比 sentence: A + 比 + B + adjective, no 很
比 (bǐ) compares two items directly: Subject + 比 + the other item + adjective. 他比我高。(Tā bǐ wǒ gāo.) — He is taller than me. Add ONE degree word after the adjective for precision: 他比我高一点。(Tā bǐ wǒ gāo yìdiǎn.) — a little taller; 她比我忙得多。(Tā bǐ wǒ máng de duō.) — much busier. Because 比 already carries the comparative meaning, 很 (hěn) must NEVER stand before the adjective in this pattern — dropping in a 很 is the classic 比-sentence error.
Plain adjective predicate uses 很
Chinese adjectives work as predicates with no separate verb "to be". In a plain, non-comparative statement, 很 (hěn) is the default neutral link: 我很高兴。(Wǒ hěn gāoxìng.) — I am happy. Here 很 is usually unstressed and does not mean emphatic "very" — it is just the default shape of an adjective-predicate sentence. But once it becomes a direct comparison with 比, 没有 or 跟……一样, this 很 must be dropped, because the comparison word already does the comparative work.
没有, 跟……一样, 更/最 comparisons
A + 没有 + B + adjective = A is not as [adj] as B: 我没有他高。(Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo.) — I am not as tall as him. A + 跟 + B + 一样 (+adjective) = equal: 我跟他一样高。(Wǒ gēn tā yíyàng gāo.) — I am as tall as him. 更 + adjective = "even more" against an implied standard, no second item needed: 这件更贵。(Zhè jiàn gèng guì.) — This one is more expensive. 最 + adjective = the superlative among three or more: 这个最便宜。(Zhège zuì piányi.) — This one is the cheapest.
Drawn from real examiner reports.
很 inside a 比 sentence (我比他很高)
✗ 我比他很高。The 比 sentence already supplies the comparative meaning, so 很 is redundant and ungrammatical here. ✓ 我比他高。(Wǒ bǐ tā gāo.) — I am taller than him. Whenever 比 (or 没有) is present, delete 很 before the adjective. This is the single most citable 比-specific error on the examiner grammar-improvement checklist.
(s22, s23)
很 inside a 没有 sentence (我没有他很高)
The drop-很 rule is not limited to 比 — it applies to 没有 comparisons too. ✗ 我没有他很高。(很 wrongly inserted) ✓ 我没有他高。(Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo.) — I am not as tall as him. 没有 already means "not as … as", so an extra 很 before the adjective breaks the comparison just as it does after 比.
(general FL trap)
Adjective before the 比-phrase (我高比他)
✗ 我高比他。The adjective has jumped in front of the 比-phrase — wrong order. ✓ 我比他高。(Wǒ bǐ tā gāo.) — I am taller than him. Both the comparison word 比 and the second item B must come BEFORE the adjective, never after it. Fix it by moving the adjective to the very end: 比 + B + adjective.
(general FL trap)
Invalid degree word 很多 after 比
✗ 他比我高很多一点。This stacks 很多 with 一点, and 很多 is not a valid degree word after a 比-adjective anyway. ✓ 他比我高一点。(Tā bǐ wǒ gāo yìdiǎn.) — a little taller. ✓ 他比我高得多。(Tā bǐ wǒ gāo de duō.) — much taller. Choose exactly ONE degree word, 一点 or 得多 — never both, and never 很多.
(general FL trap)
Degree word before the adjective (比我一点高)
✗ 他比我一点高。The degree word 一点 has been placed before the adjective. ✓ 他比我高一点。(Tā bǐ wǒ gāo yìdiǎn.) — He is a little taller than me. In a 比 sentence the degree word (一点 "a little" or 得多 "a lot") always follows the adjective — put it right at the end, never in front of the adjective.
(general FL trap)
Mixing 比 and 一样 in one clause
✗ 她的中文比我一样好。比 and 一样 cannot share one clause — 比 means "more than" while 一样 means "the same as", so they contradict each other. ✓ 她的中文跟我一样好。(Tā de Zhōngwén gēn wǒ yíyàng hǎo.) — Her Chinese is as good as mine. When two things are equal, use 跟……一样, not 比.
