Comparison with 比 (6)

In a 比 comparison where the verb has both an object and a complement of state, the sentence can be built two ways: front the object, or repeat the verb.

If the verb is a 离合词 (separable verb), its verbal half is the part repeated.

Form 1: front the object

Object + A + 比 + B + verb + 得 + state

你(Nǐ)跑(pǎo)步(bù)跑(pǎo)得(de)比(bǐ)我(wǒ)快(kuài)。

You run faster than I do.

你 + 跑步 + 跑得 + 比我 + 快 you + running + run + than me + faster

你(nǐ)you

跑(pǎo)步(bù)run

跑(pǎo)得(de)how one runs

比(bǐ)我(wǒ)than me

快(kuài)fast

Here 跑步 is a separable verb, so its verbal half 跑 is repeated: 跑步 → 跑步跑得……

白(Bái)家(Jiā)月(yuè)汉(Hàn)字(zì)写(xiě)得(de)比(bǐ)陈(Chén)天(Tiān)中(zhōng)好(hǎo)。

Bai Jiayue writes characters better than Chen Tianzhong does.

白家月 + 汉字 + 写得 + 比陈天中 + 好 Bai Jiayue + characters + writes + than Chen Tianzhong + better

白(Bái)家(Jiā)月(yuè)Bai Jiayue

汉(Hàn)字(zì)Chinese characters

写(xiě)得(de)how one writes

比(bǐ)陈(Chén)天(Tiān)中(zhōng)than Chen Tianzhong

好(hǎo)well

Here the object 汉字 has been moved in front of the verb.

Form 2: repeat the verb

When the verb has an object, the verb may be repeated.

A + verb + object + verb + 得 + 比 + B + state

他(Tā)踢(tī)足(zú)球(qiú)比(bǐ)我(wǒ)踢(tī)得(de)好(hǎo)。

He plays football better than I do.

他 + 踢足球 + 比我 + 踢得好 he + play football + than me + plays better

他(tā)he

踢(tī)足(zú)球(qiú)play football

比(bǐ)我(wǒ)than me

踢(tī)得(de)好(hǎo)plays well

Here the verb is used again: 踢足球 + 踢得好

Quick rule

When the verb takes an object plus a 得 complement, two forms are possible.

Front the object: object + A + 比 + B + verb + 得 + state

汉字写得比他好 — writes characters better than he does

Repeat the verb: A + verb + object + verb + 得 + 比 + B + state

踢足球踢得比我好 — plays football better than I do

If the verb is separable, its verbal half is repeated.

跑步 → 跑步跑得……

你跑步跑得比我快。— You run faster than I do.