Comparative degree
33.5
妹妹写字写得没有弟弟(那么)快。
妹妹寫字寫得沒有弟弟(那麼)快。
Mèimei xiě zì xiěde méi yǒu dìdi (nàme) kuài.
Younger sister doesn’t write characters as fast as younger brother.
Variation 2
object, NP 1 [action verb 得] 没有/沒有 NP 2 (那么/那麼) AV
object, NP 1 [action verb de] méi yǒu NP 2 (nàme) AV
As for the object, NP 1 does not perform the action verb as AV as NP 2
中国字，妹妹写得没有弟弟那么快。
中國字，妹妹寫得沒有弟弟那麼快。
Zhōngguó zì, mèimei xiě de méi yǒu dìdi nàme kuài.
(As for) Chinese characters, younger sister doesn’t write them as fast as
younger brother.
Be careful to repeat the action verb if you include its object.
Say this Not this
我没有他吃饭吃得多。 *我没有他吃饭得多。
我沒有他吃飯吃得多。 我沒有他吃飯得多。
Wǒ méi yǒu tā chī fàn chī de duō. Wǒ méi yǒu tā chī fàn de duō.
I do not eat as much as he does.
妹妹没有弟弟写字写得(那么)快。 *妹妹没有弟弟写字得(那么)快。
妹妹沒有弟弟寫字寫得(那麼)快。 妹妹沒有弟弟寫字得(那麼)快。
Mèimei méi yǒu dìdi xiě zì xiě de
(nàme) kuài.
Mèimei méi yǒu dìdi xiě zì de
(nàme) kuài.
Younger sister doesn’t write as fast as younger brother.
C31.1.2, 33.1.6, 33.3.5
33.5 Comparative degree
To indicate the comparative form in Mandarin, place the intensifier 更 gèng or the expression
还(要)/還(要) hái (yào) before the stative verb or adjectival verb.
哥哥喜欢看电影。妹妹更喜欢。(SV)
哥哥喜歡看電影。妹妹更喜歡。
Gēge xǐhuan kàn diànyǐng. Mèimei gèng xǐhuan.
Older brother likes to watch movies. Younger sister likes to even more.
日本车很贵。德国车更贵。( AV )
日本車很貴。德國車更貴。
Rìběn chē hěn guì. Déguó chē gèng guì.
Japanese cars are very expensive. German cars are even more expensive.
日本车很贵。德国车还(要)贵。( AV )
日本車很貴。德國車還(要)貴。
Rìběn chē hěn guì. Déguó chē hái (yào) guì.
Japanese cars are very expensive. German cars are even more expensive.
更 gèng and 还要/還要 hái yào may be used in 比 bǐ comparison sentences.
德国车比日本车更贵。
德國車比日本車更貴。
Déguó chē bǐ Rìběn chē gèng guì.
German cars are even more expensive than Japanese cars.
