Similarly to Tom (adv), Joe has good grades at school
As has Tom (adv), Joe has good grades at school.
Like Tom [has] (adv), Joe has good grades at school.
How, in what manner, etc. (adv) does Joe have good grades? - like Tom has.
Differently from Tom, John took three attempts to pass the exam. (Adv)
(John took three attempts to pass the exam - differently from Tom, who passed on first go.)
More quickly than Tom, John reached the finish line. (Adv)
(John reached the finish line more quickly than Tom did.)
[Being] Quicker than Tom, John reached the finish line first. (Adj)