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pl跟 …一样/一樣 is used in different patterns to make comparisons of equality. This entry covers the patterns 跟 …一样/一樣 and 跟 …一样/一樣 followed by an adjective.
Common errors
1. Incorrect position
1.1 Learners might place 一样/一樣 before either of the things or people being compared.
*一样弟弟跟哥哥。
*弟弟一样跟哥哥。
弟弟跟哥哥一样。
*一樣弟弟跟哥哥。
*弟弟一樣跟哥哥。
弟弟跟哥哥一樣。
In sentences with another adjective serving as predicate, learners might place 一样/一樣 after the predicate adjective.
*弟弟跟哥哥高一样。
弟弟跟哥哥一样高。
*弟弟跟哥哥高一樣。
弟弟跟哥哥一樣高。
1.2 Incorrect position
In sentences with another adjective serving as predicate, learners might place the negation adverb just before the predicate adjective. Missing that the focus of the sentence is on the sameness expressed by 一样/一樣, rather than feature itself.
*弟弟跟哥哥一样不高。
弟弟跟哥哥不一样高。
*弟弟跟哥哥一樣不高。
弟弟跟哥哥不一樣高。
2. Using an adverb of degree together with 跟 …一样/一樣
Learners might use an adverb of degree, such as 很, 非常, 太 or 特别 together with 跟 …一样/一樣.
*弟弟跟哥哥很一样。
*弟弟很跟哥哥一样。
弟弟跟哥哥一样。
*弟弟跟哥哥很一樣。
*弟弟很跟哥哥一樣。
弟弟跟哥哥一樣。
This mistake is especially common in sentences with another adjective serving as predicate, as learners are used to placing a degree adverb before the adjective in an affirmative sentence.
*弟弟跟哥哥一样很高。
*弟弟跟哥哥很一样高。
弟弟跟哥哥一样高。
*弟弟跟哥哥一樣很高。
*弟弟跟哥哥很一樣高。
弟弟跟哥哥一樣高。
Teaching tip
To avoid this confusion, it might be a good idea to tell learners, that when a Chinese adjective appears alone, a comparison is implied:
‘弟弟高’ would imply a comparison, i.e. ‘the younger brother is taller’ as opposed to ‘弟弟很高’, which indicates ‘the younger brother is tall.’
Another example is to juxtapose two contrasting adjectives, such as 热/熱 and 冷:
昨天冷还是热?
昨天冷。
昨天冷還是熱?
昨天冷。
3. Confusing different patterns of comparison
Learners might use different patterns of comparison in the same sentence.
*弟弟比哥哥一样。
弟弟跟哥哥一样。
*弟弟比哥哥一樣。
弟弟跟哥哥一樣。
*弟弟比哥哥一样高。
弟弟跟哥哥一样高。
*弟弟比哥哥一樣高。
弟弟跟哥哥一樣高。
*弟弟跟哥哥没有一样。
弟弟跟哥哥不一样。
*弟弟跟哥哥沒有一樣。
弟弟跟哥哥不一樣。
*弟弟跟哥哥没有一样高。
弟弟跟哥哥不一样高。
*弟弟跟哥哥沒有一樣高。
弟弟跟哥哥不一樣高。
4. Overuse of adjective after 一样/一樣 in negative sentences
In negative sentences, the pattern with 一样/一樣 as predicate without an adjective following is the most common. However, learners might overuse the pattern with another adjective following 一样/一樣 as predicate.
弟弟跟哥哥不一样高。
弟弟跟哥哥不一样。
弟弟跟哥哥不一樣高。
弟弟跟哥哥不一樣。
This first sentence would mainly be used as an answer to a question.
5. Overuse of a modified noun
Learner’s might overuse a modified noun. When the items compared have a modified noun in common, the second noun is often left out.
今天的天气跟昨天的天气一样。
今天的天氣跟昨天的天氣一樣。
今天的天气跟昨天的一样。
今天的天氣跟昨天的一樣。
今天的天气跟昨天的天气一样好。
今天的天氣跟昨天的天氣一樣好。
今天的天气跟昨天的一样好。
今天的天氣跟昨天的一樣好。
When the noun is already known in the context both nouns can be left out.
今天的跟昨天的一样。
今天的跟昨天的一样好。
今天的跟昨天的一樣。
今天的跟昨天的一樣好。
6. Uncertainty about placing the negation adverb
Learners might be unsure where to place the negation adverb. The most common and neutral way is to place the negation adverb directly before 一样/一樣. While it is also possible to place the negation adverb in front of 跟, this is changes the meaning.
弟弟跟哥哥不一样。
弟弟跟哥哥不一樣。
This sentence simply states that the younger brother is different from the older brother. It is a straightforward comparison. For example, if one brother is tall and the other is short, you can use this to say they are different in height.
弟弟不跟哥哥一样。
弟弟不跟哥哥一樣。
This sentence negates the idea of ‘being the same as the older brother’. It emphasizes that the younger brother is not like the older brother, or he does not follow the older brother in being the same. It often implies that you might expect them to be similar, but they are not. For example, if both brothers are supposed to be good at sports, but the younger one is not, you could use this sentence to point out that he does not match the older brother in that way.