Question Type 1: Basic Description Questions

Tenses for Time Comparison

Sometimes people call these questions "changes" questions. However the question "How has X changed in recent years?" is actually the same question as, "Is X nowadays the same as X in the past (20 years ago, 50 years ago etc.)?"

The answer is actually the same, because if you describe the changes you are simply describing the difference between past and present.

In your answer, when you describe the past, the easiest tense to use accurately is "used to". For example:

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  X used to be much smaller...
  
• 
  X didn't use to have as many...
  
• 
  X always used to be more...
  
• 
  X didn't use to be as...
  

Now use your own answer structure to practice the following compare questions.

• 
  Are schools nowadays the same as schools in the past?
  
• 
  Are TV programmes nowadays the same as TV programmes in the past?
  
• 
  Are restaurants nowadays the same as restaurants in the past?
  
• 
  Are free-time activities nowadays the same as 20 years ago in your country?
  
• 
  Are shops nowadays the same as shops when you were younger?
  
• 
  Are trips nowadays the same as trips that your parents had when they were young?
  
• 
  In what ways are magazines different to newspapers?
  
• 
  Do adults and children make friends in the same way?
  
• 
  Are families nowadays the same as families in the past?
  
• 
  Are buildings nowadays the same as buildings 100 years ago?
  
• 
  Is public transport nowadays the same as public transport 20 years ago?
  
• 
  Do old and young people like the same hobbies?
  
• 
  Do men and women have the same attitudes to shopping?
  
• 
  What's the difference between things made by hand and things made by machines?
  
• 
  Do people nowadays eat the same food as people 50 years ago?
  
• 
  Is the weather in North China the same as the weather in South China?
  
• 
  How has education changed in recent years in your country?
  
• 
  Nowadays, do people make new friends in the same way as people 20 years ago?
  
• 
  Are the ways in which people become famous nowadays the same ways that people became famous 100 years ago?
  

This is not a complete list of every comparison question in Part Three, but if you can confidently use your comparative structure for all of these questions, you will have no problem answering this type of question - regardless of the topic.