Lesson 1: Comparative sentences: 有 / 没有, 更 · 最 and the quantity complement

Equal comparison with 有/没有, the superlative, and the quantity complement for a specific difference.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 3 · Lesson 1

她没有我（这么）高。

Tā méiyǒu wǒ (zhème) gāo.

She is not as tall as I am.

Explanation

A 有 / 没有 B (这么 / 那么) + adjective: the verb 有 expresses reaching a level or making an assessment. The affirmative form is mostly used in questions or rhetorical questions; the negative form is mostly used in statements.

With 更 (even more) and 最 (most), the textbook gives examples with illustrations: A 比 B + adjective, C 比 A 更 + adjective, D 最 + adjective.

To compare specific differences in quantity or degree between things, use a quantity complement. The quantity complement must go after the adjective.

The interrogative pronoun 几 expresses an approximate number below 10. 这几年 means 最近几年 (the past few years); 几 in 上海的气温比北京高好几度 also expresses an approximate number.

Structure

1
A 有 B (这么/那么)形容词 · A 没(有) B (这么/那么)形容词
The affirmative is often used in questions or rhetorical questions; the negative is often used in statements. 这么/那么 can be omitted.
- A：她有你（这么）高吗？ B：她没有我（这么）高。
  A: Tā yǒu nǐ (zhème) gāo ma? B: Tā méiyǒu wǒ (zhème) gāo.
  A: Is she as tall as you? B: She's not as tall as I am.
- A：你这次考得怎么样？ B：我没有你考得（那么）好。
  A: Nǐ zhè cì kǎo de zěnmeyàng? B: Wǒ méiyǒu nǐ kǎo de (nàme) hǎo.
  A: How did you do on the exam this time? B: I didn't do as well as you.
- 我们那儿冬天没有这儿（这么）冷。
  Wǒmen nàr dōngtiān méiyǒu zhèr (zhème) lěng.
  Winters where we live are not as cold as here.
2
A 比 B形容词，C 比 A 更形容词，D 最形容词
更: even more; 最: most.
- 熊猫比狗大。大象比熊猫更大。大象最大。
  Xióngmāo bǐ gǒu dà. Dàxiàng bǐ xióngmāo gèng dà. Dàxiàng zuì dà.
  Pandas are bigger than dogs. Elephants are even bigger than pandas. Elephants are the biggest.
- 苹果比葡萄重。西瓜比苹果更重。西瓜最重。
  Píngguǒ bǐ pútao zhòng. Xīguā bǐ píngguǒ gèng zhòng. Xīguā zuì zhòng.
  Apples are heavier than grapes. Watermelons are even heavier than apples. Watermelons are the heaviest.
- 汽车比自行车快。飞机比汽车更快。飞机最快。
  Qìchē bǐ zìxíngchē kuài. Fēijī bǐ qìchē gèng kuài. Fēijī zuì kuài.
  Cars are faster than bicycles. Planes are even faster than cars. Planes are the fastest.
3
A 比 B形容词数量词（补语）
The quantity complement states the specific amount of difference and goes after the adjective.
- 他比弟弟大两岁。
  Tā bǐ dìdi dà liǎng suì.
  He is two years older than his younger brother.
- 罗兰比我跑得快五分钟。
  Luólán bǐ wǒ pǎo de kuài wǔ fēnzhōng.
  Luolan runs five minutes faster than I do.
4
几 (số ước lượng dưới 10)
这几年 = 最近几年; 好几度: several degrees.
- 这几年变化很大。
  Zhè jǐ nián biànhuà hěn dà.
  There have been big changes in the past few years.
- 上海的气温比北京高好几度。
  Shànghǎi de qìwēn bǐ Běijīng gāo hǎo jǐ dù.
  Shanghai's temperature is several degrees higher than Beijing's.

Usage notes

The negative of a 比 sentence is 没有 (not 不比): 弟弟没有我高 / 他们来得没有我们早.

Common mistakes

~~弟弟比我不高~~
弟弟没有我高
or 弟弟不比我高
~~他们比我们不来得早~~
他们不比我们来得早
or 他们来得没有我们早

Practice

22 questions in 2 sets. One at a time, checked instantly, with explanations.

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