Particles, nouns & numbers

Original teaching practice. Read one pattern, cover its model and try the questions before checking the separate answer section. Examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA) retain the course-reference provenance.

Time / Verb + before以前yǐ qián (before …)

Before you go to bed

• Your doctor gives you advice about a good night's sleep.
• to go to bed睡觉shuì jiàobefore以前yǐ qiándon't be fooled by the fact…别看bié kàncell phone手机shǒu jī。 – "Don't look at your phone before going to bed."

Time / Verb phrase + before以前yǐ qián

• X + before以前yǐ qián = "before X". Unlike English, before以前yǐ qián comes after the time or action: 八点bā diǎnbefore以前yǐ qián, to go to class上课shàng kèbefore以前yǐ qián.
• The whole phrase usually comes before the main verb: you你nǐ八点bā diǎnbefore以前yǐ qiánto come来lái(suggestion)吧ba.

you你nǐeight o'clock八点bā diǎnbefore以前yǐ qiáncome来lái吧ba。

Deadlines and order

• Friday星期五xīng qī wǔbefore以前yǐ qián要交yào jiāoschool assignment作业zuò yè。 – "The homework must be handed in before Friday."
• to have a meal吃饭chī fànbefore以前yǐ qiánwant / will / need要yàoto wash one's hands洗手xǐ shǒu。 – "Wash your hands before you eat." front前qián alone can replace before以前yǐ qián in short phrases: 饭前fàn qián, 睡前shuì qián.

eat吃饭chī fànbefore以前yǐ qiánmust要yàowash hands洗手xǐ shǒu。

before以前yǐ qián comes last

• Put before以前yǐ qián after what it refers to: to go to class上课shàng kèbefore以前yǐ qián, not before以前yǐ qiánto go to class上课shàng kè (which means "in the past, I attended class").
• The before以前yǐ qián phrase goes before the main verb, not at the end: I / me我wǒ十点shí diǎnbefore以前yǐ qiánto return home回家huí jiā, not I / me我wǒto return home回家huí jiā十点shí diǎnbefore以前yǐ qián.

before以前yǐ qián versus front前qián

• before以前yǐ qián works after any time or action: 三天sān tiānbefore以前yǐ qián, to go abroad出国chū guóbefore以前yǐ qián.
• front前qián is shorter and fixed in some phrases: 三天sān tiānfront前qián, 睡前shuì qián, 饭前fàn qián. Both mean "before" here.

I我wǒthree days三天sān tiānago前qiánarrived in到dàoBeijing北京Běi jīng。

Recap

• Time / action + before以前yǐ qián = before …; it follows what it refers to.
• The phrase sits before the main verb. front前qián is a shorter form: 三天sān tiānfront前qián, 睡前shuì qián.

Practise this pattern step by step.

before以前yǐ qián，… (in the past, …)

How things used to be

• Your grandmother looks at old photos of her village with dirt roads and no cars.
• before以前yǐ qiánhere这儿zhè érnot have / haven't没有méi yǒuroad路lù，now现在xiàn zàito have / there is有yǒu很多hěn duōwar chariot (archaic)车chē(completed / change)了le。 – "There used to be no road here; now there are lots of cars."

before以前yǐ qián，… = "in the past, …"

• before以前yǐ qián at the start of the sentence (or after the subject) = "before, in the past", often contrasted with now现在xiàn zài.
• It describes a past habit or state: I / me我wǒbefore以前yǐ qiánto live住zhùat / in在zàiShanghai municipality…上海shàng hǎi – "I used to live in Shanghai."

I我wǒused to以前yǐ qiánlive住zhùin在zàiShanghai上海Shàng hǎi。

Then and now

• he / him他tābefore以前yǐ qiánnot不bùto like喜欢xǐ huanvariant of 吃吃chīhot (spicy)辣là(modifier / structural particle)的de，now现在xiàn zàidegree / adjective linker很hěnto like喜欢xǐ huan。 – "He didn't use to like spicy food; now he loves it."
• The contrast with now现在xiàn zài is very common; often no (completed / change)了le is needed for a past habit.

he他tāused to以前yǐ qiánnot不bùlike喜欢xǐ huaneat吃chīspicy辣làfood的de。

Which before以前yǐ qián is it?

