Grammar B1 - Real grammar Flashcards
Sentence order
- What is it and what are the exceptions?
- Subject
- Time of occurrence (周三，今天， etc)
Exception: You can put them at the very beginning of the sentence. - Manner (This is more inexact, and can go anywhere)
- Location
Most likely with 在。 我在上海工作
Exceptions: Location complements - Instrument - using 用 what
Example: 他用 somthing 做晚饭 - Target
- Verb
- Time duration
Speak about the time when an action occurs
Days
Months
Dates
Hours
Rough moments
Days:
Today, tomorrow, yesterday, X days ago, in X days, the day after tomorrow, Monday
WEEK
- This week (zhe ge xingqi 这个星期）
- Next week (Xia Zhou 下周， Xia ge xingqi 下个星期）
- Last week (Shang Zhou 上周， shang ge xingqi 上个星期）
- In the X weeks
- In the last Y weeks
On the 7th of January
In X/Y hours, one hour ago…
In X months, next month
In Y years, next year etc.
Units of time / Duration
Location
- UBICATION
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWrmKbf7ugY
Often 面/边 (miàn/bian) are included after the location words. This is necessary when you’re really really talking about a direction or for any type that is not in (shang, xia, li).
- 上 shàng top, above
- 下 xià bottom, under
- 里 lǐ inside
- 外 wài outside
- 前 qián front
- 后 hòu back, behind
- 旁 pang beside (Solo con 边)
- 左 zuǒ left (Solo con 边)
- 右 yòu right (Solo con 边)
- In, at, on in Chinese
- 上: On and at (Only at in occasions, like party and so on, otherwise just nothing, 在 + Occasion + 上)
- In: Sometimes 里 (When it’s a location), sometimes just nothing (Countries, cities, areas, like an office, the floor of a building, home, etc)
- About how to use it
- ## Structure: 在 + Location + 上 / 下 / 里 / 旁边
North, east, etc.
Emphasizing quantity with “dou”
You can use 都 (dōu) to emphasize the large quantity of something. The subject should be some sort of large group (like a majority of people or things), e.g. 很多人 (hěn duō rén) or 大家 (dàjiā).
Subj. + 都 + Verb + Obj.
很多 (hěn duō)
- 很 多 地方 都 有 wifi。Hěn duō dìfang dōu yǒu wifi.
- 很 多 孩子 都 不 喜欢 上学。Hěn duō háizi dōu bù xǐhuan shàngxué.
大家 (dàjiā)
- 大家 都 忘 了 他 的 名字。Dàjiā dōu wàng le tā de míngzi. (Everyone forgot his name)
每天 (měi tiān)
- 她 每天 都 不 吃 早饭。Tā měi tiān dōu bù chī zǎofàn. Every day, she does not eat breakfast.
Other Examples
- 美国人 都 说 英文。Měiguó rén dōu shuō Yīngwén. Americans all speak English.
- 我 的 家人 都 没 去 过 中国。Wǒ de jiārén dōu méi qù guo Zhōngguó. None of my family members has been to China.
“on the topic of” or “in regards to.” or “when it comes to”
OPTION I: 在 + Topic + 上 ，Subj. ⋯⋯ OR Subj. ⋯⋯, 在 + Topic + 上
在 这 个 问题 上 ，我们 的 看法 是 一样 的 。 Zài zhège wèntí shàng, wǒmen de kànfǎ shì yīyàng de. In regards to this problem, our opinions are the same.
南方人 和 北方人 在 生活 习惯 上 有 很多 差异 。Nánfāng rén hé běifāng rén zài shēnghuó xíguàn shàng yǒu hěn duō chāyì.
There are many differences between northern and southern people when it comes to living habits.
OPTION II: 在 + Topic + 方面 ，Subj. ⋯⋯
在 事业 方面 ，我 老板 很 成功 。Zài shìyè fāngmiàn, wǒ lǎobǎn hěn chénggōng. With regards to career, my boss is very successful.
在 技术 方面 ，他 是 专家 。Zài jìshù fāngmiàn, tā shì zhuānjiā. When it comes to technology, he’s an expert.
Under / In when it comes to the context (Like in this case, under this circumstances, in the context, etc)
在 ⋯⋯ 下 ，⋯⋯
This construction can be translated (rather directly) as “under” and expresses conditions that affected the comment that comes after.
