比 Comparisons with Verb 得 in Chinese
比较句4：动词得字句
This 比 pattern compares the degree or manner of an action rather than a simple adjective. The compared verb appears with 得, and the adjective follows; the 比 phrase can occur before the verb or inside the 得 complement. The same pattern extends to 多、少、早、晚 plus a quantity phrase.
Published August 11, 2026
Reviewed August 11, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
A 比 B + Verb + 得 + Adjective / A + Verb + 得 + 比 B + Adjective
Read the structure
This 比 pattern compares the degree or manner of an action rather than a simple adjective. The compared verb appears with 得, and the adjective follows; the 比 phrase can occur before the verb or inside the 得 complement. The same pattern extends to 多、少、早、晚 plus a quantity phrase. Keep the model A 比 B + Verb + 得 + Adjective / A + Verb + 得 + 比 B + Adjective visible while you compare each sentence.
我比他跑得快。
I run faster than he does.
Choose the right context
Compare how two people perform the same action. Use 得 to make the adjective a degree complement of the verb. Use 多、少、早 or 晚 with a quantity phrase for amount or timing differences.
我跑得比他快。
I run faster than he does.
Respect the boundary
Do not compare the actors with a bare verb and no degree complement. Do not place 比 after an incomplete adjective phrase. Do not treat every 比 clause as a comparison of permanent properties.
我比他跑快。
(I than him run fast.)
Repair the pattern
The verb is compared without 得: When 比 compares the manner or degree of an action, 得 introduces the adjective complement after the verb. 比 is stranded after the adjective: In the post-verb variant, 比 introduces the standard inside the 得 complement before the adjective.
我比他跑得快。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
我比他跑得快。
I run faster than he does.
我
A 比 B
This part occupies the A 比 B position in the model pattern.
比
Verb
This part occupies the Verb position in the model pattern.
他
得
This part occupies the 得 position in the model pattern.
跑得
Adjective / A
This part occupies the Adjective / A position in the model pattern.
快
Verb
This part occupies the Verb position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
我比他跑得快。
I run faster than he does.
我跑得比他快。
I run faster than he does.
她比我早回来十分钟。
She came back ten minutes earlier than I did.
我比妹妹说中文说得流利。
I speak Chinese more fluently than my younger sister.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Compare how two people perform the same action.
- Use 得 to make the adjective a degree complement of the verb.
- Use 多、少、早 or 晚 with a quantity phrase for amount or timing differences.
Do not use it when
- Do not compare the actors with a bare verb and no degree complement.
- Do not place 比 after an incomplete adjective phrase.
- Do not treat every 比 clause as a comparison of permanent properties.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
我比他跑快。
我比他跑得快。
The verb is compared without 得
When 比 compares the manner or degree of an action, 得 introduces the adjective complement after the verb.
我跑得快比他。
我跑得比他快。
比 is stranded after the adjective
In the post-verb variant, 比 introduces the standard inside the 得 complement before the adjective.
我比他跑快。
When 比 compares the manner or degree of an action, 得 introduces the adjective complement after the verb.
我跑得快比他。
In the post-verb variant, 比 introduces the standard inside the 得 complement before the adjective.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 比较句4：动词得字句.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 比较句4：动词得字句. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
比 Comparisons with Verb 得 Questions
Is this the same as 我比他高?
No. 我比他高 compares an adjective property directly. This item compares an action, so the verb takes 得 and the adjective describes how the action is performed.
Can 比 appear after the verb?
Yes. 我跑得比他快 places 比 inside the 得 complement. Both this order and 我比他跑得快 are listed in the official pattern.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 3 item 【三58】, PDF pp. 207–208 (printed pp. 201–202)
Lists A比B+动词+得+形容词, A+动词+得+比+B+形容词, and multi-quantity variants.
Official sourceA Reference Grammar of Chinese
Huang, Shi and Li · Cambridge University Press · 2022
Locator: Chapter 10, comparative constructions and 得 complements
Explains that 得 introduces a degree complement after the verb and that comparative standards can scope inside the complement.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
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比The 比 (bǐ) Comparison
Extend the basic 比 pattern to comparisons of action degree and manner.
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得The 得 (de) Complement
Review 得 complements before placing a comparative standard inside the complement.
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个不停/个没完Continuous State Complement with 个
Contrast a comparative degree complement with the continuous 个不停 ending.
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形容词＋数量补语Quantity Complements after Adjectives
Continue to multi-quantity comparative differences after mastering the verb-degree frame.
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