• Alone at the front or after the subject, before以前yǐ qián = "in the past": before以前yǐ qiánI / me我wǒimprobable不会bú huìto prepare a meal做饭zuò fàn.
• After a time or action, it = "before": to go to class上课shàng kèbefore以前yǐ qián – "before class". Check what comes before it.

before以前yǐ qián versus (verb suffix)过去guò qù and original原来yuán lái

• (verb suffix)过去guò qù also means "in the past", a little more formal: (verb suffix)过去guò qùhere这里zhè lǐto be / is是shì一个yí gè小村子xiǎo cūn zi。
• original原来yuán lái = "originally", stressing that it later changed: he / him他tāoriginal原来yuán láito be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī，afterwards后来hòu láiat or in the very same...当dāng(completed / change)了leauthor作家zuò jiā。

he他tāoriginally原来yuán láiwas是shìa teacher老师lǎo shī。

Recap

• before以前yǐ qián，… = in the past, used to …; often contrasted with now现在xiàn zài.
• X + before以前yǐ qián = before X. (verb suffix)过去guò qù = in the past (formal); original原来yuán lái = originally.

Practise this pattern step by step.

just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cái (a moment ago)

A missed call

• You come back from the shower and see your roommate pointing at your phone.
• just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cáisomeone有人yǒu rénto / for / give给gěiyou你nǐto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà(completed / change)了le。 – "Someone called you a moment ago."

just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cái is a time word

• just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cái = "just now, a moment ago". Like yesterday昨天zuó tiān or today今天jīn tiān, it can stand before or after the subject.
• just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cáiI / me我wǒat / in在zàito bathe洗澡xǐ zǎo / I / me我wǒjust now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cáiat / in在zàito bathe洗澡xǐ zǎo – "I was in the shower just now."

I我wǒjust now刚才gāng cái(ongoing)在zàitake a shower洗澡xǐ zǎo。

Actions, states and the negative

• Action: you你nǐjust now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cáito go去qùwhere哪儿nǎr(completed / change)了le？ – "Where did you go just now?"
• State or negative: just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cáidegree / adjective linker很hěnquiet安静ān jìng – "It was quiet a moment ago." just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cáiI / me我wǒnot / haven't没méito hear听见tīng jiàn – "I didn't hear just now."

you你nǐjust now刚才gāng cáigo去qùwhere哪儿nǎr了le？

just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cái is only minutes ago

• Use just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cái for a moment ago in the same situation; for "recently" over days, use recently最近zuì jìn or just now刚gāng.
• just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cái can go first in the sentence; just now刚gāng cannot: just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cái他来tā lái(completed / change)了le ✓, just now刚gānghe / him他tāto come来lái(completed / change)了le ✗.

just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cái versus just now刚gāng

• just now刚gāng is an adverb before the verb: he / him他tājust now刚gāngto walk走zǒu – "He has just left."
• just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cái is a time word: he / him他tājust now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cáito walk走zǒu(completed / change)了le – "He left a moment ago." Both are common; only just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cái works with adjectives and not / haven't没méi.

he他tājust刚gāngleave走zǒu。

Recap

• just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cái = a moment ago; a time word that can start the sentence.
• It works with actions, adjectives and not / haven't没méi. just now刚gāng is the adverb "just" before a verb.

Practise this pattern step by step.

Time / Verb + o'clock时shí (when …)

When I was little

• You are telling a friend a story from your childhood about learning to swim.
• I / me我wǒsmall小xiǎo(modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòuoften常常cháng chángto go去qùriver bank河边hé biānswimming游泳yóu yǒng。 – "When I was little, I often went swimming by the river."

Time / Verb phrase + o'clock时shí ((modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu)

• X + (modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu = "when X". The spoken form is (modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu; the shorter o'clock时shí is more written: 上课时shàng kè shí, to rain下雨xià yǔo'clock时shí.
• Like before以前yǐ qián, o'clock时shí comes after what it refers to.

in class上课shàng kèwhen时shí，please请qǐngturn off关guānyour phone手机shǒu jī。

Spoken (modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu

• I / me我wǒto / arrive到dàohome家jiā(modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu，he / him他tāalready已经yǐ jīngto sleep睡shuì(completed / change)了le。 – "When I got home, he was already asleep."
• you你nǐto have time (to do sth)有空yǒu kòng(modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòuto / for / give给gěiI / me我wǒto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà。 – "Call me when you have time."

