Contrasting two different things, explaining how they're different, is one of the most basic and common things people do. For example, have you ever thought about the contrasts between some popular Canadian and American fast foods, poutine and hamburgers?

A person eating poutine in a takeout container. Photo by @withlovefromchile on Unsplash

A juicy hamburger with many toppings. Photo by amirali mirhashemian on Unsplash

We'll use the word "contrast" as both a noun and as a verb to describe them.

Noun or Verb

Using "contrast" in different ways can add a lot of "meals" to your English menu.

A menu on the wall of a restaurant. Photo by Foo Visuals on Unsplash

Follow these four different "recipes" for using "contrast" as a noun and as a verb to improve your English skills.

Noun

State the two contrasted things with the phrase: "contrasts between x and y."

There are contrasts between hamburgers and poutine.

Use "in contrast to"plus a comma: "in contrast to x, y is different."

In contrast to hamburgers, poutine is Canadian.

Verb

Put one thing before "contrasts with"and the other one after: "x contrasts with y."

The potato in poutine contrasts with the meat in hamburgers.

Put one idea after contrast when that idea describes two topics.

We can contrast these twotypes of fast food.

The contrast (noun) between the cheese

There are many contrasts between the cheese on hamburgers and the cheese on poutine.

Many wheels of different types of cheese in a pile on a table. Photo by Azzedine Rouichi on Unsplash

Below are some contrasts. The examples with the same numbers mean the same thing.

  1. There are contrasts between the amount of cheese on hamburgers and the amount of cheese on poutine. Poutine has much more cheese.

  2. In contrast to hamburger cheese, poutine cheese can only be one type of cheese (cheese curds).

  1. In contrast to hamburgers, poutine always needs to have a lot of cheese.

  2. There are contrasts between the type of cheese on hamburgers and the type of cheese on poutine. Poutine cheese can only be one type (cheese curds).

The words (and comma) above in bold are needed to show contrast. The other words can describe any contrast. Try replacing them with foods you know to make your own "noun contrast recipe."

Quiz

Start this sentence using "contrast" correctly by following the recipe above: "___ hamburgers and tacos."

Contrast (verb) the use of meat in the two foods

The meat in poutine contrasts with the meat in hamburgers

A cow in front of a blue sky. Photo by Ryan Song on Unsplash

Here is how you can contrastthe two. The examples with the same numbers mean the same thing.

  1. You'll never confuse poutine and hamburgers when you contrast their recipes.

  2. Poutine's meat contrasts with hamburgers' meat because poutine's meat comes from a sauce called gravy.

  1. The poutine recipe contrasts with the hamburger recipe.

  2. You can see a difference between poutine and hamburgers when you contrast their meat. Poutine's meat comes from a sauce called gravy.

Use with if you're saying which two things are being contrasted, but don't use with if you don't say them.

Try it with two other foods you know about!

Quiz

Complete this sentence using "contrast" correctly by following the recipe above: "Hamburgers ____ salad because salad normally has no meat."

Take Action

Many different foods Photo by Jimmy Dean on Unsplash

Start using the word "contrast" to talk about differences between foods you know about:

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