One of the cool features of Chinese is complements, and in this article we introduce a few of them in Chinese gramamr.
Tag: Chinese Grammar
Chinese grammar: If…, then… with 如果ruguo…,就 jiu…
One of the benefits of Chinese is that the grammar is often very logical and concise. In this article, we look at the "如果…,就…" (rúguǒ…, jiù…) structure. We will also look at uses "的话" (dehuà).
Chinese grammar: Expressing actions in progress (full form)
You may have learned that 在 (zài) and 正在 (zhèngzài) can be used before verbs to express that an action is ongoing or in progress. They are used to create the Mandarin equivalent of present continuous in English. But that pattern is actually a part of a longer, fuller pattern. It's rarely used in its full form, but bits and pieces of it are frequently used in everyday speech, so it's important to know the full form, even if you don't use it regularly yourself.
Chinese grammar: Separable verb
"Separable verbs," called 离合词 (líhécí) in Chinese, get their name from their ability to "separate" into two parts (a verb part and an object part), with other words in between. Separable verbs are an important concept to master in Chinese, and are also the source of many beginner mistakes. Mastering separable verbs is an essential objective of the intermediate (B1) level learner of Chinese.
Chinese grammar: Expressing duration of inaction
Saying how long you have done something is pretty simple in Chinese. Saying how long you have not done something is just as easy.
Chinese grammar: Simultaneous tasks with 一边yibian
Multitasking is vital to life in the modern world (most likely you are reading this article on a separate tab among many in your browser!), therefore it would make sense to learn a way to express simultaneous tasks in Chinese!
Chinese grammar: Doing something more with 多duo
In China, you often hear you should do this or that more (eat more, drink more water, wear more warm clothing etc.), and they often use the word 多 (duō). What's not intuitive to learners is that the word 多 should come before the verb.
Chinese grammar: “Not often” with 不怎么bu zenme
不怎么 (bùzěnme) seems to mean "not how", but it actually can mean "not often" when used together with a verb.
Chinese grammar: Doing something less with 少shao
Often heard when scolding or giving advice (like when parents talk to children) is 少 (shǎo) in Chinese grammar, which can mean "to do less of something."
Chinese grammar:Not at all一点儿也/都不
Sometimes we may want to say something is "not even the least bit. . ." For example, we might say in English: "I am not at all hungry." In Chinese, we can use 一点也不 or 一点都不 to express "not at all"