Making Comparisons Part I

Making Comparisons Part I

Comparison structures are used to indicate that things are similar to or different from each other, or to indicate that something is more than or less than another thing in some way.

Some grammatical categories that will be used:

NP: Noun Phrase

AV: Adjectival Verb

AVP: Adjective Verb Phrase

SV: Stative verb

SVP: Stative Verb Phrase

MV: Modal Verb

AV: Action Verb

VP: Verb Phrase

 

SIMILARITY

 

Indicating that noun phrases are identical

To indicate that two noun phrases are similar or equal:

NP1 跟/和 NP2 一样

Examples：

这本书跟/和那本书一样。

今天的天气跟昨天的一样。

 

Indicating that all noun phrases are the same

When a noun phrase refers to multiple entities (for example, houses, cats, two books, etc) use this pattern to say that all the entities are the same.

NP 一样

Examples:

这两本书一样。

这三个菜一样吗？

 

Indicating that noun phrases share a property

To indicate that two noun phrases are alike in a particular property:

NP1 跟/和 NP2 一样 AV

Examples:

我儿子跟我女儿一样高。

小狗和小猫一样可爱。

 

Indicating resemblance

To indicate that one noun phrase resembles another noun phrase:

NP1 像 NP2

他像他爸爸。

他像法国人吗？

Or

NP1 跟/和 NP2 很像

你儿子跟你女儿很像吗？

If the noun phrase refers to multiple entities

NP (很) 像

他们很像。

 

Indicating similarity in some property

To indicate that two noun phrases are similar enough to be considered equivalent

NP1 有 NP2 那么 AV

Examples:

他有他姐姐那么高。

He is as tall as his older sister

他有他姐姐那么聪明吗？

Is he as smart as his older sister?

Or

NP1 有 NP2 这么 AV

他有你这么高。

He is as tall as you

 

Indicating identical performance of an action

To indicate that two noun phrases perform an action in a similar way:

NP1 跟/和 NP2 [verb 得] 一样 AV

Examples:

我跟他吃得一样多。

弟弟跟妹妹写得一样快。

If the object of the action verb is included in the sentece, the action verb is said twice, once followed by the object, and once followed by 得 一样 （AV）

NP1 跟/和 NP2 [action verb+object] [action verb 得] 一样 AV

Examples:

我跟他吃饭吃得一样多。

弟弟跟妹妹写字写得一样快。

Variation 1

NP1 [action verb+object] [action verb 得] 跟/和 NP2 一样 AV

我吃饭吃得跟他一样多。

弟弟写字写得跟妹妹一样快。

Variation 2

NP1 [action verb+object] 跟/和 NP2 [action verb 得] 一样 AV

我吃饭跟他吃得一样多。

弟弟写字跟妹妹写得一样快。

The verb 有 can be used instead of跟/和

NP1 有 NP2 [action verb+object] [action verb 得] 那么/这么 AV

弟弟有爸爸写字写得那么漂亮。

Younger brother writes characters as beautifully as dad.

Or

NP1 [action verb+object] [action verb 得] 有 NP2 那么/这么 AV

弟弟写字写得有爸爸那么漂亮。

 

Notes：

Be careful to repeat the verb if you include the object of the verb

我吃饭吃得跟他一样多 RIGHT

我吃饭得跟他一样多WRONG

弟弟写字写得有爸爸那么漂亮。RIGHT

弟弟写字得有爸爸那么漂亮。WRONG