Comparisons

Use the examples with their context and limits. Recall a sentence before reading the model. Original teaching additions accompany examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA); see the course reference provenance.

没(有) comparisons (not as … as)

A shorter person does not reach a height

• One friend is 170 cm tall and another is 180 cm tall.
• 我没有他高。 — The speaker's height falls below the other person's height.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is 没(有) comparisons (not as … as). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
• Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.

I我wǒnot as没有méi yǒuhim他tātall高gāo。

Read examples in context

today今天jīn tiānnot as没有méi yǒuyesterday昨天zuó tiāncold冷lěng。

• In the opening example, 我没有他高。: The speaker's height falls below the other person's height.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• 不比他高 means not taller, which permits equality; 没有他高 expresses a lower level.
• Both are grammatical, with different meanings. Do not call 不比 an invalid negative of 比.

Use the distinction

• The speaker's height falls below the other person's height.
• 不比他高 means not taller, which permits equality; 没有他高 expresses a lower level. Both are grammatical, with different meanings. Do not call 不比 an invalid negative of 比.

Try it with help closed

One friend is 170 cm tall and another is 180 cm tall. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

One possible response: 我没有他高。

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• 不比他高 means not taller, which permits equality; 没有他高 expresses a lower level.
• Both are grammatical, with different meanings. Do not call 不比 an invalid negative of 比.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.

跟 … 比(起来) (compared with …)

A comparison needs a named baseline

• You compare this year's summer with last year's.
• 跟去年比，今年更热。 — 去年 is the baseline; 今年 is the period being evaluated.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is 跟 … 比(起来) (compared with …). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
• Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.

with跟gēnlast year去年qù niáncompare比bǐ，this year今年jīn niáneven more更gènghot热rè。

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, 跟去年比，今年更热。: 去年 is the baseline; 今年 is the period being evaluated.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• 跟去年比起来 also works.
• A changed baseline can change the claim; hotter than last year does not mean hotter than every year on record.

Use the distinction

• 去年 is the baseline; 今年 is the period being evaluated.
• 跟去年比起来 also works. A changed baseline can change the claim; hotter than last year does not mean hotter than every year on record.

Try it with help closed

You compare this year's summer with last year's. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

One possible response: 跟去年比，今年更热。

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• 跟去年比起来 also works.
• A changed baseline can change the claim; hotter than last year does not mean hotter than every year on record.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.

比 … 更 / 还 (even more than)

A comparison does not set an absolute height

• Two short children differ in height.
• 他比我更高。 — The other child is taller relative to the speaker.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is 比 … 更 / 还 (even more than). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
• Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.

he他tāthan比bǐme我wǒeven more更gèngtall高gāo。

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, 他比我更高。: The other child is taller relative to the speaker.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• 更 can strengthen the comparison without proving that either child is tall against an adult standard.
• An ordinary 比 comparison uses 高, 更高 or 还高 rather than 比我很高.

Use the distinction

• The other child is taller relative to the speaker.
• 更 can strengthen the comparison without proving that either child is tall against an adult standard. An ordinary 比 comparison uses 高, 更高 or 还高 rather than 比我很高.

Try it with help closed

Two short children differ in height. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

One possible response: 他比我更高。

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• 更 can strengthen the comparison without proving that either child is tall against an adult standard.
• An ordinary 比 comparison uses 高, 更高 or 还高 rather than 比我很高.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.

比 … Adj + 多了 (much more than)

A large gap differs from a precise measurement

• An older child is much taller than a younger child.
• 他比我高多了。 — 多了 presents the height difference as large.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is 比 … Adj + 多了 (much more than). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
• Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.

he他tāthan比bǐme我wǒtall高gāomuch more多了duō le。

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, 他比我高多了。: 多了 presents the height difference as large.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• 高多了 does not state a precise number of centimetres.
• 高一点 describes a smaller gap; 高十厘米 supplies a numerical difference.

Use the distinction

• 多了 presents the height difference as large.
• 高多了 does not state a precise number of centimetres. 高一点 describes a smaller gap; 高十厘米 supplies a numerical difference.

Try it with help closed

An older child is much taller than a younger child. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

One possible response: 他比我高多了。

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• 高多了 does not state a precise number of centimetres.
• 高一点 describes a smaller gap; 高十厘米 supplies a numerical difference.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.

N1 + 有 + N2 + Adj (as … as)

Ask whether a level is reached

• You want to know whether a child's height reaches an older sibling's height.
• 你有他高吗？ — The question asks about reaching the comparison level.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is N1 + 有 + N2 + Adj (as … as). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
• Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.

you你nǐas … as有yǒuhim他tātall高gāo吗ma？

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, 你有他高吗？: The question asks about reaching the comparison level.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• The question itself does not assert equality.
• An answer such as 没有 confirms a lower height; 有 in this comparison differs from 有一本书, where it expresses possession.

Use the distinction

• The question asks about reaching the comparison level.
• The question itself does not assert equality. An answer such as 没有 confirms a lower height; 有 in this comparison differs from 有一本书, where it expresses possession.

Try it with help closed

You want to know whether a child's height reaches an older sibling's height. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

One possible response: 你有他高吗？

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• The question itself does not assert equality.
• An answer such as 没有 confirms a lower height; 有 in this comparison differs from 有一本书, where it expresses possession.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.