Vol. 3 Unit 4-8 Language and Grammar Points

Question 1

Explain the difference between 转播 zhuǎn bō and 直播 zhí bō.

Answer 1

转播 zhuǎn bō = recorded
直播 zhí bō = live

直 means direct, or being straight, straightaway.

Question 2

Explain the difference between 本来 běn lái and 原来 yuán lái.

Answer 2

Both mean ‘originally’ and can be used interchangeably in some contexts.

本来 běn lái = emphasises original plan and change (out of some unexpected or controllable factors).

原来 yuán lái = often used in ‘it turns out this is the case, now I understand’.

Question 3

Explain the difference between 矮 ǎi and 短 duǎn。

Answer 3

矮 ǎi = for human being or building.
短 duǎn = for length of clothes or something measured by length.

Question 4

List the forms of rhetorical questions.

Answer 4

1.难道。。。（吗）？
2. 不是。。。吗？
3. 有什么。。。（的）？
4. 能不。。。吗？

Question 5

难道。。。吗？

Answer 5

Rhetorical question form.
Is it possible that?

Question 6

不是。。。吗？

Answer 6

Rhetorical question form.
Prompting an affirmation and drawing attention. Can voice surprise or discontentment.

Question 7

有什么。。。的？

Answer 7

Rhetorical question form.
Indicates a strongly voiced negation, and is usually followed by an adjectival phrase.

Question 8

能不。。。吗？

Answer 8

Rhetorical question.
Indicates certainty or the impossibility of a negative action or a negative state.

Question 9

List as many frequency adverbs as you can.

Answer 9

1. 总是 zǒng shì (always)
2. 常常 cháng cháng (usually)
3. 经常 jīng cháng (often)
4. 有时候 yǒu shí hou (sometimes)
5. 偶尔 ǒu’ ěr (occasionally)
6. 从不 cóng bù (never)

Question 10

Sometimes verbs are repeated. Why?

Answer 10

To imply that the action is quick, brief, or informal.

Question 11

How can 着 zháo be modified?

Answer 11

得 and 不 can be used between the verb and the 着 to indicate possibility or impossibility of the action (respectively).

Question 12

Explain the difference between 了 two pronunciations.

Answer 12

le (particle)

liǎo (v.) = finish or complete, or able to do something.

Question 13

How to use 根本 gēnběn?

Answer 13

根本 means fundamental or base. However, it can be used to emphasise a statement or to mean ‘not (at all)’.

e.g 有的你根本就不用带。
Some of these things you don’t (even) need to take (at all).

Question 14

Explain the difference between 但是，可是， and 不过。

Answer 14

但是 is stronger and more formal, however very often used when we need to add something to the previous sentence.

e.g 大家都说他很聪明，但是我不喜欢他。

Question 15

How to use 多么多么?

Answer 15

多么多么 (very) + adj.

Used to recount how someone repeatedly talks about something.

e.g 小王总说他的家乡多么多么漂亮，我觉得他一定是想家了。

Question 16

List measure words for ‘once’.

Answer 16

1. 一次 （past experience; every time can be different0
2. 一趟 (usually for future, emphasise things on the trip)
3. 一遍 (from the beginning to the end, can be repeated anytime)

Question 17

的确 dí què

Answer 17

indeed

e.g 长城的确很壮观。

Question 18

Explain the difference between 的确 and 实在。

Answer 18

的确 often used to confirm others’ comments or queries.

实在 often used to describe speaker’s own feelings.

Question 19

Explain the difference between 特殊 and 特别

Answer 19

特殊 adj. = special
特别 = adj./adv. = special/ especially (used in place of 非常）

Question 20

What are the uses for directional complements? e.g 出来，起来，下去

Answer 20

In Chinese, directional complements are often used to denote the direction of an action. Apart from this, they can also be used to indicate the result of an action or change of status.

Question 21

Republication of monosyllabic verbs

Answer 21

AA；A （一）A
e.g 看一看，用一用

Question 22

Republication of disyllabic verbs

Answer 22

ABAB

e.g 休息休息， 认识认识，放松放松，介绍介绍

Question 23

Republication of verb + object compound

Answer 23

VVO
e.g 散散步，看看书，打打牌，下下棋

Question 24

看了看；打了打 are examples of what?

Answer 24

Reduplication of verbs for past actions.

Question 25

Translate and identify the key grammar point.

Answer 25

周末我常常在家看看书，听听音了。

Question 26

What verbs/actions cannot be repudlicated?

Answer 26

verbs indicating feelings or mental status， e.g 喜欢，知道, verbs indicating moving in a direction or going to a place e.g 来，回，进， 出

cannot be repudlicated。

Question 27

How to express ‘several, some’?

Answer 27

几 or placing two consecutive numbers together.

Question 28

Words/expressions to express round/approximate numbers?

Answer 28

几
consecutive numbers
多
左右
来

Question 29

来 （numerical phrase）

Answer 29

used after 十，百，千，万

e.g 有时候商店里只有十来个人。

Question 30

多 （numerical phrase）

Answer 30

used after a numeral to express an approximate number which is bigger than the number indicated.

e.g 澳大利亚总共有两千多万人。

Question 31

左右 （numerical phrase）

Answer 31

pattern: numeral + MW + 左右

e.g 冬天北京的最低温度零下十度左右。

Question 32

How to express fractions?

Answer 32

Y/X = X 分之 Y

e.g 1/40 = 四十分之一

Question 33

Explain the difference between 几乎 and 差点儿

Answer 33

几乎 + verbal/noun phrase (almost)

差点儿 + verbal phrase; nearly, on the verge of (nearly)

差点儿 : sth almost happened to the speaker, speaker almost ended up doing sth. bad.

Question 34

Explain the difference between 几乎 and 差不多

Answer 34

几乎 = almost (cannot be used at end of sentence)

差不多 = almost；about the same time, similar (can be used at the end of sentence)

Question 35

Use of 上

Answer 35

Denotes realisation or attainment of a goal, or indicates the beginning of an action or status.

e.g 我终于买上了自己的房子。

Question 36

Use of 起来

Answer 36

Indicates one’s impressions or opinion, or signals the emergence of a situation or the change of an action.

e.g 说起来容易起来难。

Question 37

Use of 出来

Answer 37

Indicate a completed action, change from non-existence to existence, from being concealed to being apparent.

e.g 这个字你些许哦了，老师没看出来。

e.g 你想出办法来了。
note: object is placed between 出 and 来

Question 38

Use of 下去

Answer 38

Indicate the continuation of an action.

e.g 我听着呢，你说下去。

Question 39

Explain the difference between 光 and 只。

Answer 39

光 = alone (a very big quantity has been reached)
只 = only

Question 40

Common sentence pattern for 光

Answer 40

光 + noun/pronoun + 就 + verb + numeral/measure words

Question 41

Explain the difference between 一般 and 普通

Answer 41

一般 (adv.) = usually
普通 = ordinary, nothing special

Question 42

Explain the difference between 有些 and 有点儿

Answer 42

有些： ‘some’ + countable and uncountable nouns
有点儿: ‘a little’ + uncountable nouns

Question 43

What does this sentence structure denote?

place + V. 着/了 + sb./sth (non-specific noun)

Answer 43

Existence

Question 44

What does this sentence structure denote?

place + V….+sb./sth. (non-specific noun)

Answer 44

Appearance

verbs forming part of this construction are usually followed by directional complements.