Scheduled maintenance: Saturday, March 6 from 3–4 PM PST
Upgrade to remove ads
Only $2.99/month

Grammar Review (Sentence Structure)

Terms in this set (62)

Cheat Sheet: Chinese Sentence Structure
RULE: (in English) Describe basic Chinese sentence word order.
subject + verb + object

https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese_word_order
RULE: (in English) Describe where adverbs go in basic Chinese sentence word order.
subject + adverb + verb/adj

https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese_word_order
RULE: (in English) Explain when to use "很," and how this is different from English. Give examples.
很, which literally means "very", is an adverb that goes before a verb or an adjective.

In English, nouns can be "linked" to adjectives and other nouns with the verb "to be." In Chinese, nouns are linked to other nouns in one way, but linked to adjectives in a completely different way. Nouns are linked to other nouns with 是 (shì). Nouns are linked to adjectives with 很 (hěn).

sub + 很 + adj ＝ 我很好
RULE: (in English) explain when to use "是" and when not to
In English, nouns can be "linked" to adjectives and other nouns with the verb "to be." In Chinese, nouns are linked to other nouns in one way, but linked to adjectives in a completely different way. Nouns are linked to other nouns with 是 (shì). Nouns are linked to adjectives with 很 (hěn).

sub + 是 + noun = 我是中国人

sub + 很 + adj ＝ 我很好
DETECTIVE (find and fix the mistakes):

A: 你好吗？
B: 我是很好！你呢？
A：我很好。我纽约人。​
A: 你好吗？
B: 我很好！你呢？
A：我很好。我是纽约人。​
RULE: (in English) Explain the difference between "没" and "不." Give examples of usage.
没 is used to negate 有
> "没有" = don't have

不 is used to negate almost all other verbs
> "不是" = is not
DETECTIVE (find and fix mistakes): A：王先生有女儿吗？B：他不有女儿。
A：王先生有女儿吗？B：他没有女儿。
RULE: (in English) Explain when to use "和" and when to use "也".
和 = conjunction used to link two things together in a list
> A和B和C
> don't overuse, please

也 = adverb "also", used to link two sentences or clauses
> Much more common than 和
DETECTIVE (find and fix mistakes): 我喜欢看电视，和我的妈妈喜欢看电视。
我喜欢看电视，我的妈妈也喜欢看电视。

"也" is used here because you're linking two independent clauses/sentences!

sub + 也 + verb
RULE: (in English) Explain Calendar Dates (including year, month, and day). Give examples.
__年__月__日/号

___ Years ___ Months ___ Days
RULE: (in English) Explain the word order of time in a Chinese sentence.
sub + time + adv + verb + obj

Like Chinese word order in general, Chinese time words also proceed from the largest to the smallest unit. (That is, from the most general to the most specific).

> e.g. 二零零九年八月十二日星期三晚上七点 = 2009, August, 12th, Wednesday, the evening, 7:00
RULE: (in English) Explain the word order of multiple Chinese time expressions in relation to each other, and give examples.
General time words like "now," "today," "yesterday," etc. are placed BEFORE specific time words like "2006," "Wednesday," "6:30", etc.

(This follows from the grammatical principle of general > specific).
RULE: (in English) Explain the concept of a "verb object" and why it's important. Give examples of verb objects.
Many words in Chinese are "verb-object" compounds. For many purposes they are treated as a single word, but in fact the verb and object are different, and they can be separated or detached.

A verb object does not take an additional object. Attributive elements like adjectives or numbers must be inserted between the verb and the object.

Examples:
睡觉 > 睡一个好觉
唱歌 > 唱英文歌
跳舞 > 跳中国舞
RULE: (in English) Explain the word order of locations in a Chinese sentence.
sub + time + location + adv + verb + obj
TRANSLATE: Little Yin, where do you work?
小音，你在哪儿工作？
RULE: (in English) Explain how to talk about past actions in Chinese. Give examples both actions that happened, and that didn't happen.
verb+了 = describes an action that has happened, usually at a specific time

没有 + verb = describes an action did not happen in the past. DO NOT use "不" or "了."
MAKE A SENTENCE: 了
(le) particle that describes an action that has happened, usually at a specific time
RULE: (in English) Explain the differences between the two usages of "没有" we've learned. Give examples of each usage.
没有 + object = don't have something [IN THE PRESENT]

Ex：我没有弟弟 = I don't have a younger brother.

