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.
with / and跟 … than / compared to比((after a verb) indicating…起来) (compared with …)
Your city or mine?
- A friend from Shanghai is visiting your small town and finds everything slower and quieter.
- with / and跟Shanghai municipality…上海than / compared to比，here这儿quiet安静many多(completed / change)了。 — "Compared with Shanghai, it's much quieter here."
with / and跟 + B + than / compared to比((after a verb) indicating…起来)，A …
- with / and跟 B than / compared to比((after a verb) indicating…起来) = "compared with B" sets up the comparison first; the comment on A follows.
- It often starts the sentence, separated by a comma: with / and跟last year去年than / compared to比，this year今年(modifier / structural particle)的summer夏天热多(completed / change)了.
with跟last year去年compared比，this year今年hot热much多了。
After the subject
- The phrase can follow the subject: I / me我with / and跟I / me我older brother哥哥than / compared to比(after a verb) indicating…起来，or / still还是fairly / rather比较low矮。 — "Compared with my brother, I'm still rather short."
- and / with和 can replace with / and跟: and / with和Beijing, capital of the…北京than / compared to比，Guangzhou subprovincial…广州warm暖和(degree marker)得many多。
with和Beijing北京compared比，Guangzhou广州warm暖和much more得多。
Do not add than / compared to比 twice
- After with / and跟 B than / compared to比, the comment uses a plain adjective (+ many多(completed / change)了 / a bit一点): quiet安静many多(completed / change)了, not than / compared to比quiet安静many多(completed / change)了.
- Keep with / and跟 before B: with / and跟Shanghai municipality…上海than / compared to比, not than / compared to比with / and跟Shanghai municipality…上海.
with / and跟…than / compared to比 versus A than / compared to比 B
- A than / compared to比 B + Adj is one tight sentence: here这儿than / compared to比Shanghai municipality…上海quiet安静.
- with / and跟 B than / compared to比，A … sets the scene first, which suits longer descriptions and opinions.
here这儿than比Shanghai上海quiet安静。
Recap
- with / and跟 / and / with和 B than / compared to比((after a verb) indicating…起来)，A + Adj = compared with B, A is …
- No second than / compared to比 in the comment; many多(completed / change)了 or a bit一点 often follow the adjective.
Practise this pattern step by step.
than / compared to比 … more更 / still / also还 (even more than)
Already tall, and even taller
- Your friend is already tall, but her younger sister, only fourteen, is taller still.
- she / her她degree / adjective linker很high高，she / her她younger sister妹妹than / compared to比she / her她still / also还high高。 — "She's tall, and her younger sister is even taller."
A than / compared to比 B + more更 / still / also还 + Adjective
- more更 or still / also还 before the adjective = "even more": B is already Adj, and A goes beyond it.
- than / compared to比 comes first, then more更 or still / also还, then the bare adjective: than / compared to比he / him他more更busy忙, than / compared to比yesterday昨天still / also还cold冷.
today今天than比yesterday昨天even more更cold冷。
still / also还 adds surprise
- more更 is neutral and common in writing: this这个method方法更好。
- still / also还 sounds more surprised or emphatic in speech: this这个vegetable菜than / compared to比that那个still / also还hot (spicy)辣！ — "This dish is even spicier than that one!"
this这个dish菜than比that one那个even还spicy辣！
degree / adjective linker很 does not belong in than / compared to比 sentences
- Use more更 or still / also还 for "even more", never degree / adjective linker很 or very非常: than / compared to比he / him他more更high高, not than / compared to比he / him他degree / adjective linker很high高.
- more更 / still / also还 go after the than / compared to比 phrase, before the adjective: than / compared to比I / me我more更busy忙, not more更than / compared to比I / me我busy忙.
more更 without than / compared to比
- more更 also works alone when the comparison is clear: I / me我to like喜欢tea茶，but但I / me我more更to like喜欢coffee (loanword)咖啡。 — "I like tea, but I like coffee even more."
- still / also还 in this sense needs the than / compared to比 comparison.
I我even more更like喜欢coffee咖啡。
Recap
- A than / compared to比 B more更 / still / also还 + Adj = A is even more Adj than B (B is already Adj).