I我wǒarrive到dàohome家jiāwhen的时候de shí hou，he他tāalready已经yǐ jīngsleep睡shuì了le。

Order and the right word

• o'clock时shí / (modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu goes after the clause: to rain下雨xià yǔ(modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu, not time时候shí hòuto rain下雨xià yǔ.
• In a "when" clause, do not use what什么shén metime时候shí hòu (that asks "when?"): I / me我wǒto / arrive到dàohome家jiā(modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu, not I / me我wǒwhat什么shén metime时候shí hòuperfect到家dào jiā.

o'clock时shí versus (modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu

• Use (modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu in conversation: to have a meal吃饭chī fàn(modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòudon't别biéto speak说话shuō huà.
• o'clock时shí suits signs, writing and short fixed phrases: to eat a meal用餐yòng cāno'clock时shíNo smoking请勿吸烟qǐng wù xī yān – "No smoking while dining."

eat吃饭chī fànwhen的时候de shí houdon't别biétalk说话shuō huà。

Recap

• X + (modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu / o'clock时shí = when X; it follows the clause it belongs to.
• (modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu is spoken, o'clock时shí is more written. what什么shén metime时候shí hòu asks a question; it is not "when" in a statement.

Practise this pattern step by step.

after以后yǐ hòu (after / in the future)

After graduation

• A friend in her final year asks what you plan to do once you finish university.
• 大学毕业dà xué bì yèafter以后yǐ hòu，I / me我wǒwant / think / miss想xiǎngto go去qùabroad国外guó wàito work工作gōng zuò。 – "After I graduate, I want to work abroad."

Time / Verb phrase + after以后yǐ hòu

• X + after以后yǐ hòu = "after X": to finish class下课xià kèafter以后yǐ hòu, 吃了饭chī le fànafter以后yǐ hòu, 三天sān tiānafter以后yǐ hòu.
• Like before以前yǐ qián, it follows what it refers to, and the phrase comes before the main verb.

class ends下课xià kèafter以后yǐ hòu，we我们wǒ mengo to去qùthe canteen食堂shí táng吧ba。

after以后yǐ hòu alone: from now on, in the future

• At the start of a sentence, after以后yǐ hòu = "in the future, from now on": after以后yǐ hòuI / me我wǒnot不bùto arrive late迟到chí dào(completed / change)了le。 – "I won't be late again from now on."
• after以后yǐ hòu here refers to time after now, not after a past event.

from now on以后yǐ hòuI我wǒnot不bùbe late迟到chí dào了le。

After what?

• Put after以后yǐ hòu after the event: to have a meal吃饭chī fànafter以后yǐ hòu, not after以后yǐ hòuto have a meal吃饭chī fàn (which would mean "eat in the future").
• For the next step in a past story, prefer afterwards后来hòu lái or then / after然后rán hòu, not a bare after以后yǐ hòu: I / me我wǒearly先xiānto go去qù(completed / change)了lebank银行yín háng，then / after然后rán hòuto go去qù(completed / change)了lesupermarket (abbr. for 超级市场)超市chāo shì.

after以后yǐ hòu versus back后hòu

• back后hòu is the shorter form in fixed phrases: 饭后fàn hòu, 三天sān tiānback后hòu, graduation毕业bì yèback后hòu.
• after以后yǐ hòu is more common in speech and after longer clauses: you你nǐto / arrive到dào(completed / change)了leafter以后yǐ hòuto / for / give给gěiI / me我wǒto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà。

you你nǐarrive到dào了leafter以后yǐ hòuto给gěime我wǒmake打dǎa call电话diàn huà。

Recap

• X + after以后yǐ hòu = after X; after以后yǐ hòu，… alone = in the future, from now on.
• For "and then" in a past story, use then / after然后rán hòu or afterwards后来hòu lái.

Practise this pattern step by step.

… ，afterwards后来hòu lái … (afterwards / later – past)

How the story ended

• You are telling a friend about a classmate who moved to Shenzhen two years ago.
• he / him他tāto go去qù(completed / change)了leShenzhen subprovincial city…深圳shēn zhèn，afterwards后来hòu láiat / in在zàithere那儿nà érto open (transitive or…开kāi(completed / change)了lethe whole family一家yī jiācompany公司gōng sī。 – "He went to Shenzhen, and later he started a company there."

