RealHSK

HSK 3Lesson 12 of 15 · 9 grammar points

Comparisons and presented events

Comparisons may express equality, an increased degree or a measured difference in action. Location-first structures introduce appearances or disappearances. 是…的 can also assure rather than focus a past event, and verb repetition can accommodate an object plus a complement.

Learning goals (9)
  • Even more in comparisons.
  • Sameness with 一样.
  • Equal degree.
  • Not exceeding a standard.
  • Comparing amount or timing of actions.
  • Appearance at a place.
  • Disappearance from a place.
  • Assurance with 是…的.
  • Verb repetition for complements.

A比B+更/还+形容词

Even more in comparisons

更 or 还 between the standard and adjective adds a further degree of comparison.

今天比昨天还冷。

Jīn tiān bǐ zuó tiān hái lěng.

Today is even colder than yesterday.

More

Pitfall: 还 here means even more, not still doing an activity.

A跟B一样

Sameness with 一样

A跟B一样 states sameness in a contextually understood respect.

我的书跟你的一样。

Wǒ de shū gēn nǐ de yī yàng.

My book is the same as yours.

More

Pitfall: Sameness need not mean the two objects are literally one object.

A跟B一样+形容词

Equal degree

A跟B一样+adjective specifies the dimension on which they are equal.

她跟我一样高。

Tā gēn wǒ yī yàng gāo.

She is as tall as I am.

More

Pitfall: Omitting 高 leaves the relevant dimension to context.

A不比B+形容词

Not exceeding a standard

A不比B+adjective denies a higher degree; it may allow equality.

他不比我高。

Tā bù bǐ wǒ gāo.

He is no taller than me.

More

Pitfall: Do not automatically translate this as he is shorter.

早到

Comparing amount or timing of actions

多、少、早、晚 before the verb can compare an action's amount or timing, followed by a measured difference.

他比我早到十分钟。

Tā bǐ wǒ zǎo dào shí fēn zhōng.

He arrived ten minutes earlier than me.

More

比我多买两本 buy two more books than me; 比我少写一页 write one page less; 比我早到十分钟 arrive ten minutes earlier; 比我晚走一天 leave a day later. The quality words precede the action and the measured difference follows.

Pitfall: 十分钟 measures how much earlier, not how long arrival lasted.

走进来

Appearance at a place

A location-first sentence can introduce someone or something arriving, with a result/direction and a quantity phrase.

门口走进来一个人。

Mén kǒu zǒu jìn lái yī gè rén.

Someone walked in at the doorway.

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Pitfall: The introduced person follows the predicate in this presentational structure.

跑走

Disappearance from a place

A location-first sentence can present the disappearance of something, usually with an appropriate result expression.

院子里跑走了一只猫。

Yuàn zi lǐ pǎo zǒu le yī zhī māo.

A cat ran away from the yard.

More

Pitfall: The location is the scene of disappearance, not the agent.

强调说话人的看法或态度

Assurance with 是…的

是…的 can reinforce a judgment or assurance, distinct from focusing details of a known past event.

他是会来的。

Tā shì huì lái de.

He will indeed come.

More

Pitfall: Do not treat all 是…的 sentences as past-event focus.

唱歌唱得

Verb repetition for complements

Repeat a verb when its object and a complement both need accommodation: V+object+V+complement.

他唱歌唱得很好。

Tā chàng gē chàng de hěn hǎo.

He sings very well.

More

Pitfall: The repeated verb supports the complement rather than naming a second singing event.

Source details (official syllabus)

  • Even more in comparisons

    Syllabus item
    （1）A比B+更/还+形容词
    Category
    比较句2
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-073
    PDF page
    394 (printed 391)

  • Sameness with 一样

    Syllabus item
    （2）A跟B一样
    Category
    比较句2
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-074
    PDF page
    394 (printed 391)

  • Equal degree

    Syllabus item
    （3）A跟B一样+形容词
    Category
    比较句2
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-075
    PDF page
    394 (printed 391)

  • Not exceeding a standard

    Syllabus item
    （4）A不比B+形容词
    Category
    比较句2
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-076
    PDF page
    394 (printed 391)

  • Comparing amount or timing of actions

    Syllabus item
    （5）A比B+多/少/早/晚+动词+数量短语
    Category
    比较句2
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-077
    PDF page
    394 (printed 391)

  • Appearance at a place

    Syllabus item
    （1）表示出现：处所词+动词+趋向补语/结果补语+动态助词（了）+数量短语+人/物
    Category
    存现句3
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-078
    PDF page
    394 (printed 391)

  • Disappearance from a place

    Syllabus item
    （2）表示消失：处所词+动词+结果补语+动态助词（了）+数量短语+人/物
    Category
    存现句3
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-079
    PDF page
    394 (printed 391)

  • Assurance with 是…的

    Syllabus item
    强调说话人的看法或态度
    Category
    “是……的”句2
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-080
    PDF page
    394 (printed 391)

  • Verb repetition for complements

    Syllabus item
    主语+动词+宾语+动词+补语
    Category
    重动句
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L3-081
    PDF page
    394 (printed 391)