- still / also还 sounds more emphatic; more更 also works without than / compared to比. Never degree / adjective linker很 in a than / compared to比 sentence.
Practise this pattern step by step.
than / compared to比 … Adj + many多(completed / change)了 (much more than)
Plane or train?
- You are choosing how to get from Beijing to Guangzhou. The train takes eight hours, the plane three.
- 坐飞机than / compared to比坐火车rapid快many多(completed / change)了。 — "Flying is much faster than taking the train."
A than / compared to比 B + Adj + many多(completed / change)了 / (degree marker)得many多
- Adj + many多(completed / change)了 or Adj + (degree marker)得many多 after a than / compared to比 comparison = "much more …".
- The degree comes after the adjective, never before it.
this这(measure word)件than比that那one件expensive贵much more得多。
A little, or by how much
- a bit一点 / some一些 for "a little more": today今天than / compared to比yesterday昨天to warm up热a bit一点。 — "Today is a bit hotter than yesterday."
- An exact amount also goes after the adjective: he / him他than / compared to比I / me我see 大夫大三岁。 — "He's three years older than me."
he他than比me我older大three years三岁。
The amount comes last
- Say rapid快many多(completed / change)了, not 多快(completed / change)了 or 很快many多(completed / change)了: the degree follows the adjective.
- Put an exact difference after the adjective: see 大夫大三岁, not 三岁see 大夫大 in a than / compared to比 sentence.
many多(completed / change)了 versus (degree marker)得many多
- Both mean "much more"; many多(completed / change)了 is a little more spoken, (degree marker)得many多 a little more neutral.
- many多(completed / change)了 also works without than / compared to比 for a change: I / me我(modifier / structural particle)的illness病many好多(completed / change)了 — "I'm much better now."
my我的illness病better好much多了。
Recap
- A than / compared to比 B + Adj + many多(completed / change)了 / (degree marker)得many多 = much more; + a bit一点 = a little more; + amount = by that much.
- Every degree word or amount comes after the adjective.
Practise this pattern step by step.
N1 + to have / there is有 + N2 + Adj (as … as)
Growing up fast
- Your nephew was tiny last year; now he reaches your shoulder.
- he / him他rapid快to have / there is有I / me我so much这么high高(completed / change)了！ — "He's almost as tall as me!"
A + to have / there is有 + B + (so much这么 / like that那么) + Adjective
- A to have / there is有 B (like that那么) + Adj = "A is as Adj as B": A reaches B's level.
- It is often used in questions and with rapid快 or already已经: he / him他to have / there is有you你high高(yes/no ?)吗？ — "Is he as tall as you?"
he他is as … as有you你tall高吗？
Reaching a level
- this这个watermelon西瓜to have / there is有basketball篮球like that那么see 大夫大。 — "This watermelon is as big as a basketball."
- With already已经: I / me我(modifier / structural particle)的Chinese language中文already已经to have / there is有he / him他like that那么good好(completed / change)了。 — "My Chinese is already as good as his."
this这个watermelon西瓜is as … as有a basketball篮球so那么big大。
Bare adjective, and not have / haven't没有 for "not as"
- No degree / adjective linker很: to have / there is有he / him他like that那么high高, not to have / there is有he / him他degree / adjective linker很high高.
- The negative is not have / haven't没有, which you know already: he / him他not have / haven't没有I / me我high高 — "He isn't as tall as me."
to have / there is有…like that那么 versus with / and跟…same一样
- with / and跟 B same一样 + Adj says the two are equal: he / him他with / and跟I / me我same一样high高.
- to have / there is有 B like that那么 + Adj says A reaches B's level, often as a question or a surprise: he / him他to have / there is有I / me我so much这么high高(yes/no ?)吗？
he他and跟I我equally一样tall高。
Recap
- A to have / there is有 B (so much这么/like that那么) + Adj = A is as Adj as B, A reaches B's level.
- Common in questions and with rapid快 / already已经; negative not have / haven't没有.
Practise this pattern step by step.