…，afterwards后来hòu lái … (afterwards, later on)

• afterwards后来hòu lái = "afterwards, later on", for what happened next in a past story.
• It starts the second clause, after a comma: we / us我们wǒ men先是xiān shìto study at the same school同学tóng xué，afterwards后来hòu láito succeed成chéng(completed / change)了legood好hǎofriend朋友péng yǒu.

we我们wǒ menfirst先xiānwere是shìclassmates同学tóng xué，later后来hòu láibecame成chéng了legood friends好朋友hǎo péng you。

Asking what happened next

• afterwards后来hòu lái(and …? / softener)呢ne？ – "And then what happened?" A natural way to keep a story going.
• afterwards后来hòu láihow about怎么样zěn me yàng(completed / change)了le？ – "How did it turn out in the end?"

later后来hòu láihow怎么样zěn me yàng了le？

Past stories only

• afterwards后来hòu lái is only for the past. For "later" in a plan, use after以后yǐ hòu or then / after然后rán hòu: we / us我们wǒ menafter以后yǐ hòuto say again再说zài shuō.
• It stands alone as a time word; it is not added after an event: graduation毕业bì yèafter以后yǐ hòu, not graduation毕业bì yèafterwards后来hòu lái.

afterwards后来hòu lái versus then / after然后rán hòu

• then / after然后rán hòu links steps closely, one after another, in the past or future: early先xiānto wash one's hands洗手xǐ shǒu，then / after然后rán hòuto have a meal吃饭chī fàn。
• afterwards后来hòu lái jumps forward in a story, often with a gap of time: he / him他tāin one's childhood小时候xiǎo shí hòu很瘦hěn shòu，afterwards后来hòu lái长胖zhǎng pàng(completed / change)了le。

he他tāas a child小时候xiǎo shí houvery很hěnthin瘦shòu，later后来hòu láigrow长zhǎngfat胖pàng了le。

Recap

• …，afterwards后来hòu lái … = afterwards, later on, in a past story; afterwards后来hòu lái(and …? / softener)呢ne？ = And then?
• Not for plans (use after以后yǐ hòu / then / after然后rán hòu), not after an event (graduation毕业bì yèafter以后yǐ hòu).

Practise this pattern step by step.

Approximating with sequential numbers

About how many?

• Your teacher asks how many people came to the club meeting. You did not count exactly.
• to come来lái(completed / change)了le七八个qī bā gèperson人rén。 – "Seven or eight people came."

Two neighbouring numbers

• Two numbers side by side = "about, roughly": 三四个sān sì gè, 五六天wǔ liù tiān, 七八个qī bā gèperson人rén. The measure word follows both.
• Use numbers that are next to each other, smaller first.

I我wǒgo去qù了lethree or four三四sān sìtimes次cì。

how many / a few几jǐ and many多duō for "-something" and "over"

• more than ten十几shí jǐ / 几十jǐ shí: 十几个shí jǐ gè = "a dozen or so (11–19)", 几十个jǐ shí gè = "dozens".
• Number + many多duō: 二十多个èr shí duō gèperson人rén = "twenty-odd people", 一百多块yì bǎi duō kuài = "a hundred and something yuan".

this这zhè(measure word)件jiànclothes衣服yī fua hundred一百yì bǎiand more多duōyuan块kuài。

Where the measure word goes

• The measure word comes after both numbers: 三四个sān sì gèperson人rén, not 三个sān gè四个sì gèperson人rén.
• With many多duō and round tens, many多duō goes before the measure word: 二十多个èr shí duō gè, not 二十个èr shí gèmany多duō (for amounts under ten, many多duō follows the measure word: 三个sān gèmany多duōhour小时xiǎo shí).

left and right左右zuǒ yòu and about the same差不多chà bu duō

• left and right左右zuǒ yòu after a number = "around": 三十岁sān shí suìleft and right左右zuǒ yòu – "around thirty years old".
• about the same差不多chà bu duō before a number = "about, nearly": about the same差不多chà bu duō五十个wǔ shí gèperson人rén.

he他tāthirty三十sān shíyears old岁suìaround左右zuǒ yòu。

Recap

• Neighbouring numbers (三四个sān sì gè, 七八天qī bā tiān) = about; more than ten十几shí jǐ = 11–19; 几十jǐ shí = dozens; over 20二十多èr shí duō = twenty-odd.
• The measure word follows; left and right左右zuǒ yòu after or about the same差不多chà bu duō before a number also mean "about".

Practise this pattern step by step.

Big numbers: ten thousand万wàn / 100 million亿yì

How many people live there?

• You read that the city of Chongqing has about thirty million people and wonder how to say it.
• Chongqing city (Chungking)…重庆chóng qìngto have / there is有yǒu三千多万sān qiān duō wànperson人rén。 – "Chongqing has over thirty million people."

