Comparisons with 有
We use the construction 有 to say that "A" is not less than "B". For example, not worse, not younger, not less.
How to construct the sentence
In the sentence with the most important thing is to emphasize that "A" does not concede "B". In fact, "A" can be as good as "B", or even better.
Scheme
A
B
adjective
Pay attention
In this kind of sentence we usually use an adjective with a positive connotation.
Examples
哥哥我高
My older brother is as tall as me (perhaps even taller)
gēge yǒu wǒ gāo
爸爸帅
You are handsome as your father (perhaps even more handsome).
nǐ yǒu bàba shuài
How to shorten the pattern with 有
When "A" and "B" have common subordinative words, the part with "B" can be shortened. Let’s look at the examples:
Examples
我的成绩你的
My grades are as good as yours
wǒ de chéngjī yǒu nǐ de hǎo
Pay attention
Here "A" is 我的成绩, "B" is 你的成绩. The word 成绩 is repeated in the both clauses, so we can omit it in the second clause.
Examples
这本书那本有意思
This book is as interesting as that one
zhè běn shū yǒu nà běn yǒuyìsi
Pay attention
Here 'A" is 这本书, "B" is 那本书. The word 书 is repeated, so we can omit it in the second clause.
When we shorten the construction, we must leave the particle or the measure word.
Adverbs in a pattern with 有
To emphasize an adjective, we can state an adverb or "such, so" before the adjective.
Pay attention
We cannot use other adverbs of degree in these sentences. For example, or .
Examples
他的狗有熊那么
His dog is as big as a bear
tā de gǒu yǒu xióng nàme dà
We should state adverbs like and before the word 有.
Examples
弟弟有我高
My younger brother is also as tall as me
dìdi yě yǒu wǒ gāo
大家有我高
Everyone is as tall as me
dàjiā dōu yǒu wǒ gāo
The Complement of state with 有
Comparative constructions can be used as the complement of state. Learn more about it here ↓
Negation with 有
In a negative sentence, we should state the negative particle before 有.
Scheme
A
没有
B
adjective
We can translate this sentence in two ways: 1. A is not as “something” as B. 2. B is more in “something” than A.
Examples
哥哥没有我高
My older brother is not as tall as me
gēge méiyǒu wǒ gāo
没有我聪明
You're not as smart as me
nǐ méiyǒu wǒ cōngmíng
Let's look at the difference with another comparative construction, this time with the word :
Examples
没有我聪明
You're not as smart as me (I'm smarter than you)
nǐ méiyǒu wǒ cōngmíng
不比我聪明
You are not smarter than me (either you are as smart as me, or I'm smarter than you)
nǐ bù bǐ wǒ cōngmíng
我聪明
You are smarter than me
nǐ bǐ wǒ cōngmíng
In colloquial speech, when speaking about the future or making an assumption, we can say instead of 没有.
Examples
希望这次考试不会有上次的难
I hope this exam will not be as difficult as the last one
xīwàng zhè cì kǎoshì bú huì yǒu shàng cì de nán
Open in app