没有 + verb = didn't do something [IN THE PAST]

Ex：我昨天没有看电视 = I didn't watch TV yesterday.
TRANSLATE: I didn't go home yesterday. [PAST]
我昨天没有回家。
RULE: Describe the word order of "target" prepositions in a Chinese sentence.
sub + time + location + target + adverb + verb + object
TRANSLATE: He gave me a call.
他给我打(了)一个电话。
RULE (in English): Explain the meaning of the "change of state" 了, and its structure in a sentence. Give examples.
[New Situation] + 了

了 has many uses. You probably first learned 了 as a particle that tells you an action is completed, which is also known as "了1." However, this is not about that use of 了; instead, it is about indicating a change of state.

In other words, there is now a new situation, or there is about to be a new situation. This whole "change of state" idea can take numerous forms. Here are some helpful examples.

​爸爸今年50岁了。= Dad is 50 years old this year.
(Seems like just a year ago he was only 49! The new situation is that he's older now.)

我男朋友找到新工作了。= My boyfriend found a new job.
(This is a big change for sure! The new situation is that he has a different job.)
RULE (in English): Explain the differences between the two major types of the particle "了" we've learned so far. [了1 vs. 了2]. Give examples of each usage.
The Chinese particle 了 has been traditionally divided into two broad categories: aspectual particle 了 (AKA 了1) and modal particle 了 (AKA 了2).

了1 = used when an action is completed. This particle follows a verb or verb+object.
> 明天我吃了午饭以后就跟朋友出去玩儿 = Tomorrow I'll go out with friends after having lunch.

了2 = used when there is a change of state or a new situation. This particle usually goes at the end of a statement or sentence.
> ​爸爸今年50岁了。= Dad is 50 years old this year.

It's possible to combine 了1 and 了2 in one sentence! When 了1 and 了2 both appear in a sentence, it describes what has been completed up till now.
> 你已经吃了太多了！You've already eaten too much! [so far] .

**NOTE: 了 can also be used for emphasis, as in "太好了!" or "我已经知道了!"
TRANSLATE: Dad is 50 years old this year. [New Situation]
爸爸今年50岁了。
RULE: (in English) explain how to construct a "yes/no" question in Chinese
Any statement can be turned into a "yes/no" question by adding the particle 吗 to the end of the statement.你好 = you're good你好吗？= you're good, yes? [How are you?]
TRANSLATE: Are you a teacher?
你是老师吗？
RULE: (in English) Explain what a Chinese "noun + adjective" sentence" is. Give examples.
In English, nouns can be "linked" to adjectives and other nouns with the verb "to be." In Chinese, nouns are linked to other nouns in one way, but linked to adjectives in a completely different way. Nouns are linked to other nouns with 是 (shì). Nouns are linked to adjectives with 很 (hěn).

https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Simple_%22noun_%2B_adjective%22_sentencessub + 是 + noun = 我是中国人sub + 很 + adj ＝ 我很好
RULE: (in English) explain when to use "是" and when not to
In English, nouns can be "linked" to adjectives and other nouns with the verb "to be." In Chinese, nouns are linked to other nouns in one way, but linked to adjectives in a completely different way. Nouns are linked to other nouns with 是 (shì). Nouns are linked to adjectives with 很 (hěn).sub + 是 + noun = 我是中国人sub + 很 + adj ＝ 我很好
RULE: Explain the grammar of the "的" particle. What is the structure? Give examples.
的 possessive or descriptive particle, (de)The particle "的" has many uses in Chinese. Here it indicates a possessive relationship between a "possessor" and a "possessed". It is equivalent to the " 's " structure in English.Examples:1. 老师的名字 (lǎo shī de míng zi) = teacher's name2. 王朋的妈妈 (wáng péng de mā ma) = Wang Peng's mother2. 我的爸爸是老师 (wǒ de bà ba shì lǎo shī) = My dad is a teacher4. 你的家很大 (nǐ de jiā hěn dà) = Your home is very big
TRANSLATE:Q: Does your (oldest) brother have any daughters?A: He doesn't have any daughters.
A: 他大哥有女儿吗？B: 他没有女儿。
DETECTIVE (find and fix mistakes): A：王先生有女儿吗？B：他不有女儿。
A：王先生有女儿吗？B：他没有女儿。
DETECTIVE (find and fix mistakes): A: 我有姐姐，你呢？B: 我有一姐姐。
A: 我有姐姐，你呢？B: 我有一个姐姐。
RULE: (in English) Explain what a measure word is. Give examples.
A measure word is inserted between a number/pronoun and a noun in order to count it. An example of a measure word in English is "one piece of paper." Measure words are much more important in Chinese.一个人= one person这个人 = this person一张照片 = one picture
RULE: (in English) explain the use of 两 vs. 二. Give examples.
Both 两 and 二 mean 2, but they are used in different contexts.两 is used to count specific nouns> 两 + MW + noun> 两个人 = two people二 is used in series and compound numerals> 一，二，三，四, etc...
MAKE A SENTENCE: 都
(dōu) both; allThe adverb 都 (dōu) is used to express "all" in Chinese. It's very common to use 都 (dōu) in all sorts of sentences where we would find it unnecessary in English.Structure: "sub + 都 + verb phrase"哥哥，妹妹都是学生。= Older brother, younger sister are all students.王朋，李友，和高文中都不是老师。= Wang Peng, Li You, and Gao Wen Zhong all are not teachers.王朋和白英爱都有姐姐 = Wang Peng and Bai Ying Ai all have older sisters.我的老师都没有妈妈 = My teachers all don't have mothers.
TRANSLATE: My older brother and younger sisters are all college students.
我哥哥，妹妹都是大学生。
What's the difference between 还是 vs. 或者？
(hái shi) or> used in an A or B question. A还是B?