Count in ten thousand万wàn (ten thousand)

• ten thousand万wàn = 10,000. Chinese groups big numbers in fours: 一万yī wàn (10,000), hundred thousand十万shí wàn (100,000), 一百万yì bǎi wàn (1,000,000), 一千万yī qiān wàn (10,000,000).
• 两万五千liǎng wàn wǔ qiān = 25,000; 三十万sān shí wàn = 300,000.

this这zhè(measure word)辆liàngcar车chē150,000十五万shí wǔ wànyuan块kuài。

100 million亿yì (a hundred million)

• 100 million亿yì = 100,000,000: China中国zhōng guóto have / there is有yǒufourteen十四shí sì亿人yì rén – "China has 1.4 billion people."
• one billion十亿shí yì = one billion; 一百亿yì bǎi yì = ten billion.

China中国Zhōng guóhas有yǒu1.4 billion十四亿shí sì yìpeople人rén。

Don't count in thousands

• 100,000 is hundred thousand十万shí wàn, not one / a一yī百千bǎi qiān: Chinese has no "hundred thousand" unit, so regroup by fours.
• A million is 一百万yì bǎi wàn, not 一万万yī wàn wàn; 一万万yī wàn wàn is an old word for 一亿yī yì.

Converting quickly

• Move four places for ten thousand万wàn: 2,000,000 → 200|0000 → 两百万liǎng bǎi wàn.
• Move eight places for 100 million亿yì: 300,000,000 → 3|0000|0000 → 三亿sān yì.

two million两百万liǎng bǎi wànpeople人rén。

Recap

• ten thousand万wàn = 10,000 and 100 million亿yì = 100,000,000; group large numbers in fours.
• hundred thousand十万shí wàn = 100,000, 一百万yì bǎi wàn = a million, one billion十亿shí yì = a billion.

Practise this pattern step by step.

Times to the minute (point点diǎn … part分fēn)

When does the train leave?

• You are buying a train ticket and the clerk tells you the departure time.
• train火车huǒ chē八点bā diǎn二十五èr shí wǔto separate分开fēn kāi。 – "The train leaves at 8:25."

Number + point点diǎn + Number + part分fēn

• Xpoint点diǎnYpart分fēn = X:Y. 八点bā diǎn二十五分èr shí wǔ fēn = 8:25. In speech part分fēn is often dropped after ten minutes: 八点bā diǎn二十五èr shí wǔ.
• For 1–9 minutes, add zero零líng (líng): 八点bā diǎn零五分líng wǔ fēn = 8:05.

now现在xiàn zàiis是shìthree o'clock三点sān diǎnzero零língfive minutes五分wǔ fēn。

half半bàn, quarter (hour)刻kè and used in 参差差chà

• half半bàn = half past: 七点qī diǎnhalf半bàn = 7:30. quarter (hour)刻kè = quarter: 九点jiǔ diǎn一刻yī kè = 9:15, 九点jiǔ diǎn三刻sān kè = 9:45.
• used in 参差差chà = "to": used in 参差差chà五分wǔ fēn十点shí diǎn = five to ten (9:55).

we我们wǒ menhalf past seven七点半qī diǎn bànmeet见面jiàn miàn吧ba。

The time comes before the verb

• Put the clock time before the verb: I / me我wǒ七点qī diǎnto get out of bed起床qǐ chuáng, not I / me我wǒto get out of bed起床qǐ chuáng七点qī diǎn.
• Say 两点liǎng diǎn for 2:00, not 二点èr diǎn.

Morning, afternoon, evening

• Add the part of the day first: early morning早上zǎo shàng六点liù diǎn, afternoon下午xià wǔ三点sān diǎn, evening晚上wǎn shàng十点shí diǎn.
• afternoon下午xià wǔ两点liǎng diǎn一刻yī kè – "2:15 p.m." The larger unit always comes first.

afternoon下午xià wǔtwo o'clock两点liǎng diǎna quarter一刻yí kè。

Recap

• Xpoint点diǎnYpart分fēn; zero零líng for 1–9 minutes; half半bàn = :30, 一刻yī kè = :15, 三刻sān kè = :45; used in 参差差chà = to.
• Part of the day first (afternoon下午xià wǔ两点liǎng diǎn), time before the verb, 两点liǎng diǎn not 二点èr diǎn.

Practise this pattern step by step.

Telling the hour (Number + point点diǎn)

An early start

• Your new school timetable starts much earlier than you are used to.
• we / us我们wǒ menearly morning早上zǎo shàng七点qī diǎnto go to class上课shàng kè。 – "We start class at seven in the morning."