在 这样 的 环境 下 长大 ，孩子 会 快乐 吗 ？
Zài zhèyàng de huánjìng xià zhǎngdà, háizi huì kuàilè ma?
Do you think kids will be happy growing up in this kind of environment?
在 这 种 情况 下 ，你们 会 怎么 做 ？
Zài zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng xià, nǐmen huì zěnme zuò?
Under these kinds of circumstances, what would you do?
在 紧急 情况 下 ，你 可以 这样 做 。
Zài jǐnjí qíngkuàng xià, nǐ kěyǐ zhèyàng zuò.
In an emergency situation, you can do this.
https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22not_anymore%22with%22le%22
虽然 ⋯⋯ ，但是 / 可是 ⋯⋯
“although” with “suiran” and “danshi”
虽然⋯⋯ 但是⋯⋯ expresses that while the former part of the sentence is true, there is an adverse reaction in the latter part.
虽然 ⋯⋯ ，但是 / 可是 ⋯⋯
Simply put, the pattern means, although…, but… In English, you wouldn’t normally need the “but” there, but it is required in Chinese. Be aware that 可是 can be used interchangeably with 但是 for the “but” part. Also note that 还是 can be used after 但是 for emphasis, meaning “still.”
虽然 外面 很 冷 ，可是 里面 很 暖和 。Suīrán wàimiàn hěn lěng, kěshì lǐmiàn hěn nuǎnhuo.
Although it’s cold outside, it’s warm inside.
这 件 衣服 虽然 有点 贵 ，但是 质量 很 好 。Zhè jiàn yīfu suīrán yǒudiǎn guì, dànshì zhìliàng hěn hǎo. Although this piece of clothing is a little expensive, the quality is good.
他 虽然 不 想 去 ，但是 还是 去 了 。Tā suīrán bù xiǎng qù, dànshì háishì qù le.
Although he didn’t want to go, he ended up going.
不怎么
When used together with an adjective, 不怎么 becomes similar to 不太, which means that the degree of the adjective is not very high.
Subj. + 不怎么 + Adj. / [Psychological Verb]
Using this grammar structure is a way to indirectly or mildly state something. Instead of saying 他不聪明 (tā bù cōngming) you can say 他不怎么聪明 (tā bù zěnme cōngming), turning a very direct statement to a milder, more inoffensive comment.
最近 不 怎么 忙 。Zuìjìn bù zěnme máng. It hasn’t been very busy lately.
这里 的 冬天 不 怎么 冷 。Zhèlǐ de dōngtiān bù zěnme lěng. It’s not very cold here in winter.
极了
Just as 死了 (sǐle) can be used to intensify negative adjectives, 极了 (jíle) is a somewhat less common way to intensify both positive and negative adjectives. It is used in spoken, colloquial Chinese. 极 (jí) means “extreme” or “utmost.”
This structure is technically a kind of degree complement and one of the few that you can use after the adjective and without adding a 得 (de). Remember to add the 了 (le), since it would be incorrect without it.
Subj. + Adj. + 极了
婚礼 热闹 极了 。
Hūnlǐ rènao jíle.
The wedding was very lively.
一点 声音 都 没有 ，安静 极了 。
Yīdiǎn shēngyīn dōu méiyǒu, ānjìng jíle.
There is no sound at all. It’s extremely quiet.
Some examples with a negative connotation:
昨天 的 派对 无聊 极了 !
Zuótiān de pàiduì wúliáo jíle!
Yesterday’s party was so boring!
他 那么 生气 ，我们 都 害怕 极了 。
Tā nàme shēngqì, wǒmen dōu hàipà jíle.
He was so angry. We were all so scared.
Structural particle “de”
The structural particle “de” has three written forms in modern Chinese, each with its own uses:
- 的 (de) is used to mark possession or modification. It is used before nouns
小李 的 房子 Xiǎo Lǐ de fángzi Xiao Li’s house
- Another way to use 的 (de) is as an attributive. way of connecting adjectives or other words with a noun. It gives us more information about the noun, and the 的 (de) makes it clear that the extra information is connected to the noun. Here’s an example:
红色 的 自行车 / hóngsè de zìxíngchē / red bicycle
漂亮 的 衣服 / piàoliang de yīfu / beautiful clothes
- 得 (de) is used to construct various kinds of complements and is usually associated with verbs
说 得 太 快 shuō de tài kuài speak too fast
玩 得 很 开心 wán de hěn kāixīn play very happily
- 地 (de) is used to turn adjectives into adverbs, and can be thought of as equivalent to the suffix -ly in English. You could call it the “adverb de” or “adverbial de,” since it precedes verbs like adverbs do.
