Extended Comparison Patterns: A比B V得Adj
This extended comparison pattern compares how two people do an action by adding V得 to 比, as in 他跑得比我快. It builds on the HSK 2 pattern A比B+adjective, which compares only states, and may add 多了 or 一点儿 for the size of the gap.
In English
In HSK 2 you learned A比B+adjective, as in 他比我高. To compare how well or how fast two people do an action, you add 得 after the verb. There are two orders.
You can say A + verb + 得 + 比 + B + adjective, such as 他跑得比我快, or A + 比 + B + verb + 得 + adjective. The first is more common. To say by how much, add 多了 or 一点 after the adjective.
Do not put 很, 太 or 非常 before the adjective in a 比 sentence.
HSK2学过 A比B+Adj（他比我高）。HSK3扩展：比较动作的结果，要加V得。
结构一：A + 比 + B + V(+O) + V + 得 + Adj
他比我跑得快。
结构二（更常用）：A + V(+O) + V + 得 + 比 + B + Adj
他跑得比我快。（意思一样）
加程度：V得 + 比 + B + Adj + 多了 / 一点儿
他跑得比我快多了。（快很多）
注意：比字句里，形容词前不能再加"很/太/非常"（*他跑得比我很快 ✗）。
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 他跑得比我快。 | Tā pǎo de bǐ wǒ kuài. | He runs faster than me. | Basic V得比B Adj pattern, no object. |
| 她写字写得比我漂亮。 | Tā xiě zì xiě de bǐ wǒ piào liang. | She writes characters more beautifully than me. | Object 字 inserted → verb 写 repeated before 得. |
| 我做作业做得比他快多了。 | Wǒ zuò zuò yè zuò de bǐ tā kuài duō le. | I do homework much faster than him. | Adds degree modifier 多了 after the adjective. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
比 (bǐ)
Compares two people or things on how they do an action.
Structure: A + verb + 得 + 比 + B + adjective
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 她唱歌唱得比我好听。 | Tā chàng gē chàng de bǐ wǒ hǎo tīng. | She sings better than I do. |
| 他起得比我早半个小时。 | Tā qǐ de bǐ wǒ zǎo bàn gè xiǎo shí. | He gets up half an hour earlier than I do. |
| 这次考试我考得比上次好多了。 | Zhè cì kǎo shì wǒ kǎo de bǐ shàng cì hǎo duō le. | I did much better on this exam than last time. |
Not: 他比我跑快。 The adjective needs 得 after the verb: 他比我跑得快.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 2, prepositions (引出对象).
比 is also explained in: Comparison Sentences with 比 and 没有 (HSK 1) · Comparison with 比: A比B + adj/更/还 (HSK 2) · 比 extended: degree & verb phrases (HSK 4).
得 (de)
Links the verb to the adjective that says how well or how fast it is done.
Structure: Verb + 得 + adjective
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 小李游泳游得比小王快。 | Xiǎo lǐ yóu yǒng yóu de bǐ xiǎo wáng kuài. | Xiao Li swims faster than Xiao Wang. |
| 他今天来得比平时晚。 | Tā jīn tiān lái de bǐ píng shí wǎn. | He came later than usual today. |
| 我弟弟吃得比我多。 | Wǒ dì dì chī de bǐ wǒ duō. | My younger brother eats more than I do. |
Not: 我说汉语得比他好。 With an object, repeat the verb: 我说汉语说得比他好.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 2, particles (结构助词); level 3, verbs (能愿动词).
得 is also explained in: Degree Complements: 动词+得+形容词 (runs fast, plays happily) (HSK 2) · Structural Particle 得: State Complement (HSK 2) · Potential Complements: V+得/不+V/Adj (HSK 3) · Degree complement: V得+predicate (HSK 4) · 得 (děi): obligation must (HSK 4) · Potential complements: V得/不C (HSK 4) · Degree & State Complements: 不得了、坏了、得+phrase (HSK 5) · Potential Complements: V+得/不得 (HSK 5).
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
What this opens up
These patterns list Extended Comparison Patterns among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Extended Comparison Patterns
What does 比较句扩展 (Extended Comparison Patterns) mean in Chinese?
This extended comparison pattern compares how two people do an action by adding V得 to 比, as in 他跑得比我快. It builds on the HSK 2 pattern A比B+adjective, which compares only states, and may add 多了 or 一点儿 for the size of the gap. It is an HSK 3 grammar point.
How do you use 比较句扩展 (Extended Comparison Patterns) in a sentence?
他跑得比我快。 — Tā pǎo de bǐ wǒ kuài. — He runs faster than me. Basic V得比B Adj pattern, no object.
What do you need to know before 比较句扩展 (Extended Comparison Patterns)?
Comparison Sentences with 比 and 没有 (HSK 1), Comparison with 比 (HSK 2). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What does 比较句扩展 (Extended Comparison Patterns) lead to?
比 extended (HSK 4). Each of them names 比较句扩展 (Extended Comparison Patterns) among its own prerequisites.
Can I put 很 before the adjective in a 比 sentence?
No. Use 多了, 一点 or 得多 to say how big the gap is. 他跑得比我快多了 is correct and 他跑得比我很快 is not.
Is 他比我跑得快 the same as 他跑得比我快?
Yes, the meaning is the same. The second order is more common in speech. With an object the usual form repeats the verb, as in 她写字写得比我漂亮.
Extended Comparison Patterns is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
Start at your true level