Level 2 Lesson 5.1 – Her Hair is the Longest; Her Height is the Tallest

Grammar 1: How to Say More in Chinese with 更 · HSK 2

If we want to say something is more... in Chinese, we can use the Adverb 更. We can say more in Chinese with 更 following this structure:

Subject + 更 + Predicate (+Object)

The Predicate here can be either an Adjective Predicate or a Verb Predicate.

(1) 更 + Adj. Predicate

• zhèjiān bàngōngshì gèngdà
  这间办公室更大。
  this "jian" (of) office (is) more big(/bigger)
• nǎge háizi de gèzi gènggāo
  哪个孩子的个子更高？
  which "ge" child's height (is) more tall(/taller)

(2) 更 + Verb Predicate

Verbs used after adverb 更 are usually Stative Verbs that suggest a status or a condition, it’s usually related to people’s feelings or physical status. For example,

• wǒ gèng xǐhuan chángtóufa
  我更喜欢长头发。
  I more like long hair
• shéi gèng xiǎng qù nàr
  谁更想去那儿？
  who more wants to go there

We also learned  that we can make a comparison in Chinese with 比, and 比 can be used together with 更 as well,

A 比 B  更 + Adj.

• hēshuǐ bǐ hē kělè gèng jiànkāng
  喝水比喝可乐更健康。
  drinking water "compared with" drinking cola (is) more healthy(/healthier).
• zhè bu shǒujī bǐ nàtái diànnǎo gèng piányi
  这部手机比那台电脑更便宜。
  this "bu" cellphone "compared with" that "tai" (of) computer, (is) more cheap

In the above two sentences, using 更 or not does not affect the meaning of the sentence.

Grammar 2: How to Say the Most in Chinese with 最 · HSK 2

We can say the most in Chinese with 最. 最 is an Adverb and it is always used before the Predicate:

Subject + 最  + Predicate (+ Object)

Just like Adverb 更, 最 can also be followed by an Adjective Predicate or a Verb Predicate.

(1) 最 + Adj. Predicate

• wǒmen měinián shí yuè zuì máng, yě zuì lèi
  我们每年十月最忙，也最累。
  we every year October the most busy(busiest), also the most tiring
• nǎ bù diànyǐng de shíjiān zuì cháng 
  哪部电影的时间最长？
  which "bu" (of) movie's time (is) the most long(/longest)

(2) 最 + Verb Predicate

Verbs used after adverb 最 are also usually Stative Verbs.

• wǒ zuì xiǎng mǎi nàliàngchē
  我最想买那辆车。
  I the most want to buy that "liang" (of) car
• tā zuì 'ài zhèlǐ de tiānqì
  他最爱这里的天气。
  he the most like here's weather

Grammar 3: Chinese Sentence with a "Subject-Predicate" Phrase as the Predicate · HSK 2

We’ve learned three types of Predicate before, it could be a Verb Phrase, a Noun Phrase or an Adjective Phrase.

And today we have the fourth type, that’s when the Predicate of the sentence is a “Subject-Predicate” Phrase.

The Subject in the Subject-Predicate Phrase is usually part of, or related to the Real Subject of the Sentence. Just like in here 身体 is part of 他. His body is part of him.