Grammar Flashcards
Create a 把 sentence - and what is the formal version
吧 sentence emphasises the impact of an action on an object. The object is moved to between the subject and verb. The verb requires a complement. E.g.
她把我的手机放在包里了
subject + 把 + things + verb + complement
N.B. Negative phrases and adverbs come before the 把 (unless they are modifying the object in which case they come directly after the object).
Formal version = 将 (with exactly the same grammar)
Create a 被 sentence
A 被 sentence is in the passive voice. The object comes at the start of the sentence, followed by 被. A simple verb needs a qualifier to work in this type of sentence (e.g. 吃了not just 吃)
热狗被男孩吃了
Negative adverbs and modal verbs should precede 被： 病人还没被送到医院呢。
N.B. Any time clause relating to the object comes before the 被 but after the object
又 vs 再
又 refers to actions taking place in the past, 再 to actions taking place in the future (both mean again)
Make a comparative sentence using 不如 (and where does a verb come if used in this sentence)
不如means “not as good as”. It is used similarly to 比。It does not require an adjective or verb (I.e . A sentence can be as simple as X 不如 Y) but these can be added for more complex sentences. E.g.:
那个说法不如这个说法实用 (that saying isn’t as practical as this one). Or:
我担心我解释得不如你清楚 （I’m afraid I can’t explain it as clearly as you)
N.B. If adding a verb it comes before the 不如 and requires the addition of 得 immediately afterwards.
You can also do a sentence of 不如 B 【那么】adjective.
Do not confuse with 不比 which is a comparative word (and so doesn’t carry its own meaning)
Create a comparison with 比 (somebody’s something is much more something that someone else’s)
X 比 Y adjective (the first noun - X - is more the adjective than Y).
很 should never be used with comparisons. Often 一点儿is a suitable replacement.
Adding 更 before the adjective implies “even” (as in even taller etc.). So while Y is tall, X is even taller.
地
What is the character and what does it do. Make a sentence.
Essentially turns adjectives into adverbs like “-ly” in English.
老师生气地看看我们 (teacher looked at us angrily)
The 地always comes after adjective and before verb or adjective.
In some cases where both adj and verb are single syllable characters the 地 might be omitted.
地 cannot be used when indicating time or place, degree or scope.
Two different words for “or”
还是is for two possibilities, normally a question
或者is closer to “and”, meaning either is fine. It can’t be used to create a question.
How do you make a sentence to describe an action that has been experienced in the past (I have eaten Japanese food).
Also, negate that sentence (I have never…)
Use 过 between the verb and the object
你学过中文吗？ (have you ever studied Chinese?)
To negate place 没before the verb (I.e. between verb and object)
我没想过这个问题 （I’ve never thought about this question before)
Write a sentence indicating the location where something happened
Character 在 is required. This is placed before the location, in between the subject and the verb.
我在上海上大学
他喜欢在公园运动
Talk about having done something/never having done something in the past.
Use the experience marker 过 after the verb.
我去过英国和法国，没有去过意大利。
verb + 过 + object, or for the negative 没 （有）verb +过 + object。
你去过日本吗？
我没有吃过中国菜
Use complements with 得 and 不。 E.g. verb + 得/不 + complement
This structure is used to indicate that something is or isn’t possible.
ADD EXAMPLES
Use 得 as a conjunction
If you are using an adjective after a verb you require the conjunction 得。
For example 说得好，吃得多，听得多，跑得快
Make a colloquial sentence in the passive voice
Use 让，叫 and/or 给 instead of 被 (which is formal).
蛋糕被弟弟吃了 becomes:
蛋糕叫弟弟（给）吃了
蛋糕让弟弟 （给）吃了
蛋糕给弟弟吃了
-N.B. when using rang or jiao the gei is optional, but does require the inclusion of the subject (which is sandwiched between). The meaning of all three is exactly the same.
Using 也/都 to create a negative
一 + measure word 。。。 也 / 都 。。。不/ 没 。。。
This structure indicates something akin to “not at all”
他一杯茶也没喝
今天我一点儿咖啡都没喝
Make a rhetorical question using 能
能。。。吗？
This construct is used for rhetorical questions. The positive form means the negative and the negative form means the positive (as in English).
你不做作业，也不练习，能学好吗？（You don’t do homework, don’t practice, you’re able to learn well? - Implied not at all!)
。。。能不胖吗？(Implying that it’s not possible to not get fat)
How do you express fractions (分数)?
denominator + 分之 + numerator (i.e. the opposite to the English way)
1/2 = 二分之一
2/3 = 三分之二
1/10 = 十分之一
How do you express a percentage?
Percentage = 百分比
Expressed in the same way as fractions - with 100 as the numerator (i.e. first number). No need to type the “yi” ahead of the “bai”.
64%: 百分之六十四
101%: 百分之一百零一
How do you write decimals
Decimals = 小数 The main number can be written either in full or as each of its individual components. This is always followed by 点 (dot) and the numbers after the point. 1038.94 can be written two ways: 一千零三十八点九四 一零三八点九四
Describe the location of a place
A + 在 + B + de + location
家在银行的对面
银行在公司的后面 （bank is behind the company)
体育馆在图书馆的右面
Or
A 的 location word 是 / 有 B (You is generally for things that are always there, shi can be more transient)
我家的外边是很多人
我公司的旁边有医院
Two ways to use 着
1) To indicate that something is somewhere (Location word + [没 for negative] V + 着 + Numeral + MW + Noun(normally indefinite) )
桌子上放着一杯咖啡
2) To indicate the ongoing context of an action
他们站着聊天儿
Uses of 了
1）To indicate a changed state - 我现在没钱了 (as in, used to have money, not don’t)
刚 versus 刚才
刚 = just, i.e a short time ago from the speakers perspective (so could be weeks, months or even years ago)
刚才 = just now, i.e. literally a short time, probably only minutes, ago.