Practice without the models
with / and跟 … than / compared to比((after a verb) indicating…起来) (compared with …)
0402.1 Complete: “Compared with last month, I'm much busier.” …………last month上个月than / compared to比，I / me我busy忙many多(completed / change)了。
0402.2 Which sentence is correct?
- A. with / and跟Beijing, capital of the…北京than / compared to比，Shanghai municipality…上海to warm up热a bit一点。
- B. than / compared to比with / and跟Beijing, capital of the…北京，Shanghai municipality…上海to warm up热a bit一点。
- C. with / and跟Beijing, capital of the…北京than / compared to比，Shanghai municipality…上海specific heat比热a bit一点。
- D. with / and跟Beijing, capital of the…北京，Shanghai municipality…上海specific heat比热a bit一点。
0402.3 Build: “Compared with Beijing, Guangzhou is much warmer.”
Arrange all chunks: warm暖和(degree marker)得many多。 / ， / Guangzhou subprovincial…广州 / and / with和Beijing, capital of the…北京than / compared to比
0402.4 with / and跟Shanghai municipality…上海than / compared to比，here这儿quiet安静many多(completed / change)了 and here这儿than / compared to比Shanghai municipality…上海quiet安静many多(completed / change)了 compare the same two places.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
0402.5 A friend from Shanghai is visiting your small town and finds everything slower and quieter. 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.
Write or say your own response before reading the key.
than / compared to比 … more更 / still / also还 (even more than)
0403.1 Complete: “This one is even cheaper than that one.” this这个than / compared to比that那个…………cheap便宜。
0403.2 Which sentence is correct?
- A. he / him他than / compared to比I / me我very非常intelligent聪明。
- B. he / him他than / compared to比I / me我degree / adjective linker很intelligent聪明。
- C. he / him他than / compared to比I / me我more更intelligent聪明。
- D. he / him他more更than / compared to比I / me我intelligent聪明。
0403.3 Build: “I like tea, but I like coffee even more.”
Arrange all chunks: ，but但I / me我 / I / me我to like喜欢tea茶 / more更to like喜欢 / coffee (loanword)咖啡。
0403.4 she / her她younger sister妹妹than / compared to比she / her她still / also还high高 implies that she is already quite tall.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
0403.5 Your friend is already tall, but her younger sister, only fourteen, is taller still. 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.
Write or say your own response before reading the key.
than / compared to比 … Adj + many多(completed / change)了 (much more than)
0404.1 Complete: “This room is much bigger than that one.” this这个room房间than / compared to比that那个see 大夫大…………。
0404.2 Which says “My sister is two years younger than me.”?
- A. younger sister妹妹两岁than / compared to比I / me我small小。
- B. younger sister妹妹than / compared to比I / me我small小两岁。
- C. younger sister妹妹than / compared to比I / me我两岁small小。
- D. younger sister妹妹than / compared to比I / me我很小两岁。
0404.3 Build: “Today is a bit hotter than yesterday.”
Arrange all chunks: than / compared to比yesterday昨天 / today今天 / to warm up热 / a bit一点。
0404.4 I / me我(modifier / structural particle)的illness病many好多(completed / change)了 needs than / compared to比 to be correct.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
0404.5 You are choosing how to get from Beijing to Guangzhou. The train takes eight hours, the plane three. 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.
Write or say your own response before reading the key.
N1 + to have / there is有 + N2 + Adj (as … as)
0405.1 Ask: “Is your hometown as cold as Harbin?” you你(modifier / structural particle)的hometown家乡…………Harbin, subprovincial city…哈尔滨like that那么cold冷(yes/no ?)吗？
0405.2 Which sentence is correct?
- A. he / him他so much这么to have / there is有I / me我high高。
- B. he / him他to have / there is有high高I / me我so much这么。
- C. he / him他to have / there is有I / me我degree / adjective linker很high高。
- D. he / him他to have / there is有I / me我so much这么high高。
0405.3 Build: “This watermelon is as big as a basketball.”
Arrange all chunks: like that那么see 大夫大。 / this这个watermelon西瓜 / to have / there is有 / basketball篮球
0405.4 The negative of he / him他to have / there is有I / me我high高 is he / him他not have / haven't没有I / me我high高.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
0405.5 Your nephew was tiny last year; now he reaches your shoulder. 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.
Write or say your own response before reading the key.
Answers and explanations
with / and跟 … than / compared to比((after a verb) indicating…起来) (compared with …)
0402.1 with / and跟
with / and跟 / and / with和 + B + than / compared to比 sets up the comparison.
