These items don't look the same as the ones in the phots.
These items don't look the same as in the photos.
These items don't look as the ones in the photos.
Are there any differences in sense between these sentences? Are all of them grammatical?
Word Choice – How to Use ‘The Same As’ in a Sentence
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Just passing, so this is more of an opinion than a fully researched answer. But, with that caveat, while they clearly are used almost interchangeably, there are cases where one is much better fit that the other.
To me, 'much of the same' often implies a specific condition (I usually feel that it should be followed by something - 'much of the same xxxx') whereas 'much the same' tends to be looser or more generalised.
Q: How do you feel?
A: Much the same
Q: What programs are the ABC putting out this season?
A: Much of the same
Rightly or wrongly (largely out of tradition I suppose) I often turn to the BBC for things like this. A quick search finds:
...although they use much of the same data
...does contain much of the same material
The second half followed much of the same pattern
Against:
The Earth's atmosphere has remained much the same for the past 200 million years.
...they all look pretty much the same
...and the picture was much the same in Wales
I would say they are pretty close, but a seaside resort might encompass more than a beach. So, you might have taken a seaside vacation, and never felt the beach sand between your toes. Instead, you might have participated in activities such as golf:
Your second sentence, therefore, is more specific, and makes it clear that you weren’t merely at the seaside, but on the beach:
Best Answer
If you use "in the photos" rather than "on the photos", then your first two examples are acceptable. I'd typically stick with the simpler
I can't explain why "as" can't be used on its own (like in the 3rd example) to make the comparison here, but it can't. There are a few cases where "as" is used on its own, like "do as I say", but when using it to make comparisons we almost always use it with an adjective, like "as fast as", "as big as", or "the same as".