許多人認為 different (不同的) 後面僅能接介系詞 from,不可接 to 或 than。事實上,這個形容詞無論接 from 或接 to,甚至接 than,都是正確的用法。Different 可用來說明兩個人或事物之間的差異,其後通常接 from,但我們亦可使用 different to,尤其是在說話時。例如:
- Our school is very different from theirs. (我們學校跟他們學校有很大的不同) (正)
Our school is very different to theirs. (正) - The incumbent president is so different from the former president. (現任總統迥異於前任總統) (正)
The incumbent president is so different to the former president. (正) - These results are a bit different from the ones we got three days ago. (這些結果和我們三天前得到的結果有點不同) (正)
These results are a bit different to the ones we got three days ago. (正) - My opinion could hardly be more different from hers. (我的觀點正好和她的完全相反) (正)
My opinion could hardly be more different to hers. (正)