Category: Chinese Grammar

There are a few ways to express "ever since" in Chinese. In English, we would say something like "ever since I came to Shanghai, my Chinese has improved a lot." In this article, we will first take a look at using 以来 (yǐlái) to mean "ever since". We will also take a quick look at using "ever since" with 来 （lái), which is similar but used in a somewhat different way.

Before and after can be expressed using 之前 (zhīqián) and 之后 (zhīhòu). They are in relatively the same vein as 以前/以后, except that these two are adverbs, while 之前/之后 is a preposition. Don’t forget that these two are talking about before and after in terms of time.

要不 (yào bù) can have a number of meanings depending on how it is used. It means giving alternatives, Indicating cause and effect

"还有" (háiyǒu) is used to express "In addition…" in a conversation. It is introducing new information to the topic the speaker(s) is/are talking about. While it’s not the most challenging grammar structure, an important thing to keep in mind is that 还有 starts a completely new sentence or clause.

Instead of just using 可是 or 但是, you can also use the softer and more informal 不过 (búguò). The meaning is closer to "however" or "nevertheless" in English in Chinese grammar.

The word 来 (lái) can be used to connect two verb phrases, relating the actions to each other. It can be translated as "in order to" or "so that" and it can help in explaining reasoning in Chinese grammar.

Are you looking for another way to use 那么 in Chinese grammar? Then, take a look at this article!Structure
When expressing "Then…", you can use "那么" (nàme) in order to begin a judgment or result from previous context. An example of this in English would be "Then, what should we do?"
context+那么+result

"再说…" (zàishuō…) is used in a similar way as "In addition" or "Moreover", in that it is adding on additional information or reasons to the topic at hand in Chinese grammar.

之类的 can be translated as "and so on" or "and stuff like that." As in English, this grammar point is used to continue a list without explicitly mentioning further items within it in Chinese grammar.