Level 17: Renting an Apartment (Grammar)

Terms in this set (25)

CULTURE: 1 US Dollar equals approximately how many Chinese RMB?
1 USD ~= 6.87 RMB (as of Sept 2018)

See here for current exchange rates:
http://finance.sina.com.cn/money/forex/hq/USDCNY.shtml
CULTURE: 一百美元是多少人民币？(approximately)
100美元 ~= 687人民币 (2018年9月查询)

See here for current exchange rates:
http://finance.sina.com.cn/money/forex/hq/USDCNY.shtml
CULTURE: 一百人民币是多少人美元？(approximately)
100人民币 ~= 15美元 (2018年9月查询)

See here for current exchange rates:
http://finance.sina.com.cn/money/forex/hq/USDCNY.shtml
MAKE A SENTENCE: 什么...都...
什么 +sub+ 都 + verb

all/no + [sub] + [verb]...
TRANSLATE: I don't raise pets of any kind.
我什么宠物都不养。
TRANSLATE: There's nothing there at all.
那里什么东西都没有。
MAKE A SENTENCE: Duration to the Present Moment
verb + 了 + # + MW + noun + 了

"Duration over time to the present moment"

implies the action has been continuing for some time and lasts into the future

他在宿舍住了两个学期了 He has lived in the dormitories for two semesters [and currently lives there]

The DURATION OF TIME here can be thought as a VERB 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.
TRANSLATE: Wang Peng has been living in the school dorm for two semesters [and is still living there].
王朋在学校的宿舍住了两个学期了。
MAKE A SENTENCE: 对...有兴趣
A 对 B 有兴趣 = A has interest toward B


A 对 B 没有兴趣 = A has no interest in B
TRANSLATE: I have no interest in raising pets.
我对养宠物没有兴趣。
MAKE A SENTENCE: 另外
(lìng wài) in addition; besides; furthermore [conjunction]
TRANSLATE: Furthermore, no pets are allowed [to be raised] in our apartments. [另外]
另外，我们公寓不准养宠物。
MAKE A SENTENCE: 连...都/也...
sub+连+obj+都/也+verb

Intensifiers: A 连 B 都/也 + verb
sentence pattern used as an intensifier of the action
TRANSLATE: How could you forget even to take your medicine?
你怎么连药都忘了吃？
MAKE A SENTENCE: 不下
"verb＋不下＋＃＋noun"

不下 = a potential complement

NOTE: this structure suggests that a location or container in question does not have the capacity to hold something.

The opposite of 不下 = "得下" (a positive potential complement -- the space DOES have the capacity to hold something).
RULE (in English): Explain the grammatical structure of the "...不下" structure. Explain how this structure can be turned from a negative into a positive, and give an example.
不下 = a potential complement

A "potential complement" is a complement that's used to express the possibility of achieving an expected action.

Putting 得 or 不 between an action verb and a result complement or direction complement changes them to potential complements.

> VERB + 得/不 + COMPLEMENT

Here, "下" acts as an abstract direction complement, suggesting that a location or container in question does not have the capacity to hold something. The "得/不" expresses the possibility of that capacity.

The opposite of 不下 = "得下" (a positive potential complement -- the space DOES have the capacity to hold something).

Ex: 房间很大，放得下电脑。
TRANSLATE: The room is too small, even a computer does not fit [i.e. "cannot be put down"].
房间太小，连电脑都放不下。
RULE (in English): Describe how to state numbers that are APPROXIMATELY LESS than a given number. Give examples in context.
>> "差不多" indicating an approximate number LESS than a stated number.
(chà bu duō) almost; nearly; more or less
差不多 + # = almost as much as #

Ex: 差不多八百五十人民币 = almost (but less than) $850 RMB
RULE (in English): Describe how to state numbers that are APPROXIMATELY MORE than a given number.

NOTE: There are TWO different structures to do this. Describe both, and give examples of each.
>> "多" indicating an approximate number MORE than a stated number.

There are two different structures depending on the size of the given number:

[# under ten]+MW+多+noun

Ex: 一个多月了 = over one month [but less than two]

[# ten and over]+多+MW+noun

Ex: 二十多个学生 = over twenty students [but less than thirty]
TRANSLATE: over one month [but less than two]
一个多月了
TRANSLATE: over one hundred dollars [but less than two hundred]
一百多块钱
TRANSLATE: almost $850 RMB
差不多八百五十人民币
DETECTIVE (find and fix the mistakes): 一多块钱
[# under ten]+MW+多+noun

一块多钱 = over one dollar [but less than two]
DETECTIVE (find and fix the mistakes): 二十个多学生
[# ten and over]+多+MW+noun

二十多个学生 = over twenty students [but less than thirty]
**BONUS (TRANSLATE): You must pay an extra month's rent as a security deposit, which will be returned to you when you move out.
要多付一个月的房租当押金，搬出去的时候还给你。
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