(N.B. 刚 is only used right before the verb, where 刚才 can also come at the beginning of a sentence)
Where does an adverb go in a Chinese sentence?
Always before the verb or adjective it is modifying
我们都跑不
(although there are four different types of Chinese adverbs and adverbs of time can go before the subject too, presumably because the subject is also being modified)
4 types of adverb are: adverbs of frequency, adverbs of time, adverbs of place and adverbs of manner
How to say temperatures
Negative temperatures: 零下一度
Average temperature of 20 degrees: 温度平均二十度
就 （and higher level version)
and
才
就： (便）
Time - earlier than expected
Quantity - more than expected
才:
Time - later/took longer than expected
Quantity - less than expected
八点上课，他九点才到。太晚了
图书馆早上八点就开门了
这么好喝的咖啡才需要30元，太便宜了。
现在的酒店怎么这么贵，光是住一个晚上，就需要500元。
How to use 一点儿
一点儿 is a quantifier, used in different ways depending on whether quantifying an adjective or noun. It can also be used for complete negation.
1) 一点儿 + noun = a small quantity
我喝了一点儿水
2) adjective + (一）点儿 = modified adjective
这个能便宜（一）点儿吗？
3) 一点儿也不 (adjective) / 一点儿也没 (verb) = complete negation， comes before an adjective or verb or in the structure verb+得+一点儿也不+adjective
我一点儿也不高兴 (not at all happy)
你说得一点儿也不对 (you are not right at all)
这个电影我一点儿也没看 (haven’t watched this movie at all)
How to use 有点儿 （有一点儿）
有点儿 is an adverbial phrase used to modify an adjective (to express a sense of dissatisfaction) or a verb (normally a psychological verb).
1) 有点儿 + adjective
他有点儿慢
2） 有点儿 + verb
我有点儿想你
熟悉 Vs 陌生 (and sentence structure)
(shu xi Vs mo sheng)
对 Something/Someone 很熟悉 / 陌生
你对乌干达很熟悉
我对乌干达很陌生，因为我没去过。
从来 Vs 总是
从来 = all along (and is more often used with the negative)
总是 = always
我总是看他喝咖啡，从来没看过他喝茶。
我从来都是喜欢喝咖啡的。
接受 Vs 接收
接受 = jie shou(4) to accept/receive (non physical, e.g. honour, criticism, a situation) 接收 = jie shou(1) to accept/receive (physical things)
终于 Vs 最终 Vs 可
终于 = zhongyu In the end, finally (e.g. the end point after a struggle) 最终 = zuizhong At the end, in the end (more factual) 可 = can be similar to zhongyu, if the context is right (你可来了! = you finally arrived!)
原来 Vs 本来
Both take the meaning of “originally”: 我本来/原来住在南京。
本来 can also mean “obviously” or “in common sense”/it should have been the case etc. The translation “should” is key - it implies an original thing that should still have been the case and the change is out of your control: 本来要是一个人生病了，就应该戴口罩，为什么他不戴呢？
本来就 can also mean ‘in the first place’, when combined with 就: 学生本来就不应该上课迟到 (students shouldn’t be late in the first place)
原来 can also mean “it turns out”: 我现在明白你为什么不吃这道菜了，原来你不爱吃辣的菜。
对 Vs 对于 Vs 关于
对：
In three ways only 对 is used
1) To express an interpersonal relationship (我的男朋友对我很好)
2) To introduce the object of an action (看到我来了，她对我点点头)
3) To follow an adverb or an auxiliary verb like 应该，必须，能or 会 etc. (人人都会对英国的老房子感兴趣)
对于：
Generally completely interchangeable with 对，although more formal. When related to a particular matter this indicate a very specific, as opposed to general, thing.
When the structure 对/对于+sth./sb. Is used, the following clause expresses a feeling, an attitude or a comment such as有兴趣，很高兴，etc
对于春游，我一点儿兴趣都没有
关于：
Used to express “relating to”, in relation to general subjects (not a very specific thing). This can only be used at the beginning of a sentence where 对于 can also be used in the middle (it is otherwise similar).
紧张 Vs 着急
紧张: Nervous/intense/fast paced/stressed (implies a high level of intensity and movement)
着急: Anxious/worried (calmer)
How to deal with the English “what”, as in ‘what I want is a Christmas tree’
Essentially, this does not translate into Chinese. To use 什么 as a statement the what needs to be abstract (not a choice from a number of things. In Chinese this what translates as 的东西。 So a literal translation of this sentence is:
我想要的东西是一棵圣诞树
The 东西is optional but the 的 is not, so you can also translate as 我想要的是一棵圣诞树。
Where does an imperative go in the sentence (and list some)
不得不，需要，别
Should come before any other verbs, towards the start of the sentence.
特别 Vs 尤其
Both mean particularly, especially. 特别 is used in more circumstances. 尤其 is only ever an adverb (to modify verb or noun).
1) When used before a noun to modify (e.g. particularly old people), 特别 requires the addition of a 是，but with 尤其 the 是 is optional: 尤其【是】老人/特别是老人。
2) 特别 can mean very/extremely, whereas 尤其 is rarely used for this function.
3) 特别 can also be used as a adjective meaning unique or special: 英国女王是很特别。
How do you use 得 to emphasize something?
Adjective + 得 。。。
This construct explains to what extent the adjective is true - normally highlighting it’s strength. For further emphasis pair with lian….dou
他高兴得跳了起来 (he was so happy he jumped up)
How do you use the verb 满？
满 = full/to fill. It applies to the thing that is filling something, not the vessel. 水满了 - full of water
瓶子里的水满了 (as if the water belongs to the bottle)
电影远的人满了
