In the Grammar and Vocabulary section, you will learn:

• Forming Comparative Adjectives with the Suffix 過 gwo3 (‘more … than’)
• Forming Superlative Adjectives with 最 zeoi3 (‘most’)
• Using 多啲 do1 di1 (‘more’) and 多過 do1 gwo3 (‘more than’) with Stative Verbs
• Describing Actions with 得 dak1
• Referring to Items in Sequential Order
• Referring to Items by Attributes
• Referring to Other Items
• The Pronoun 全部 cyun4 bou6 (‘all’)
• The Verbs 着 / 著 zoek3 (‘to wear’) and 戴 daai3 (‘to wear’)
• Vocabulary List
• Vocabulary: Commenting on Clothes

In Grammar and Vocabulary 27.4, we learned that we can put the suffix 啲 di1 (‘more’) after an adjective to form a comparative adjective. We also learned that when we use a comparative adjective as a predicative adjective, we don’t need to add the default adverb 好 hou2 or a degree word before the adjective.

We use comparative adjectives to compare two items. When using 啲 di1, we only mention one item in the sentence. If we want to mention both items within the same sentence for comparison, we can use the suffix 過 gwo3 (‘more … than’) to form a comparative adjective. We put the first item at the position of the subject and the second item after 過 gwo3. We don’t need to add the default adverb 好 hou2 or a degree word before the adjective.

If we want to add the adverb 好似 hou2 ci5 (‘seem’) and the pronoun 噉 gam2 (‘seem’), we can put 好似 hou2 ci5 before the adjective and 噉 gam2 after the second item.

In Grammar and Vocabulary 41.5, we learned that we can use the adverb 最 zeoi3 to modify a preference verb.

We can also put the adverb 最 zeoi3 before an adjective to form a superlative adjective. 最 zeoi3 functions like most in English (as in most beautiful).

The adverb 多啲 do1 di1 means ‘more’ in the sense of ‘to a greater degree’ (as in I like this design more). We can use it to compare two items. We can use 多啲 do1 di1 with a stative verb. In this lesson, we will learn to use it with these three stative verbs: 鍾意 zung1 ji3 (‘to like’), 襯 can3 (‘to match’) and 啱 ngaam1 (‘to suit’). Below are the sentence structures for using 多啲 do1 di1 with them. We put 多啲 do1 di1 after the object. Pay attention to the position of the person and the item, depending on the verb.

When using 多啲 do1 di1, we only mention one item in the sentence. If we want to mention both items within the same sentence for comparison, we can use the adverb 多過 do1 gwo3 (‘more than’). Below are the sentence structures for using 多過 do1 gwo3 with the three verbs. We put 多過 do1 gwo3 after the object, and the second item after 多過 do1 gwo3.

If we want to describe how an action is done, we can use the particle 得 dak1 to introduce the description. The sentence structure we use depends on whether or not we mention an object in the sentence.

If we don’t mention an object, we simply add 得 dak1 and the description after the verb of the action. The description is usually a degree word and an adjective. The particle 得 dak1 functions like the suffix -ly in English (as in beautifully). It can turn the adjective behind it into an adverb, which can be used to modify the verb.

If we want to add the adverb 好似 hou2 ci5 (‘seem’) and the pronoun 噉 gam2 (‘seem’), we can put 好似 hou2 ci5 before the degree word and 噉 gam2 after the adjective.

If we mention an object, we first say the verb and the object as usual. After that, we duplicate the verb. Finally, we add 得 dak1 and the description.

Again, if we want to add the adverb 好似 hou2 ci5 (‘seem’) and the pronoun 噉 gam2 (‘seem’), we can put 好似 hou2 ci5 before the degree word and 噉 gam2 after the adjective.

If the verb is a separable verb (e.g., 跳舞 tiu3 mou5 ‘to dance’), we can choose to omit or keep the object part.

If we choose to omit the object part, we can simply add 得 dak1 and the description after the verb part.

If we choose to keep the object part, we first say the verb as usual. After that, we duplicate the verb. When duplicating the verb, we need to omit the object part. Finally, we add 得 dak1 and the description.

In this lesson, we will learn to compare different items. When comparing different items, we often need to refer to one of the items in the context. We will learn several ways to do so.

The first way is to use sequential order. In Lesson 0, we learned that we can use the prefix 第 dai6 to form ordinal numbers ('first, second, etc.').

We can use an ordinal number with a noun. We first say the ordinal number, and then the classifier and the noun.

We often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.

We can add the demonstratives 呢 ni1 / nei1 (‘this’) and 嗰 go2 (‘that’) after the ordinal number.

Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.

The adjective 頭 tau4 also means ‘first’. We can use it to refer to the first item or the first several items. We put a quantity after 頭 tau4. Note that we use 兩 loeng5 for ‘two’.

Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.

We can add the demonstratives 呢 ni1 / nei1 (‘this’) and 嗰 go2 (‘that’) after 頭 tau4. If the number is 一 jat1 (‘one’), we can optionally omit the number.

Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.

The adjectives 最後 zeoi3 hau6 and 最尾 zeoi3 mei5 (also pronounced as zeoi3 mei1) mean ‘last’. We can use them to refer to the last item or the last several items. We put a quantity after 最後 zeoi3 hau6 and 最尾 zeoi3 mei5. Note that we use 兩 loeng5 for ‘two’.

Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.

We can add the demonstratives 呢 ni1 / nei1 (‘this’) and 嗰 go2 (‘that’) after 最後 zeoi3 hau6 and 最尾 zeoi3 mei5. If the number is 一 jat1 (‘one’), we can optionally omit the number.

Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.

The adjectives 上 soeng6 and 下 haa6 mean ‘previous’ and ‘next’ respectively. We can use them to refer to the previous item(s) or the next item(s). We put a quantity after 上 soeng6 and 下 haa6. Note that we use 兩 loeng5 for ‘two’. If the number is 一 jat1 (‘one’), we can optionally omit the number.

Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.

We can add the demonstratives 呢 ni1 / nei1 (‘this’) and 嗰 go2 (‘that’) after 上 soeng6 or 下 haa6. If the number is 一 jat1 (‘one’), we can optionally omit the number.

Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.

When comparing different items, we can refer to a specific item by its attribute (e.g., its color or price). To do so, we can use the following structure to form a noun phrase. The attribute can be an adjective or a noun.

We often omit the item if it is obvious in the context.

When comparing different items, we often say things like ‘this one’ and ‘the other one’. We will learn three words that can be used to refer to other items in a context.

To say ‘the other …’, we can use the pronoun 另外 ling6 ngoi6 (‘other; another’) to form a noun phrase. We first say 另外 ling6 ngoi6 and then the number, the classifier and the noun. Note that the same noun phrase can also mean ‘another …’.

If the number is 一 jat1 (‘one’), we can optionally omit the number. However, when 一 jat1 is omitted, the noun phrase usually only means ‘the other …’.

We often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context. Note that if we omit the noun, we don’t omit the number 一 jat1 at the same time.

We can add the demonstratives 呢 ni1 / nei1 (‘this’) and 嗰 go2 (‘that’) after 另外 ling6 ngoi6. If the number is 一 jat1 (‘one’), we can optionally omit the number.

Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.

We can use the classifier 啲 di1 if the noun is plural or uncountable. Note that the same noun phrase can mean ‘the other …’ or ‘other …’.

We can add the demonstratives 呢 ni1 / nei1 (‘this’) and 嗰 go2 (‘that’) after 另外 ling6 ngoi6.

We can omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.

We can also use the particle 嘅 ge3 instead of a classifier. Note that the same noun phrase can mean ‘the other …’ or ‘other …’.

We can also use the word 另一 ling6 jat1 (‘another; other’) to mean ‘another …’ or ‘the other …’.

Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.

We can use the classifier 啲 di1 if the noun is plural or uncountable.

We can omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.

The ordinal number 第二 dai6 ji6 means ‘second’. We can also use 第二 dai6 ji6 as a pronoun to mean ‘another; other’. We sometimes contract 第二 dai6 ji6 as 第 dai6.

Again, we often omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.

We can use the classifier 啲 di1 if the noun is plural or uncountable.

We can omit the noun if it is obvious in the context.

Some of the noun phrases above have more than one meaning. The meaning can be definite (‘the other …’) or indefinite (‘another / other …’). The actual meaning depends on the context. If the noun phrase appears before the verb (as subject or topic), the meaning will be definite (‘the other …’). If the noun phrase appears after the verb (as object or subject complement), the meaning can be definite (‘the other …’) or indefinite (‘another / other …’). In such cases, we will need other information in the context to decide whether the noun phrase is definite or indefinite.

The pronoun 全部 cyun4 bou6 means ‘all’. We can use 全部 cyun4 bou6 to refer to all the items in a context.

In Grammar and Vocabulary 28.7, we learned that when using 晒 saai3, we sometimes move the object of the sentence to the beginning of the sentence, making it the topic of the sentence. We also do so when the object is 全部 cyun4 bou6.

When we put 全部 cyun4 bou6 before the verb in a sentence, we usually add the adverb 都 dou1 (‘all’) before the verb to emphasize that what we say applies to all the items.

If the sentence is a sentence with a predicative adjective, we put 都 dou1 before the degree word.

We can add a noun after 全部 cyun4 bou6 to indicate which type of item we are referring to.

全部 cyun4 bou6 usually refers to three or more items. If there are only two items, we often use 兩 loeng5 with the classifier for the item to refer to both of the two items.

Both the verbs 着 zoek3 (also written as 著) and 戴 daai3 mean ‘to wear’, but we use them with different types of items. We generally use 着 zoek3 with clothing items that we usually wear every day, while we use 戴 daai3 with accessories that serve decorative or functional purposes.

In the Communication section, you will learn:

• Talking About Clothes