Chinese grammar / 486 topics
Chinese grammar · page 8
Find a sentence pattern, read how it works, and practise it with Chinese examples, pinyin and English translations.
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谁都 shéi dōu
Question Words + 都: Everyone, Everywhere, and Whenever
Use 谁, 哪儿, 什么时候, and other question words with 都 to make inclusive statements rather than ask questions.
多长时间…一次 duō cháng shíjiān…yī cì
How Often in Chinese: 多长时间…一次 and Frequency Answers
Ask about the interval between actions with 多长时间…一次 and give frequencies using a period plus an action count.
倍 bèi
倍 (Bèi): Times as Much and Multiplicative Comparisons
Express ratios with 是…的…倍 and distinguish a total multiple from an increase described with a comparative adjective.
一点也不 yīdiǎn yě bù
一点也不 and 一点都不: Not at All in Chinese
Strengthen a negative description with 一点也不 or 一点都不, including feelings and attitudes as well as adjectives.
不知道…好 bù zhīdào…hǎo
不知道…好: Not Knowing What Would Be Best to Do
Express indecision with 不知道…好, using an embedded question and optional 才 to ask what action would be appropriate.
为了 wèile
为了 (Wèile): Explaining Purpose and Intended Benefit
Place 为了 before a goal or beneficiary to explain why an action is taken, and distinguish purpose from an existing cause.
哪儿、谁、什么 nǎr, shéi, shénme
Question Words Meaning Some: Somewhere, Someone, and Something
Recognize indefinite uses of 哪儿, 谁, 什么, and 什么时候 when Chinese refers to an unspecified person, place, thing, or time.
对…来说 duì…láishuō
来说 (Láishuō): For Someone, Generally, and Speaking Broadly
Frame a comment with 对…来说 or a familiar 来说 phrase to identify a perspective or the scope of a generalization.
有…那么 yǒu…nàme
有 in Chinese Comparisons: As…As and Reaching a Standard
Use 有 + reference + adjective to ask whether something reaches another’s degree, and recognize expanded patterns with 那么 or 这么.
跟…比 gēn…bǐ
跟…比: Starting a Chinese Comparison with Compared With
Frame Chinese comparisons with 跟…比 or 跟…比起来, placing the reference first before explaining a difference or preference.
更、还 gèng, hái
更 and 还 in 比 Comparisons: Even More in Chinese
Add 更 or 还 before an adjective in a 比 sentence to emphasize a stronger degree relative to the comparison standard.
得多、多了 de duō, duō le
Much More in Chinese Comparisons: 很多, 得多, and 多了
Emphasize a large difference in Chinese by placing 很多, 得多, or 多了 after an adjective in a comparison sentence.
是 shì
Adjective + 是 + Adjective: Conceding a Point in Chinese
Acknowledge that a description is true before adding a reservation, using patterns such as 好看是好看，但是….
一…就… yī…jiù…
一…就…: As Soon As and Immediate Reactions in Chinese
Connect a trigger to an immediate result with 一…就…, for single events, future plans, and habitual reactions.
要么…要么… yàome…yàome…
要么…要么…: Either…Or Choices in Chinese
Present alternative actions or outcomes with 要么…要么…, including decisions, instructions, and contrasting possibilities.
除了…以外 chúle…yǐwài
除了…以外: Except, Besides, and In Addition in Chinese
Distinguish exclusion from addition with 除了…以外 by reading the following 都, 也, or 还 and the scope of the sentence.
还好…不然… háihǎo…bùrán…
还好…不然…: Fortunately and Otherwise in Chinese
Describe a fortunate circumstance with 还好 and explain the avoided problem using 不然 and its hypothetical outcome.
如果…的话 rúguǒ…dehuà
如果…的话: Forming If Conditions in Chinese
Put a condition between 如果 and 的话, introduce its result with 就 when appropriate, and recognize shorter conditional forms.
不但…而且… bùdàn…érqiě
不但…而且…: Not Only…But Also in Chinese
Link two related points with 不但…而且…, and adjust the position of 不但 when the clauses have different subjects.
怪不得、难怪 guàibude, nánguài
怪不得 and 难怪: Saying No Wonder in Chinese
Connect a newly understood reason with an observation using 怪不得 or 难怪, including explanations introduced by 原来.
一方面…另一方面… yī fāngmiàn…lìng yī fāngmiàn
一方面…另一方面…: Presenting Two Sides in Chinese
Organize two aspects of a situation with 一方面 and 另一方面, whether the points support each other or pull in different directions.
等到 děngdào
等到 (Děngdào): When the Time Comes and Not Until
Use 等 or 等到 to introduce a future milestone or a later point in a Chinese narrative, with 再, 就, or 才.
常常、经常 chángcháng, jīngcháng
常常 vs 经常: Two Ways to Say Often in Chinese
Compare 常常 and 经常 as frequency adverbs, including ordinary word order, negation, and 经常 in modifier expressions.
刚、刚才 gāng, gāngcái
刚 vs 刚才: Just Happened and Just Now in Chinese
Distinguish adverb 刚 from time word 刚才 by word order, relative recency, noun modification, and interaction with aspect.
有点、一点 yǒudiǎn, yīdiǎn
有点 vs 一点: A Little, Slightly More, and Not at All
Choose 有点 before descriptions and 一点 after comparative or request adjectives, and recognize their different negative patterns.
还是、或者 háishì, huòzhě
还是 vs 或者: Asking a Choice or Listing Possibilities
Use 还是 in alternative questions and 或者 in statements of possibilities, including questions embedded inside larger sentences.
人家、别人 rénjia, biérén
人家 vs 别人: Other People and Colloquial Pronoun Uses
Compare 人家 and 别人 for others, and recognize 人家 as a context-dependent reference to a specific person or the speaker.
之间、中间 zhījiān, zhōngjiān
之间 vs 中间: Between, the Middle, and Relationships
Distinguish 之间 and 中间 for spaces, intervals, ranges, and relationships, including when 中间 can stand alone.
离、从 lí, cóng
离 vs 从: Distance From and Starting From in Chinese
Use 离 to measure separation and 从 to introduce a starting point or source in space, time, and other relationships.
以后、的时候 yǐhòu, de shíhou
以后 vs 的时候: After an Event or When It Happens
Choose 以后 for a later stage and 的时候 for the time of an event or state, even when English uses when for both.
得不得了 de bùdéliǎo
得不得了 (De Bùdéliǎo): Extremely and Terribly in Chinese
Intensify a description with adjective + 得不得了, including positive emotions as well as difficult or unpleasant situations.
得很 de hěn
得很 (De Hěn): Strong Emphasis After an Adjective
Use adjective + 得很 for emphatic descriptions, and compare its word order and tone with 很 before an adjective.
了点儿 le diǎnr
Adjective + 了点儿: A Bit Too and Small Changes in Chinese
Use adjective + 了点儿 to soften a criticism, and recognize contexts where the same shape describes a small change.
有的是 yǒudeshì
有的是 (Yǒudeshì): Plenty Of and More Than Enough
Express abundant money, time, opportunities, or other resources with 有的是, including noun-first topic patterns.
都 dōu
都 Beyond All: Even, Already, and Emphatic Complaints
Recognize extended uses of 都 that highlight an extreme result, an already reached situation, or a reason for a response.
还…呢 hái…ne
还 for Surprise and Sarcasm: Emphatic Chinese Patterns
Understand 还 with surprising claims, ironic descriptions, and rhetorical questions, often reinforced by sentence-final 呢.
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