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Level 11: Weather (Grammar)

Terms in this set (22)

​MAKE A SENTENCE: 那么
(nà me) so; such (indicating degree) [pronoun]

NOTE: "那么＋adj" is very similar in usage to "这么+adj"
TRANSLATE: New York is such fun!
纽约那么好玩！
​​MAKE A SENTENCE: 不但...，而且...
(bú dàn..., ér qiě..) not only A, but also B [conjunction]

> A and B are two separate clauses [either verb phrases and/or adjectives].

> This structure is used to emphasize that a situation is both A and B.

> NOTE: the first conjunction 而且 is always required, but the first conjunction 不但 is optional.
TRANSLATE: Not only will it not snow, it'll be a bit warmer, too.
不但不会下雪，而且会暖和一点儿。
​MAKE A SENTENCE: 比
(bǐ) comparison marker "than"

When comparing two things in Chinese, it's very common to use a "比" structure. "比" has similarities to the English word "than," but the word order is quite different.

There is one basic structure used with 比:

> A＋比＋B＋adj

This basic structure can be further modified in the following ways:

> A＋比＋B＋adj＋一点儿／得多／多了
> A＋比＋B＋更／还＋adj

NOTE 1: we've previously learned the comparative structure A＋跟／和＋B＋(不)一样+adj. However, this structure only indicates whether two things are the same or exhibit the same degree of an attribute. The "比" structure goes further and specifies which of the two things exhibits a greater or lesser degree of that attribute.

NOTE 2: To negate a 比 structure, use "没有" or "不比." See Level 13.

For more details about the 比 structure, see this link:
https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Basic_comparisons_with_%22bi%22
TRANSLATE: Today's weather is better than yesterday's.
今天天气比昨天好。
​MAKE A SENTENCE: 比 [using 一点儿/得多/多了]
A＋比＋B＋adj＋一点儿/得多/多了
A is [a bit/very much/much] more ADJ than B

> NOTE 1: A and B are both nouns.

> NOTE 2: this structure is used to EXPRESS the degree of difference between A and B. It is the ONLY way to do so. The modifier "一点儿／得多／多了" must always come AFTER the adjective.

> NOTE 3: you cannot use "不," "很," or any other random modifier in this structure. See Level 13 for the proper way to negate a 比 structure.
TRANSLATE: Today is a bit colder than yesterday
今天比昨天冷一点
TRANSLATE: Today is a lot colder than yesterday
今天比昨天冷得多 / 今天比昨天冷多了
​MAKE A SENTENCE: 比 [using 更/还]
A+比+B+更/还+adj
A is [even] more ADJ than B

> NOTE 1: A and B are both nouns.

> NOTE 2: this structure is used to EMPHASIZE the difference between A and B.

> NOTE 3: you cannot use "不," "很," or any other random modifier in this structure. See Level 13 for the proper way to negate a 比 structure.
TRANSLATE: Tomorrow's weather (will) be even better than today.
明天天气会(比)今天更好。
​MAKE A SENTENCE: 会
(huì) will
TRANSLATE: It will be warmer in New York this weekend.
这个周末纽约会暖和一点儿。
TRANSLATE: What will the weather be like tomorrow?
明天的天气会怎么样？
​MAKE A SENTENCE: 又
(yòu) again [adverb]

"又" indicates the recurrence of an action. The structure is:

"sub＋又＋verb phrase (＋了)" = sub ＋ verb phrase ＋ AGAIN

NOTE: Both 又 and 再 indicate the repetition of an action. But in a sentence with 又, usually both the original action and the repetition occurred in the past. Thus, a 又 sentence usually ends with "了."

Examples:
> 我上个周末去跳舞了，昨天我又去跳舞了。= I went dancing last weekend, yesterday I went dancing again.
> 我昨天去跳舞了，我想明天晚上再去跳舞。= I went dancing yesterday, I'm thinking of going dancing again tomorrow night.
TRANSLATE: It snowed yesterday morning, it snowed again this morning.
昨天早上下雪，今天早上又下雪了。
​MAKE A SENTENCE: A是A，可是/但是...
"A is A [i.e. It's true that A], but..."

This structure implies that the speaker accepts the validity of a certain point of view but wishes to offer an alternative perspective or emphasize a different aspect of the matter.

> NOTE: "A" is always either an adjective or an verb. Recall the "A不A" structure from Level 3. The "A是A" structure works on the exact same principle.

Examples:
滑冰难是难，可是很有意思。= Ice skating is difficult, but it is very interesting.
在高速公路上开车，紧张是紧张，可是也很好玩儿。= Driving on the highway, I do get nervous, but I find it a lot of fun, too.
明天学校开会，我去是去，可是会晚一点儿。= Tomorrow's school meeting, it's true I'll go, but I will be a little bit late.
TRANSLATE: California is great [A是A], but I like New York more.
加州好是好，可是我更喜欢纽约。
RULE: In English, explain what a "direction complement" is. Describe the structure of a direction complement and give examples.
A "direction complement" is a complement that's used to describe the direction of a verb.

> VERB + DIRECTION COMPLEMENT

Remember: a complement is a word or phrase following a verb (or sometimes an adjective) that provides additional meaning to the verb phrase. There are many different types of complements. Complements can describe duration, quantity, state, degree, result, direction, or possibility.

We've learned two direction complements so far: "来" (signifying movement toward the speaker) and "去" (signifying movement away from the speaker).

For more details about direction complements; see this link:
https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Direction_complement
TRANSLATE: Next week I have an interview. I can't come back [there] yet.
我下个星期有一个面试，还不能回去。
TRANSLATE: How come you're online and didn't go out?
你怎么在网上，没出去？
TRANSLATE: The weather here is great this weekend. You'd better come back [here] as soon as you can.
这个周末这儿天气很好，你快一点儿回来吧。
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