Number + point点diǎn (o'clock)

• Number + point点diǎn = o'clock: a bit一点yì diǎn, 三点sān diǎn, 十二点shí èr diǎn. Ask with what time?几点jǐ diǎn: now现在xiàn zàiwhat time?几点jǐ diǎn？ – "What time is it?"
• 2 o'clock is 两点liǎng diǎn, never 二点èr diǎn.

now现在xiàn zàiwhat time几点jǐ diǎn？

Saying when something happens

• you你nǐwhat time?几点jǐ diǎnto finish work下班xià bān？ – "What time do you finish work?" I / me我wǒ六点liù diǎnto finish work下班xià bān。 – "I finish at six."
• Part of the day goes first: evening晚上wǎn shàng九点jiǔ diǎn, noon中午zhōng wǔ十二点shí èr diǎn.

I我wǒin the evening晚上wǎn shangnine o'clock九点jiǔ diǎngo to bed睡觉shuì jiào。

Order matters

• The time goes before the verb: I / me我wǒ六点liù diǎnto finish work下班xià bān, not I / me我wǒto finish work下班xià bān六点liù diǎn.
• Use 两点liǎng diǎn for 2 o'clock, not 二点èr diǎn.

point点diǎn versus hour小时xiǎo shí

• point点diǎn is a point on the clock: 三点sān diǎn = 3 o'clock.
• hour小时xiǎo shí is a length of time: 三个sān gèhour小时xiǎo shí = three hours. I / me我wǒ三点sān diǎnto start开始kāi shǐ，学了xué le三个sān gèhour小时xiǎo shí。

I我wǒstudy学xué了lethree三个sān gèhours小时xiǎo shí。

Recap

• Number + point点diǎn = o'clock; what time?几点jǐ diǎn asks the time; 2:00 = 两点liǎng diǎn.
• Part of the day first, time before the verb; hour小时xiǎo shí measures a length of time.

Practise this pattern step by step.

Verb + (ongoing -ing)着zhe (ongoing state)

The door is open

• You come home and notice the door open and the lights on.
• 门开mén kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe，lamp灯dēngalso也yěbright亮liàng(ongoing -ing)着zhe。 – "The door is open, and the lights are on too." (ongoing -ing)着zhe describes a state that continues.

Verb + (ongoing -ing)着zhe = an ongoing state

• Verb + (ongoing -ing)着zhe describes a state that lasts: 开着kāi zhe (is open), attire穿着chuān zhe (is wearing), to sit坐zuò(ongoing -ing)着zhe (is sitting).
• Negate with not / haven't没méi: gate门ménnot / haven't没méito open (transitive or…开kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe – "The door isn't open."

she她tāwear穿chuān(ongoing)着zhea一yí(measure word)件jiànred红hóngtop衣服yī fu。

Doing one thing while in a state

• Verb1 + (ongoing -ing)着zhe + Verb2: the first state goes on while the second action happens: he / him他tāto laugh笑xiào(ongoing -ing)着zhevariant of 说说shuō："it doesn't matter没关系méi guān xì。" – "He said with a smile, 'It doesn't matter.'"
• we / us我们wǒ mento sit坐zuò(ongoing -ing)着zheto chat聊天liáo tiān。 – "We sat and chatted."

he他tāsmile笑xiào(while)着zhesay说shuō：it doesn't matter没关系méi guān xi。

State, not progress

• (ongoing -ing)着zhe describes a state; for an action in progress, use at / in在zài: he / him他tāat / in在zàito open a door (lit. and…开门kāi mén (he is opening the door) vs 门开mén kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe (the door is open).
• Negate with not / haven't没méi, not not不bù: lamp灯dēngnot / haven't没méibright亮liàng(ongoing -ing)着zhe.

(ongoing -ing)着zhe versus at / in在zài

• at / in在zài + Verb = in the middle of doing: he / him他tāat / in在zài穿衣服chuān yī fú – "He's getting dressed."
• Verb + (ongoing -ing)着zhe = the resulting state: he / him他tāattire穿着chuān zhe一件yī jiàn白衬衫bái chèn shān – "He's wearing a white shirt."

he他tā(in progress)在zàiput on穿chuānclothes衣服yī fu。

Recap

• Verb + (ongoing -ing)着zhe = an ongoing state (门开mén kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe); V1(ongoing -ing)着zhe + V2 = do V2 while in state V1.
• at / in在zài + Verb = action in progress. Negate (ongoing -ing)着zhe with not / haven't没méi.

Practise this pattern step by step.

Sentence-final (completed / change)了le (change of state)

It's started raining

• You were about to go out, but you look out of the window and see rain.
• to rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le！ – "It's raining (now)!" The final (completed / change)了le says the situation has changed.