你喜欢中国菜还是美国菜？

(huò zhě) or > used in a STATEMENT (not question)

我们平常玩游戏，或者看电影。
RULE: (in English) Explain the differences between "想", "觉得", and "喜欢". Give examples.
NOTE: "想", "觉得", and "喜欢" are all used differently.想 = would like to, have a desire to觉得 = to have the option that, to feel that喜欢 = to like, to be fond of
MAKE A SENTENCE: 在
(zài) at, in, on [preposition]> sub + 在 + verb + obj>我在图书馆工作
MAKE A SENTENCE: 才
(cái) not until [adverb]> sub + 才 + verb + obj>我晚上十二点才回家

The adverb 才 indicates the occurrence of an action or situation is later than the speaker may have expected.

才 can never be used together with the particle 了.

王朋和李友晚上十二点才回家。= Wang Peng and Li You didn't come home until midnight.我请他六点吃晚饭，他六点半才走。= I invited him out to dinner at six o'cock. He didn't come till six-thirty.小高常常晚上十二点才回家。Little Gao often doesn't go home until midnight.他晚上很晚才睡觉。= She goes to bed very late in the evening.
RULE: (in English) Explain how to talk about past actions in Chinese. Give examples both actions that happened, and that didn't happen.
verb+了 = describes an action that has happened, usually at a specific time

没有 + verb = describes an action did not happen in the past. DO NOT use "不" or "了."
RULE: (in English) Explain the differences between the two usages of "没有" we've learned. Give examples of each usage.
没有 + object = don't have something [IN THE PRESENT]

Ex：我没有弟弟 = I don't have a younger brother.

没有 + verb = didn't do something [IN THE PAST]

Ex：我昨天没有看电视 = I didn't watch TV yesterday.
MAKE A SENTENCE: verb+object+了
了 appears AFTER the verb+object when the object is not specific (i.e. no modifiers)
MAKE A SENTENCE: verb+了+object
了 appears BETWEEN the verb+object when the object is specific (i.e. is modified by a number, adjective, etc.)
TRANSLATE: At Gao Wenzhong's house, they met Gao Wenzhong's older sister. [PAST]
在高文中家，他们认识了高文中的姐姐。
MAKE A SENTENCE: 没有 [past]
to say that an action did not happen in the past, you must use "没有." DO NOT use "不" or "了."
TRANSLATE: Li You doesn't drink tea, she only drank one glass of water. [PAST]
李友不喝茶，只喝了一杯水。
TRANSLATE: I didn't go home yesterday. [PAST]
我昨天没有回家。
RULE: Describe the word order of "target" prepositions in a Chinese sentence.
sub + time + location + target + adverb + verb + object
TRANSLATE: He gave me a call.
他给我打(了)一个电话。
MAKE A SENTENCE: 跟
(gēn) [prep]; with

那我什么时候跟你见面？
**BONUS: RULE (in English): Explain the complex meaning of the adverb "就." State at least three different uses of 就 that we've learned, and give examples of each usage. Explain how each usage is connected to the larger meaning of 就!
(jiù) then; as soon as; in that case; so; will [ADVERB]

就 is a very important adverb in Chinese that has no direct translation in English. It has many complex uses!

In general, 就 is used to emphasize or to connect the relationship between two statements. One of these statements is an verb (which 就 modifies), and it is in some way a response to the preceding or following statement.