0402.2 A. with / and跟Beijing, capital of the…北京than / compared to比，Shanghai municipality…上海to warm up热a bit一点。
After with / and跟 B than / compared to比, the comment is a plain adjective, with no second than / compared to比.
0402.3 and / with和Beijing, capital of the…北京than / compared to比，Guangzhou subprovincial…广州warm暖和(degree marker)得many多。
and / with和 B than / compared to比, then A + Adj + (degree marker)得many多.
0402.4 True.
Both say this place is much quieter than Shanghai.
0402.5 One possible response: with / and跟Shanghai municipality…上海than / compared to比，here这儿quiet安静many多(completed / change)了。
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- After with / and跟 B than / compared to比, the comment uses a plain adjective (+ many多(completed / change)了 / a bit一点): quiet安静many多(completed / change)了, not than / compared to比quiet安静many多(completed / change)了.
- Keep with / and跟 before B: with / and跟Shanghai municipality…上海than / compared to比, not than / compared to比with / and跟Shanghai municipality…上海.
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.
than / compared to比 … more更 / still / also还 (even more than)
0403.1 more更
than / compared to比 B + more更 / still / also还 + Adj.
0403.2 C. he / him他than / compared to比I / me我more更intelligent聪明。
more更 follows the than / compared to比 phrase; degree / adjective linker很 and very非常 do not go in a than / compared to比 sentence.
0403.3 I / me我to like喜欢tea茶，but但I / me我more更to like喜欢coffee (loanword)咖啡。
more更 can work without than / compared to比 when the comparison is clear.
0403.4 True.
still / also还 / more更 = even more, so the person compared with is already tall.
0403.5 One possible response: she / her她degree / adjective linker很high高，she / her她younger sister妹妹than / compared to比she / her她still / also还high高。
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- Use more更 or still / also还 for "even more", never degree / adjective linker很 or very非常: than / compared to比he / him他more更high高, not than / compared to比he / him他degree / adjective linker很high高.
- more更 / still / also还 go after the than / compared to比 phrase, before the adjective: than / compared to比I / me我more更busy忙, not more更than / compared to比I / me我busy忙.
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.
than / compared to比 … Adj + many多(completed / change)了 (much more than)
0404.1 many多(completed / change)了
Adj + many多(completed / change)了 / (degree marker)得many多 = much more.
0404.2 B. younger sister妹妹than / compared to比I / me我small小两岁。
The exact difference follows the adjective.
0404.3 today今天than / compared to比yesterday昨天to warm up热a bit一点。
A than / compared to比 B + Adj + a bit一点.
0404.4 False.
many多(completed / change)了 can describe a change on its own: “much better now”.
0404.5 One possible response: 坐飞机than / compared to比坐火车rapid快many多(completed / change)了。
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- Say rapid快many多(completed / change)了, not 多快(completed / change)了 or 很快many多(completed / change)了: the degree follows the adjective.
- Put an exact difference after the adjective: see 大夫大三岁, not 三岁see 大夫大 in a than / compared to比 sentence.
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.
N1 + to have / there is有 + N2 + Adj (as … as)
0405.1 to have / there is有
A to have / there is有 B like that那么 + Adj asks whether A reaches B's level.
0405.2 D. he / him他to have / there is有I / me我so much这么high高。
he / him他to have / there is有I / me我so much这么high高 is right: A to have / there is有 B (so much这么) + bare adjective, "as tall as me". degree / adjective linker很 is not used in a comparison, and so much这么 comes before the adjective.
0405.3 this这个watermelon西瓜to have / there is有basketball篮球like that那么see 大夫大。
A + to have / there is有 + B + like that那么 + Adj.
0405.4 True.
not have / haven't没有 is the negative of the to have / there is有 comparison.
0405.5 One possible response: he / him他rapid快to have / there is有I / me我so much这么high高(completed / change)了！
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- No degree / adjective linker很: to have / there is有he / him他like that那么high高, not to have / there is有he / him他degree / adjective linker很high高.
- The negative is not have / haven't没有, which you know already: he / him他not have / haven't没有I / me我high高 – "He isn't as tall as me."
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.