Sentence + (completed / change)了le = something has changed

• (completed / change)了le at the end of a sentence announces a new situation: it's cold (weather)天冷tiān lěng(completed / change)了le (it has turned cold), I / me我wǒto be hungry饿è(completed / change)了le (I'm hungry now).
• It is not a past tense; it marks a change from before.

the weather天tiāncold冷lěng了le。

New facts, new plans, new ages

• I / me我wǒ二十岁èr shí suì(completed / change)了le。 – "I'm twenty now." he / him他tānot不bùto come来lái(completed / change)了le。 – "He's not coming any more."
• With rapid快kuài or want / will / need要yào: 快到kuài dào(completed / change)了le。 – "We're almost there."

he他tānot不bùcome来lái了le。

Not just "past"

• A past habit with no change takes no (completed / change)了le: I / me我wǒbefore以前yǐ qiánoften常常cháng chángto go去qù, not I / me我wǒbefore以前yǐ qiánoften常常cháng chángto go去qù(completed / change)了le.
• not不bù…(completed / change)了le = no longer: I / me我wǒnot不bù喝咖啡hē kā fēi(completed / change)了le means "I've stopped drinking coffee", not "I didn't drink coffee".

Final (completed / change)了le versus verb (completed / change)了le

• Verb + (completed / change)了le marks a completed action: I / me我wǒvariant of 吃吃chī(completed / change)了le一个yí gèapple苹果píng guǒ – "I ate an apple."
• Final (completed / change)了le marks a change: I / me我wǒnot不bùto be hungry饿è(completed / change)了le – "I'm not hungry any more." Some sentences have both.

I我wǒeat吃chī了lean一个yí gèapple苹果píng guǒ。

Recap

• Sentence-final (completed / change)了le = a new situation, a change: to rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le, I / me我wǒto be hungry饿è(completed / change)了le, he / him他tānot不bùto come来lái(completed / change)了le.
• not不bù…(completed / change)了le = no longer; rapid快kuài…(completed / change)了le = soon. It is not a simple past tense.

Practise this pattern step by step.

Questions with (and …? / softener)呢ne (and you? / where?)

Meeting a new classmate

• A new classmate tells you she comes from Chengdu, then waits for you to say where you are from.
• I / me我wǒto be / is是shìChengdu subprovincial city…成都chéng dūperson人rén，you你nǐ(and …? / softener)呢ne？ – "I'm from Chengdu. And you?"

Noun + (and …? / softener)呢ne？ = "What about …?"

• X + (and …? / softener)呢ne？ asks the same question again about X: I / me我wǒdegree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo，you你nǐ(and …? / softener)呢ne？ – "I'm fine, and you?"
• The question is understood from what was just said, so it can be very short.

I我wǒvery很hěnwell好hǎo，you你nǐ(and …?)呢ne？

Where is it? (and …? / softener)呢ne on its own

• With no context, Noun + (and …? / softener)呢ne？ asks where something is: I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的dekey钥匙yào shi(and …? / softener)呢ne？ – "Where are my keys?"
• (and …? / softener)呢ne also softens a question-word question: you你nǐat / in在zàiwhat are you doing?干什么gàn shén me(and …? / softener)呢ne？ – "What are you up to?"

my我wǒ的dekeys钥匙yào shi(where?)呢ne？

(and …? / softener)呢ne and (yes/no ?)吗ma are different

• Do not put (and …? / softener)呢ne on a yes-no question: you你nǐto be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī(yes/no ?)吗ma？, not you你nǐto be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī(and …? / softener)呢ne？
• Do not add (yes/no ?)吗ma to a question-word question: you你nǐto go去qùwhere哪儿nǎr？ or you你nǐto go去qùwhere哪儿nǎr(and …? / softener)呢ne？, not you你nǐto go去qùwhere哪儿nǎr(yes/no ?)吗ma？

(and …? / softener)呢ne for an ongoing action

• At the end of a statement, (and …? / softener)呢ne can mark something still going on: he / him他tāat / in在zàito go to bed睡觉shuì jiào(and …? / softener)呢ne。 – "He's sleeping (right now)."
• It often goes with at / in在zài or (ongoing -ing)着zhe: outside (also pr. for this…外面wài miàn下着雨xià zhe yǔ(and …? / softener)呢ne – "It's raining out."

he他tā(in progress)在zàisleep睡觉shuì jiào呢ne。

Recap

• X + (and …? / softener)呢ne？ = and X? / what about X?; with no context, where is X?
• Not on yes-no questions (use (yes/no ?)吗ma). After at / in在zài + verb, (and …? / softener)呢ne marks an ongoing action.