Specifically, we've learned how to use 就 in the following contexts:

1. to emphasize that the second action happens as soon as the first action is completed
> 他今天早上起床以后就上起床以后*就*听中文录音了。

2. to emphasize that the connection between two actions is a causal /conditional relationship
> 开始我觉得中文很难，后来，王朋常常帮我练习中文，就，后来，王朋常常帮我练习中文，*就*觉得不难了。

3. to emphasize truth, definitiveness, or exactness [in the context of the current topic or conversation]
> Q：常老师在吗？A：我就

4. to emphasize the (unexpected) promptness of an action
> 他明天七点就

See the Chinese Grammar Wiki for more details:
https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%B0%B1
RULE (in English): Explain the meaning of the "change of state" 了, and its structure in a sentence. Give examples.
[New Situation] + 了

了 has many uses. You probably first learned 了 as a particle that tells you an action is completed, which is also known as "了1." However, this is not about that use of 了; instead, it is about indicating a change of state.

In other words, there is now a new situation, or there is about to be a new situation. This whole "change of state" idea can take numerous forms. Here are some helpful examples.

​爸爸今年50岁了。= Dad is 50 years old this year.
(Seems like just a year ago he was only 49! The new situation is that he's older now.)

我男朋友找到新工作了。= My boyfriend found a new job.
(This is a big change for sure! The new situation is that he has a different job.)
RULE (in English): Explain the differences between the two major types of the particle "了" we've learned so far. [了1 vs. 了2]. Give examples of each usage.
The Chinese particle 了 has been traditionally divided into two broad categories: aspectual particle 了 (AKA 了1) and modal particle 了 (AKA 了2).

了1 = used when an action is completed. This particle follows a verb or verb+object.
> 明天我吃了午饭以后就跟朋友出去玩儿 = Tomorrow I'll go out with friends after having lunch.

了2 = used when there is a change of state or a new situation. This particle usually goes at the end of a statement or sentence.
> ​爸爸今年50岁了。= Dad is 50 years old this year.

It's possible to combine 了1 and 了2 in one sentence! When 了1 and 了2 both appear in a sentence, it describes what has been completed up till now.
> 你已经吃了太多了！You've already eaten too much! [so far] .

**NOTE: 了 can also be used for emphasis, as in "太好了!" or "我已经知道了!"
TRANSLATE: Dad is 50 years old this year. [New Situation]
爸爸今年50岁了。
RULE (in English): Explain what a "topic-comment sentence" is, and give examples.
This is a special type of Chinese sentence structure. When a noun or noun phrase has become established as a noun element in a conversation, it can occur at the beginning of the sentence as the "topic," with the rest of the sentence functioning as the "comment" on it. This forms what is known as a "topic-comment sentence."

In such a sentence, the object can the verb can be brought forward to serve as the topic of the sentence.

Examples:
A: 我昨天买了一枝笔。
B: 那枝笔你用了吗？[那枝笔=topic, 你用了吗?=comment]
A: 你知道我的衬衫在哪儿吗？
B: 你的衬衫我给你妈妈了。[你的衬衫=topic, 我给你妈妈了=comment]
RULE (in English): Explain the concept of a "topic-prominent" language. Compare and contrast English and Chinese in this respect.
A topic-prominent language is a language that organizes its syntax to emphasize the topic-comment structure of the sentence

Chinese is TOPIC-PROMINENT, while English is SUBJECT-PROMINENT.

The Topic-Comment structure (object + sub + verb) differs from the Golden Rule sentence order (sub + verb + object) that we've been learning so far.

For example, following the Golden Rule, the object of a sentence goes after the verb. But in a T-C sentence, often the object is the topic of the sentence, so it goes first.

Read this blog post for more details:
https://www.yoyochinese.com/blog/a-common-chinese-sentence-pattern-explained
​PUZZLE: Convert the following sentences from "golden rule" sentences into "topic-comment sentences":

​我昨天买了一枝笔。
你复习第十课了吗？
一枝笔我昨天买了。

第十课你复习了吗？
​PUZZLE: Convert the following sentences from "golden rule" sentences into "topic-comment sentences":

我看了那个电影。
我有很多朋友。
那个电影我看了。
朋友我有很多。
MAKE A SENTENCE: 每...都...
(měi... dōu...) "every..."

每+MW+noun+都...

NOTE: 每 is a pronoun, meaning it has to be followed by a measure word. 都 must also be inserted right before the verb.

Examples:
>他每天晚上都与习课文。= He studies the lessons in advance every night.
>这儿我每个人都认识。＝ Here I know everyone.
>每个美国人都有钱。= Every American has money.
>常老师的字每个都好看。= Chang Laoshi's characters, every one looks nice. [topic-comment sentence]
TRANSLATE: Every day I've been going out by car to see old friends.
我每天都开车出去看老朋友。
THIS SET IS OFTEN IN FOLDERS WITH...