Noun phrases

Use the examples with their context and limits. Recall a sentence before reading the model. Original teaching additions accompany examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA); see the course reference provenance.

所有(的) + Noun (all)

Set the scope before saying all

• Every student in the class arrives.
• 所有的学生都来了。 — All members of the relevant student group arrived.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is 所有(的) + Noun (all). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
• Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.

all所有suǒ yǒu的destudents学生xué shengall都dōucome来lái了le。

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, 所有的学生都来了。: All members of the relevant student group arrived.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• The group is established by context.
• 的 is often optional in 所有人 or 所有学生, and all here does not mean every student worldwide.

Use the distinction

• All members of the relevant student group arrived.
• The group is established by context. 的 is often optional in 所有人 or 所有学生, and all here does not mean every student worldwide.

Try it with help closed

Every student in the class arrives. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

One possible response: 所有的学生都来了。

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• The group is established by context.
• 的 is often optional in 所有人 or 所有学生, and all here does not mean every student worldwide.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.

… 之一 (one of)

A member of a leading group is not uniquely first

• You identify one of several important reasons.
• 这是最重要的原因之一。 — The reason is a member of the important-reason group.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is … 之一 (one of). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
• Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.

this这zhèis是shìmost最zuìimportant重要zhòng yào的dereason原因yuán yīnone of之一zhī yī。

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, 这是最重要的原因之一。: The reason is a member of the important-reason group.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• 之一 follows the noun phrase.
• It does not establish a unique top-ranked reason or give the number of other reasons.

Use the distinction

• The reason is a member of the important-reason group.
• 之一 follows the noun phrase. It does not establish a unique top-ranked reason or give the number of other reasons.

Try it with help closed

You identify one of several important reasons. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

One possible response: 这是最重要的原因之一。

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• 之一 follows the noun phrase.
• It does not establish a unique top-ranked reason or give the number of other reasons.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.

另外 + Number + MW + Noun (another)

The other set is distinct

• Two people apart from those already discussed did not attend.
• 另外两个人没来。 — 另外 identifies a different pair of people.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is 另外 + Number + MW + Noun (another). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
• Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.

another另外lìng wàitwo两liǎng(measure word)个gepeople人réndidn't没méicome来lái。

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, 另外两个人没来。: 另外 identifies a different pair of people.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• This use sits inside the noun phrase.
• It does not itself tell you how many people attended in total.

Use the distinction

• 另外 identifies a different pair of people.
• This use sits inside the noun phrase. It does not itself tell you how many people attended in total.

Try it with help closed

Two people apart from those already discussed did not attend. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

One possible response: 另外两个人没来。

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• This use sits inside the noun phrase.
• It does not itself tell you how many people attended in total.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.