Lesson 17: 这件旗袍比那件漂亮

1. I.Grammar
   

1. 1.The "的" phrase ("的" functions as a kind of noun)
   

1. a."的" can be used with a noun, a pronoun, an adjective, or a verb to function as a noun.  Examples:
   

2. •Pronoun+"的": 我的 (mine)
   

3. •Noun+"的": 老师的 (the teacher's)
   

4. •Adjective+"的": 大的 (the big one)
   

5. •As an object: 我喜欢绿的，他喜欢红的 (I like the green one, and he likes the red one)
   

6. •As an subject: 那个穿红衬衫的是我们(的)老师 (The one wears red shirt is our teacher)
   

2. 2.Comparison using the preposition "比"
   

1. a."比" is comparable to English "than".  In Chinese, "比" and its object often placed before the adjective (A+比+B+Adj):
   

2. •这件旗袍比那件旗袍漂亮 (This cheongsam is prettier than that one)
   

3. •他比我高 (He is taller than me)
   

2. b."比" with its object may be placed before a verb to express comparison in sentences with a verbal predicate (A+B+Verb+得+Adj):
   

3. •她比我知道得多 (She knows more than I do)
   

4. •林娜汉语比丁立波说得流利 or 林娜汉语说得比丁力波流利 (Li Na speaks Chinese more fluently than Ding Libo)
   

3. c.The adverb "不" is placed before "比" to form a negative comparative sentence.  But note:
   

4. •他不比我高 (He is not as tall as me, Or I am taller than him)
   

5. •小商场的东西不比大商场的东西差 (Things in small stores are just as good as those in big shopping malls)
   

4. d.Note: the adverbs "很", "真", "非常", "太" or "极了"cannot be used before the adjective in a "比" sentence with an adjectival predicate.  For example, we cannot say "她比我很忙."
   

3. 3.The complement of quantity with "比"
   

1. a.The complement of quantity (a numeral-measure word phrase) can be used after the main element of the predicate to express differences:
   

2. •这件旗袍比那件旗袍贵20块钱 (This cheongsam 20 yuan more expensive than that one)
   

3. •我们系比他们系多50个学生 (Our Dept. has 50 more students than their Dept.)
   

2. b.The question form (using "多少"):
   

3. •这套西服比那套(西服) 贵多少(钱) (How much more expensive is this suit than that one?)
   

4. •我们系比他们系多多少学生 (How many more students does our Dept. have than their Dept.?)
   

4. 4."极了" (extreme, extraordinary) and "多了"/"得多"(a lot)
   

1. a.In spoken Chinese, "极了" and "多了" are often placed after an adjective or a verb as a complement to indicate an extent or degree:
   

2. •这件旗袍漂亮极了(This cheongsam is extremely beautiful)
   

3. •这件旗袍比那件旗袍贵多了/得多 (This cheongsam is a lot expensive than that one)
   

5. 5.Perfective construction with two “了”
   

1. a.A verb plus the particle “了” is required if the object does not have an attributive (这个，那件) or a numeral classifier (一个，一件) compound, plus the particle “了” to complete the sentence (perfective construction). Example:
   

2. •我买了衬衫了。Compare: 我买了一件衬衫。
   

3. •我去了商场了。Compare: 我去了王府井商场。
   

(一)

丁力波：小云，哪儿卖中式衣服？

王小云：你不知道吗？你来北京多长时间了？

丁力波：我来北京半年了。可是你在北京已经二十年了，你是北京人，你当然

            比我知道得多。

王小云：你说得对。现在北京的商店和商场多极了，大商场的东西比小商店的

东西贵，可是小商店的东西不一定比大商场的差。你为什么现在想买 

中式衣服？

丁力波：从下星期开始，我要学太极拳，我得穿一套中式衣服。

王小云：好极了！你穿中式衣服一定很帅。你喜欢什么颜色的，黑的还是红的？

丁力波：我喜欢白的。

王小云：我也喜欢白的，白的漂亮。你想买好的还是买便宜的？

丁力波：我不要太贵的，也不要太便宜的。你说该去哪儿买？

王小云：去王府井吧。那儿东西多，可能贵一点儿。

丁力波：贵一点儿没关系。我们下午就去吧，我还想去公园走走。

(二)

宋华：两个小时过去了，你要的衣服还没买。

林娜：谁说我没有买？我已经买了衬衫了。

宋华：你要的旗袍呢？

林娜：刚才看的旗袍都不错，我真想都买了。

宋华：我们还有时间，可以再多看看。这件绿的怎么样？

林娜：啊，这件漂亮极了，颜色、样子都比刚才看的旗袍好。

售货员:您可以试一试。

林娜：好。我觉得这件大点儿，是不是？

售货员:我给您换一件小的。这件是三十八号，比那件小两号。您再拿去试试

         吧。

林娜：这件比那件适合，宋华，你看怎么样？

宋华：我觉得这件太短了。

售货员:对，您比我高，得穿长点儿的，我再给您找找。有了，这件红的比那

         件绿的长两公分。您再试一试这件。

林娜：小姐，太麻烦您了，真不好意思。这件很合适。

宋华：这件红旗袍比那件绿的漂亮。

林娜：可是也贵多了。

宋华：比那件贵多少？

林娜：贵九十块钱。

宋华：丝绸的当然贵一点儿。

林娜：好吧，我就买这件。宋华，现在该去买你的了。你穿多大号的？想不想试试那套西服？