Compare two things before buying

Printable paper with separate answer pages Step-by-step lessons

Original teaching practice. Read one pattern, cover its model and try the questions before checking the separate answer section. Examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA) retain the course-reference provenance.

Compare two things before buying

Describe a difference and ask about the preferred item.

Before you start: Recall prices and familiar adjectives such as expensive贵guì, expensive, and cheap便宜pián yi, inexpensive. A comparison describes a difference; a preference belongs to a particular person.

Build the meaning

A than / compared to比bǐ B + adjective compares A with B: this这个zhè gethan / compared to比bǐthat那个nà geexpensive贵guì. Do not add degree / adjective linker很hěn immediately after than / compared to比bǐ in this basic pattern.

Use more更gèng to say even more: this这个zhè gemore更gèngcheap便宜pián yi. A comparison describes the two things; which one is better depends on what you need.

Work through a decision

A red cup costs eighteen yuan and a blue cup twelve. red (color)红色hóng sè(modifier / structural particle)的dethan / compared to比bǐblue (color)蓝色lán sè(modifier / structural particle)的deexpensive贵guì follows because eighteen exceeds twelve. blue (color)蓝色lán sè(modifier / structural particle)的dethan / compared to比bǐred (color)红色hóng sè(modifier / structural particle)的decheap便宜pián yi describes the same price relation from the other side. Neither sentence tells you which colour a customer likes or whether either cup is affordable for them.

Compare: more更gèngto like喜欢xǐ huanred (color)红色hóng sè says someone prefers red; red (color)红色hóng sè(modifier / structural particle)的demore更gèngexpensive贵guì says red is more expensive in the comparison context. Cost and preference are different claims. In the basic A than / compared to比bǐ B expensive贵guì pattern, do not insert degree / adjective linker很hěn immediately after than / compared to比bǐ to imitate very in English.

Useful words in context

than / compared to比bǐ bǐ – than, comparison. this这个zhè gethan / compared to比bǐthat那个nà geexpensive贵guì。
expensive贵guì guì – expensive. this这个zhè gedegree / adjective linker很hěnexpensive贵guì。
cheap便宜pián yi piányi – cheap / inexpensive. that那个nà gemore更gèngcheap便宜pián yi。
color颜色yán sè yánsè – colour. you你nǐto like喜欢xǐ huanwhat什么shén mecolor颜色yán sè？
but但是dàn shì dànshì – but. cheap便宜pián yi，but但是dàn shì太小tài xiǎo。

Listen before reading the script

Ask a partner to read the listening script from the answer section while you keep it covered. Then attempt the listening question. If you work alone without audio, use the script for reading practice; it is not a listening test.

Read a different account

red (color)红色hóng sè(modifier / structural particle)的decup杯子bēi zi二十块èr shí kuàicoin钱qián，blue (color)蓝色lán sè(modifier / structural particle)的decup杯子bēi zi十五块shí wǔ kuàicoin钱qián。red (color)红色hóng sè(modifier / structural particle)的dethan / compared to比bǐblue (color)蓝色lán sè(modifier / structural particle)的deexpensive贵guì，but但是dàn shì林安lín ānmore更gèngto like喜欢xǐ huanred (color)红色hóng sè。

Try the reading question before checking the English meaning in the answer section.

Speak with a partner

Compare two fictional cups by price. Ask which colour a partner prefers.

Check the distinction: A than / compared to比bǐ B expensive贵guì means A costs more than B. Reversing A and B reverses the comparison.

Learn step by step · Practise and review.

Practice without the models

Choose a pattern, cover its teaching examples, and attempt its questions. Use the labels to find feedback in the separate key.

