• Starting your comparison

• Both of these pictures show…

• These two pictures show…
• The two situations in these pictures are…

• Talking about similarities

• These two pictures/situations are similar because/in that…
• In both pictures we can see…
• One similarity between these two pictures/situations is that…
• Another similarity might be that…
• One thing that these two pictures/situations have in common is
that…
• One thing that these two pictures share is that…
• The most obvious similarity is that…
• These two pictures share the fact that…
• Both pictures (…) in the same way.

• Talking about differences

• One of the most obvious differences (between these two pictures)
is that…
• Another difference is that…
• Something that makes these two pictures different is…
• What makes these two situations (so/completely) different is…
• While the first picture …, the second one…
• The first picture…. However, the second one…
• The first picture… whereas the second one…
• Although the first picture…., the second one…
• On the one hand, the first picture shows… . On the other hand,
the second one…

• Introducing the answer to the question

• As for + paraphrased question
• As to + paraphrased question
• In relation to the question,…
• In response to the question, I’d say that…
• As regards the question,…
• Regarding the question of the task,
• With regard to + paraphrased question
Highlight the similarities
Use both or in common:

Both photos show four people on holiday.

What these photos have in common is spring or summer holidays.

Highlight the contrasts or differences

Use whereas or while:

In the first photo you can see two elderly couples on a beach holiday, whereas in the
second there’s a young family on a city break.

The couples are walking along a sandy beach, while the family is posing for a photo in
front of some ruins.

Point out anything interesting or noticeable

Here are some useful expressions:

The thing that stands out in the first photo is that they’re all older people, probably retired.

What strikes me most about the second photo is the fact that they’re all wearing face-
masks.

Talk about the origins of the photo

Use the passive voice, maybe/perhaps or probably and modal verbs of deduction to talk
about the origins of the photo:

The city photo must have been taken during the Covid 19 pandemic.

The beach photo could have been taken before the pandemic, or perhaps they’re in a low-
risk country with fewer restrictions.

Both photos were most probably taken in spring or summer, as they’re all wearing light
clothes.

They might have been taken by another family member or friend, or maybe just by a
fellow-tourist.
Speculate on the people, the place or the occasion, and justify
your guesses

Use modal verbs of deduction. Vary the use of because, as, judging
from or judging by to give your reasons:

Judging from the ruins in the background, I’d say the family are on holiday in Italy.

It’s difficult to tell how they’re feeling from this photo, but they’re probably smiling behind
the masks!

The children could be finding it all rather strange, as they look a little uncomfortable.

The couples might be meeting again after many years, because they’re all smiling.

The two women must be good friends, judging by how closely together they’re walking.

These expressions with look are also very useful for describing and
speculating. Note the structures to use in each case:

The family look like typical tourists (look like + noun or noun phrase)

The two girls look very alike – they must be sisters (look + adjective)

They all look as though they’re determined to have a good time despite the pandemic!
(look as though + clause)

The two women on the beach look as if they’re sharing a joke (look as if + clause)

Vary these with the verbs seem and appear:

They all seem happy (seem + adjective)

The couples appear to know (seem/appear + to + infinitive) each other already, though
they could have just met.

You could also use the following ways to speculate:

I’d say both the couples are of retirement age.

I’d imagine they’re old friends.

I suppose they might just have met while on holiday.

I can’t say for sure, but the ruins in the background could be the Colosseum in Rome.