(general FL trap)
很 does not mean "very" in a 比 sentence
In a plain adjective-predicate sentence 很 is usually just a grammatical link, not the emphatic "very" it looks like in English — and inside a comparison it is not needed at all. ✗ 我比他很高。(treating 很 as compulsory emphasis) ✓ 我比他高。(Wǒ bǐ tā gāo.) — the word 比 alone conveys the comparison; adding 很 does not intensify it, it just breaks the grammar.
更/最 do not need 比 or a second item
更 ("more") and 最 ("most") do NOT have to appear with 比 or name every item compared — they can stand alone with just the adjective, comparing against a standard or group already clear from context: 这件更贵。(Zhè jiàn gèng guì.) — this one is more expensive. 这个最便宜。(Zhège zuì piányi.) — this one is the cheapest. Forcing 比 into every 更/最 sentence produces over-long Chinese.
Pick the comparison structure first
First fix the relationship: "more" → 比 (A比B+adjective); "not as … as" → 没有; equal → 跟……一样; a general "more"/"most" with no stated second item → 更 or 最. Choose the structure before writing, so you do not default to 比 for every comparison.
Delete every 很 inside a comparison
Scan every comparison for a stray 很. If the sentence uses 比, 没有 or 跟……一样, there must be NO 很 before the adjective — the comparison word already does that job (我比他高 ✓, 我比他很高 ✗). This one check removes the commonest comparison error.
One degree word, after the adjective
To show HOW MUCH, add exactly one degree word AFTER the adjective: 一点 for a small gap (他比我高一点), 得多 for a big gap (他比我高得多). Never stack two degree words, never put one before the adjective, and never use 很多.
更 = relative more, 最 = superlative
Use 更 and 最 when no second item is named. 更 + adjective is a relative "even more" against an implied standard: 这件更贵 (Zhè jiàn gèng guì). 最 + adjective is the superlative among three or more: 这个最便宜 (Zhège zuì piányi). Neither one needs a 比-phrase.
This grammar point (Section G, G5) covers how Mandarin compares two things -- 比 (bǐ, "more than"), 没有 (méiyǒu, "not as...as"), 跟……一样 (gēn...yíyàng, "as...as"), and 更/最 (gèng/zuì, "more"/"most") -- and how a PLAIN adjective statement (很 + adjective) differs from all four of these. It appears across Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening whenever a task asks you to compare people, places or things.
比 (bǐ) directly compares two named items: A is more [adjective] than B. 没有 (méiyǒu) is the negative mirror: A is not as [adjective] as B. 跟……一样 (gēn...yíyàng) states that A and B are equal in some quality. 更/最 (gèng/zuì) compare against an implied standard or group without needing to name every item. 很 (hěn) + adjective on its own, with none of the above, is simply a plain statement -- and 很 must never be combined with 比, 没有 or 跟……一样.
Say in Chinese: He is taller than me. (use 比, no 很)
写出两个用「比」比较两个人的例句（要有度词，如「一点」或「得多」），和两个用「没有」表示"不如"的例句，并标注拼音。
Level-of-response questions with model answers and mark scheme rubrics.
请给你的朋友写一条短信，比较你和你的兄弟姐妹（或好朋友）。短信里要写清楚以下几点，并正确使用「比」「没有」或「跟……一样」（不要加"很"）：（1）比较你们俩谁比较高或谁比较大（用「比」）；（2）说明你在某方面不如对方（用「没有」）；（3）说明你们俩有一样的地方（用「跟……一样」）。请用中文（汉字）书写，约80-90字，注意短信的语气比较随意。（8分）
你去年参观过两所学校（A校和B校），请给你的同学介绍一下这两所学校，并用「比」「更」或「最」比较它们（不要加"很"）。要写清楚：（1）哪所学校比较大或比较新（用「比」）；（2）哪方面A校更好，哪方面B校更好（用「更」）；（3）如果要选择，你觉得哪所学校最适合你，为什么（用「最」）。请用中文（汉字）书写，约80-90字。（8分）