Compare two things before buying

0201.1 Listening. Which is cheaper in the recording?

A. That cup
B. They cost the same
C. This cup

0201.2 Reading. Why might Lin An still choose the red cup?

A. She prefers its colour
B. The text says blue is broken
C. It is cheaper

0201.3 Complete “This is more expensive than that”: this这个zhè ge…………that那个nà geexpensive贵guì。

0201.4 Match each word with its meaning in this unit.

1. than / compared to比bǐ
1. expensive贵guì
1. cheap便宜pián yi
1. color颜色yán sè
1. but但是dàn shì
A. but
B. colour
C. cheap / inexpensive
D. than, comparison
E. expensive

0201.5 Write a comparison and then a preference.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

0201.6 red (color)红色hóng sè(modifier / structural particle)的dethan / compared to比bǐblue (color)蓝色lán sè(modifier / structural particle)的deexpensive贵guì。red (color)红色hóng sè means red, blue (color)蓝色lán sè blue and expensive贵guì expensive. Which cup costs more?

A. They must cost the same
B. The blue cup
C. The red cup

0201.7 A red notebook costs thirty yuan and a blue notebook twenty. First identify the higher price. Which sentence preserves the relation? expensive贵guì means expensive and cheap便宜pián yi inexpensive.

A. red (color)红色hóng sè(modifier / structural particle)的dethan / compared to比bǐblue (color)蓝色lán sè(modifier / structural particle)的decheap便宜pián yi。
B. red (color)红色hóng sè(modifier / structural particle)的dethan / compared to比bǐblue (color)蓝色lán sè(modifier / structural particle)的deexpensive贵guì。
C. blue (color)蓝色lán sè(modifier / structural particle)的dethan / compared to比bǐred (color)红色hóng sè(modifier / structural particle)的deexpensive贵guì。

0201.8 Read: see 大夫大dàcup杯子bēi zi二十块èr shí kuàicoin钱qián，small小xiǎocup杯子bēi zi十五块shí wǔ kuàicoin钱qián。林安lín ānmore更gèngto like喜欢xǐ huansmall小xiǎocup杯子bēi zi。cup杯子bēi zi means cup. Which account preserves cost and preference?

A. The small cup costs less; Lin An prefers the small cup.
B. The small cup costs more; Lin An prefers the small cup.
C. The small cup costs less; Lin An prefers the large cup.

0201.9 Use Mandarin for the new sentences or dialogue. You may explain your reasoning in English. Invent two items with different prices. Write one than / compared to比bǐ comparison and a fictional customer’s preference. Ask which item costs more and which the customer prefers. Give a possible preference that does not simply follow the price. Speak the questions and replies or write both roles.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

A fresh situation

R1. Interpret and repair. A seller offers a large bag for eighty yuan and a small bag for fifty. A learner says small小xiǎo(modifier / structural particle)的de比大bǐ dà(modifier / structural particle)的deexpensive贵guì. Repair the comparison.

R2. Use it yourself. Choose one bag and justify the choice using price and one stated drawback.

Write your responses before opening the key. Compare meaning as well as form; a different valid answer need not copy the model.

Open the answers after your attempt

Answers and explanations

Check after your attempt. For open tasks, compare the message and the stated criteria, then revise one detail.

Compare two things before buying

0201.1 C. This cup

十块shí kuài is less than 十五块shí wǔ kuài, so this这个zhè ge is cheaper.

0201.2 A. She prefers its colour

more更gèngto like喜欢xǐ huanred (color)红色hóng sè states a preference despite the higher price.

0201.3 than / compared to比bǐ

than / compared to比bǐ introduces the comparison standard.

0201.4 1–D: than / compared to比bǐ = than, comparison; 2–E: expensive贵guì = expensive; 3–C: cheap便宜pián yi = cheap / inexpensive; 4–B: color颜色yán sè = colour; 5–A: but但是dàn shì = but

Use the example sentences to check each word’s meaning in context.

0201.5 One possible response: red (color)红色hóng sè(modifier / structural particle)的dethan / compared to比bǐblue (color)蓝色lán sè(modifier / structural particle)的deexpensive贵guì，but但是dàn shìI / me我wǒmore更gèngto like喜欢xǐ huanred (color)红色hóng sè。

Check meaning and form:

Make the comparison direction clear.
Give a preference separately.
Use but但是dàn shì only where it marks a contrast.