Although not complete for all uses, this simple structure should help:
Adj. + 地 + Verb
生气 地 说 / shēngqì de shuō / angrily say
开心 地 笑 / kāixīn de xiào / happily laugh
慢慢 地 走 / mànmàn de zǒu / slowly walk
EXAMPLE WITH EVERYTHING
今天 的 作业 你 做 得 不好，因为 你 没 认真 地 听课。
Jīntiān de zuòyè nǐ zuò de bù hǎo, yīnwèi nǐ méi rènzhēn de tīngkè.
You didn’t do today’s homework well because you didn’t listen attentively in class.
Indicating the whole with “quan”
- 全 + Noun + 都 + Predicate
Simply put 全 in front of the noun you want to emphasize “the whole” of. Pay attention to the types of nouns you can use with 全, since it is usually paired up with 身 (body), 家 (family), 国 (country), 世界 (world), 天 (day) and the like.
- 我们 全 家 都 去 过 北京 。Wǒmen quán jiā dōu qù guo Běijīng.Our entire family has been to Beijing.
- 全 公司 的 人 都 不 喜欢 新 老板 。Quán gōngsī de rén dōu bù xǐhuan xīn lǎobǎn. The whole company doesn’t like the new boss.
- Subj. + 全都 + Predicate
Before a verb 全 can be omitted, but if it is used, the purpose is to emphasize the idea of “all” or “entire.”
大家 全 都 到 了。
Dàjiā quán dōu dào le.
Everybody has arrived.
奶奶 的 头发 全 都 白 了。
Nǎinai de tóufà quán dōu bái le.
All of grandma’s hair has turned white.
- Negation: Subj. + 全都 + 不 / 没 + Predicate
When you negate 全都 with 不 or 没 after it, you’re not just saying “not entirely,” you’re saying “none of it” or “not at all.”
- Negation: Subj. + 不 / 没 + 全都 + Predicate
你们 全 都 不 怕 吗 ？
Nǐmen quán dōu bú pà ma?
Are none of you afraid?
这些 菜 全 都 没 熟 。
Zhèxiē cài quán dōu méi shú.
None of these dishes is fully cooked.
When you negate by putting 不 or 没 before 全都, you’re only partially negating. In other words, you’re communicating “not all.”
他 说 得 有 道理 ，但 我 不 全 都 同意 。
Tā shuō de yǒu dàolǐ, dàn wǒ bù quán dōu tóngyì.
He has a point, but I don’t agree with all of it.
菜 太 多 了 ，我们 没 全 都 吃完 。
Cài tài duō le, wǒmen méi quán dōu chī wán.
The food was too much. We didn’t finish eating it all.
正好
正好 (zhènghǎo) - JUST / Happen to - To convey that you’re going to do something, anyway. Kind of suggesting coincidence.
Sadly, there does not seem to have a direct single translation. But if you want to convery that two things happend without an underlying reason, can work.
Subj. + 正好 + [Verb Phrase]
我 正好 要 出去 ，垃圾 我 来 扔 吧 。
Wǒ zhènghǎo yào chūqù, lājī wǒ lái rēng ba.
I’m just about to leave. I’ll take out the trash.
你 来 了 ！我 正好 要 找 你 。
Nǐ lái le! Wǒ zhènghǎo yào zhǎo nǐ.
You are here! I was just looking for you.
正好 你们 都 是 单身 。
Zhènghǎo nǐmen dōu shì dānshēn.
You both happen to be single.
今天正好是我母亲的生日。(Jīntiān zhèng hǎo shì wǒ mǔqīn de shēngrì.) - Today happens to be my mother’s birthday.
我们正好赶上了火车。(Wǒmen zhènghǎo gǎnshàngle huǒchē.) - We caught the train just in time.
