句式 — 数量 & 范围

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.

连 … 都 … 不 / 没 (not even)

A missing basic action is striking

• Someone is so occupied that they are not eating even meals.
• 他连饭都不吃。 — 连 makes the absence of eating a striking case.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is 连 … 都 … 不 / 没 (not even). 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.

he他tāeven连liánfood饭fàneven都dōunot不bùeat吃chī。

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, 他连饭都不吃。: 连 makes the absence of eating a striking case.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• The expectation comes from context.
• The sentence does not necessarily assert an absolute absence of every other activity.

Use the distinction

• 连 makes the absence of eating a striking case.
• The expectation comes from context. The sentence does not necessarily assert an absolute absence of every other activity.

Try it with help closed

Someone is so occupied that they are not eating even meals. 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: 他连饭都不吃。

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• The expectation comes from context.
• The sentence does not necessarily assert an absolute absence of every other activity.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.

为 … 而 … (for the sake of)

A purpose can remain unachieved

• A team works hard in pursuit of a dream.
• 他们为梦想而奋斗。 — The dream is the motivation for the effort.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is 为 … 而 … (for the sake 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.

they他们tā menfor为wèidream梦想mèng xiǎng(for)而érstrive奋斗fèn dòu。

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, 他们为梦想而奋斗。: The dream is the motivation for the effort.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• 为 is read wèi in this purpose frame.
• Naming the goal does not mean the team has already achieved it.

Use the distinction

• The dream is the motivation for the effort.
• 为 is read wèi in this purpose frame. Naming the goal does not mean the team has already achieved it.

Try it with help closed

A team works hard in pursuit of a dream. 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: 他们为梦想而奋斗。

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• 为 is read wèi in this purpose frame.
• Naming the goal does not mean the team has already achieved it.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.

任何 + Noun + 都 / 也 (any)

Any refers to the relevant domain

• A teacher invites questions about the lesson.
• 任何问题都可以问。 — The invitation covers any question within the relevant situation.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is 任何 + Noun + 都 / 也 (any). 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.

any任何rèn héquestion问题wèn tíall都dōucan可以kě yǐask问wèn。

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, 任何问题都可以问。: The invitation covers any question within the relevant situation.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• 都 is common in this all-cases frame.
• 任何 does not require 都 or 也 in every construction, as in 没有任何问题.

Use the distinction

• The invitation covers any question within the relevant situation.
• 都 is common in this all-cases frame. 任何 does not require 都 or 也 in every construction, as in 没有任何问题.

Try it with help closed

A teacher invites questions about the lesson. 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: 任何问题都可以问。

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• 都 is common in this all-cases frame.
• 任何 does not require 都 or 也 in every construction, as in 没有任何问题.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.

既 … 也 / 又 … (both … and …)

Two qualities need not share an emotional value

• An item is expensive but useful, and both qualities are acknowledged.
• 这个东西既贵又好用。 — 既…又… combines the cost and usefulness as coexisting qualities.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is 既 … 也 / 又 … (both … and …). 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zhè(measure word)个gedish菜càiboth既jìcheap便宜pián yiand又yòutasty好吃hǎo chī。

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, 这个东西既贵又好用。: 既…又… combines the cost and usefulness as coexisting qualities.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• One quality can be a drawback and the other a benefit.
• The construction does not force two positive or two negative judgments.

Use the distinction

• 既…又… combines the cost and usefulness as coexisting qualities.
• One quality can be a drawback and the other a benefit. The construction does not force two positive or two negative judgments.

Try it with help closed

An item is expensive but useful, and both qualities are acknowledged. 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: 这个东西既贵又好用。

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• One quality can be a drawback and the other a benefit.
• The construction does not force two positive or two negative judgments.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.

在 + Place + 上 / 下 / 里 / 旁边 (location)

Place the relation after its reference object

• A book rests on a table.
• 书在桌子上。 — 上 follows 桌子 to describe the book's location relative to it.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is 在 + Place + 上 / 下 / 里 / 旁边 (location). 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.

book书shūis在zàitable桌子zhuō zion上shàng。

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, 书在桌子上。: 上 follows 桌子 to describe the book's location relative to it.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• 在床下 and 在包里 describe different relations.
• Not every location needs an extra position word: 在北京 is already a place expression.

Use the distinction

• 上 follows 桌子 to describe the book's location relative to it.
• 在床下 and 在包里 describe different relations. Not every location needs an extra position word: 在北京 is already a place expression.

Try it with help closed

A book rests on a table. 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: 书在桌子上。

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• 在床下 and 在包里 describe different relations.
• Not every location needs an extra position word: 在北京 is already a place expression.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.