Comparisons of similarity and difference

The present paper proposes an analysis of comparisons of similarity and difference in English involving different, same and like. First, I examine the relationship between comparisons involving different, same and like and scalar comparisons exemplified by I am taller now than I used to be. Since both constructions differ only on a few points, I conclude that comparisons of similarity and difference should be analyzed as a subclass of comparative constructions. The second part of the paper analyzes the scope of comparisons of similarity and difference: I argue that these comparisons are best analyzed as comparisons between sets of properties.