Compare the meaning and structure with the checklist. Your own response may differ from the model.

0201.6 C. The red cup

The item before than / compared to比bǐ is described as more expensive than the comparison item after than / compared to比bǐ. Reversing them reverses the claim; the sentence does not establish anyone’s preference.

0201.7 B. red (color)红色hóng sè(modifier / structural particle)的dethan / compared to比bǐblue (color)蓝色lán sè(modifier / structural particle)的deexpensive贵guì。

Thirty exceeds twenty, so the red notebook is more expensive. The other options reverse the price relation. Check both the order of the items and the adjective.

0201.8 A. The small cup costs less; Lin An prefers the small cup.

The small cup costs fifteen versus twenty for the large one, so it costs less. more更gèngto like喜欢xǐ huansmall小xiǎocup杯子bēi zi names Lin An’s preference for the small cup. The other choices change either the price relation or the preferred item; her reason is not stated.

0201.9 One possible response: Possible account: red (color)红色hóng sè(modifier / structural particle)的decup杯子bēi zi二十块èr shí kuàicoin钱qián，blue (color)蓝色lán sè(modifier / structural particle)的de十五块shí wǔ kuàicoin钱qián。red (color)红色hóng sè(modifier / structural particle)的dethan / compared to比bǐblue (color)蓝色lán sè(modifier / structural particle)的deexpensive贵guì，but但是dàn shìI / me我wǒmore更gèngto like喜欢xǐ huanred (color)红色hóng sè。The red cup costs more but the speaker prefers it. The preference may differ for another person; the account does not state why.

How to revise: If your adjective contradicts the prices, compare the numbers again and reverse either the item order or the adjective as needed. If you inferred preference from price, add an explicit preference statement instead.

Check meaning and form:

Keep both prices and the comparison consistent.
Put the compared items in the intended order around than / compared to比bǐ.
Name whose preference is being described.
Avoid inventing a reason or a rule for all customers.
Write or speak the requested sentences, questions or dialogue in Mandarin; optional English reasoning does not replace them.

If your adjective contradicts the prices, compare the numbers again and reverse either the item order or the adjective as needed. If you inferred preference from price, add an explicit preference statement instead.

Listening script and meaning

this这个zhè gecup杯子bēi zi十块钱shí kuài qián，that那个nà ge十五块shí wǔ kuàicoin钱qián。this这个zhè gethan / compared to比bǐthat那个nà gecheap便宜pián yi。

This cup costs ten yuan and that one fifteen. This one is cheaper.

Reading meaning

The red cup costs twenty yuan and the blue one fifteen. Red is more expensive, but Lin An prefers red.

Speaking model

A: red (color)红色hóng sè(modifier / structural particle)的dethan / compared to比bǐblue (color)蓝色lán sè(modifier / structural particle)的deexpensive贵guì。you你nǐto like喜欢xǐ huanwhat什么shén mecolor颜色yán sè？ B: I / me我wǒto like喜欢xǐ huanblue (color)蓝色lán sè。

Compare the intended message first. Ask a listener to comment on intelligibility and pronunciation; matching the written model does not establish speaking accuracy.

Fresh-situation answers

R1. small小xiǎo(modifier / structural particle)的de比大bǐ dà(modifier / structural particle)的decheap便宜pián yi or see 大夫大dà(modifier / structural particle)的dethan / compared to比bǐsmall小xiǎo(modifier / structural particle)的deexpensive贵guì。Fifty is less than eighty; the choice of subject changes the direction of the comparison.

R2. One possible response. 我要wǒ yàosmall小xiǎo(modifier / structural particle)的de。small小xiǎo(modifier / structural particle)的de比大bǐ dà(modifier / structural particle)的decheap便宜pián yi，but但是dàn shìto have no room to put sth放不下fàng bù xiàI / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的debook书shū。It is cheaper, but cannot hold my books. A choice may still need reconsidering; a low price does not remove the drawback.