - as I learned the other day - an ordinary comparison should be "compared with".
"Compared to" is supposed to be used when you are suggesting that something (or someone) is comparable to something else; in the same class.
e.g. "He compared me to Hitler." = He said I was like Hitler.
but "He compared me with Hitler" =
00
So, 'compared to' means something more like 'be similar to', while 'compare with' is an actual comparison being undertaken?
00
The difference comes out more strongly in questions. (I've stranded prepositions to highlight the fact the the difference between 'compare to' and 'compare with' arises even in colloquial speech.)
Who would you compare John to?
Who would you compare John with?
The first question asks what other people the interlocutor thinks John is similar or comparable to. The second
Who would you compare John to?
Who would you compare John with?
The first question asks what other people the interlocutor thinks John is similar or comparable to. The second
00
Actually, it's...
To whom would you compare John? and
With whom would you compare John? or
Whom would you compare John to? and
Whom would you compare John with?
To whom would you compare John? and
With whom would you compare John? or
Whom would you compare John to? and
Whom would you compare John with?
00
Actually, no. Both forms are OK. 'To/With whom' is very formal and normally only appears in written English. Native speakers more frequently use the 'Who...to/with' form in speech.
The 'Whom would you compare John to/with' form is unacceptable in either medium, though you will hear it from those who are trying to be correct but do not know how to.
The 'Whom would you compare John to/with' form is unacceptable in either medium, though you will hear it from those who are trying to be correct but do not know how to.
00
I believe that the three correct answers are:
Who would you compare John to/with?
To/with whom would you compare John?
Whom would you compare John to/with.
Who would you compare John to/with?
To/with whom would you compare John?
Whom would you compare John to/with.
00
hi John! Not anymore. Just several hours ago, my student asked me about the distinction between the two and thanks to you because I'm not alone with what I know.
I gave an example not exactly because i know the rules but because it was the way i saw it in my readings. I exlained this way:
1. This lesson is more interesting compared to the previous one. ( I was talking about le
I gave an example not exactly because i know the rules but because it was the way i saw it in my readings. I exlained this way:
1. This lesson is more interesting compared to the previous one. ( I was talking about le
00
I had to laugh at the way you started your reply. It is exactly how I still feel (at 50!) when I know something.
Thanks also for the information; it is something I'd been trying to find out for a while.
Thanks also for the information; it is something I'd been trying to find out for a while.
00
0
What to use in the sentence below
"134 genes were downregulated in the treatment group compared to/with the controls"
thanks in advance0
Related Questions