Practise this pattern step by step.

(modifier / structural particle)的de / (degree marker)得de / (adverb -ly)地de (the three “de”)

Three characters, one sound

• A friend texts you about a classmate who runs fast, but writes the wrong "de" and the sentence looks odd.
• he / him他tāto run跑pǎo(degree marker)得de很快hěn kuài。 – "He runs fast." (modifier / structural particle)的de, (degree marker)得de and (adverb -ly)地de are all read de, but each has its own job.

(modifier / structural particle)的de before a noun

• (modifier / structural particle)的de links a description or owner to a noun: I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的debook书shū, pretty漂亮piào liàng(modifier / structural particle)的declothes衣服yī fú, yesterday昨天zuó tiānto buy买mǎi(modifier / structural particle)的dething东西dōng xī.
• Test: is the next word a noun (or is the noun left out)? Then it is (modifier / structural particle)的de.

this这zhèis是shìmy我wǒyesterday昨天zuó tiānbought买mǎi(that)的debook书shū。

(adverb -ly)地de before a verb, (degree marker)得de after a verb

• (adverb -ly)地de links a manner to the verb that follows: conscientious认真rèn zhēn(adverb -ly)地deto learn学习xué xí, slowly慢慢màn màn(adverb -ly)地deto walk走zǒu.
• (degree marker)得de follows a verb and introduces how well or how much: to run跑pǎo(degree marker)得de很快hěn kuài, variant of 说说shuō(degree marker)得dedegree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo, rope累lèi(degree marker)得deunexpectedly不想bù xiǎng(of sth) to move动dòng.

she她tāspeaks说shuō得devery很hěnfluently流利liú lì。

The quick test

• Look at what follows: a noun → (modifier / structural particle)的de; a verb → (adverb -ly)地de; and after a verb, a description of the result → (degree marker)得de.
• Typing tip: in to run跑pǎo(degree marker)得de很快hěn kuài the verb to run跑pǎo is before the particle, so it must be (degree marker)得de, not (modifier / structural particle)的de.

One sentence, two particles

• he / him他tāhappy高兴gāo xìng地说dì shuō，he / him他tā考得kǎo dédegree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo。 – "He said happily that he had done well in the exam."
• I / me我wǒto like喜欢xǐ huanvariant of 吃吃chīmama妈妈mā māto make做zuò(modifier / structural particle)的devegetable菜cài。 – "I love the food my mum makes." Here the (modifier / structural particle)的de phrase describes vegetable菜cài.

he他tāhappily高兴gāo xìng地desaid说shuō，he他tātest考kǎo得devery很hěnwell好hǎo。

Recap

• (modifier / structural particle)的de + noun (I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的debook书shū), (adverb -ly)地de + verb (conscientious认真rèn zhēn地学dì xué), verb + (degree marker)得de + result (to run跑pǎo(degree marker)得de很快hěn kuài).
• All are read de; choose by what comes before and after.

Practise this pattern step by step.

to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的de (some / some…, others…)

Not everyone agrees

• Your class votes on a trip. Some want the beach, others want the mountains.
• to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的deto study at the same school同学tóng xuéwant / think / miss想xiǎngto go去qùcoast海边hǎi biān，to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的dewant / think / miss想xiǎngto go去qùto climb a mountain爬山pá shān。 – "Some classmates want to go to the beach; others want to go hiking."

to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的de + Noun

• to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的de + noun = "some (of them)": to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的deperson人rén, to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的debook书shū, to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu. It stands before the subject noun.
• Repeat it to contrast groups: to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的de…，to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的de….

some有的yǒu depeople人rénlike喜欢xǐ huandrinking喝hētea茶chá。

to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的de…，to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的de… and to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu

• these这些zhè xiē书有shū yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的dedegree / adjective linker很hěninteresting有意思yǒu yì si，to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的dedegree / adjective linker很hěnbored无聊wú liáo。 – "Some of these books are interesting; some are boring."
• to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu (often sometimes有时候yǒu shí hòu) = sometimes: I / me我wǒsometimes有时候yǒu shí hòuto walk走路zǒu lùto go to work上班shàng bān。

I我wǒsometimes有时候yǒu shí houwalk走路zǒu lùto work上班shàng bān。

to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的de goes before the subject

• Put to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的de in subject position: to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的deperson人rénnot不bùto like喜欢xǐ huan, not I / me我wǒnot不bùto like喜欢xǐ huanto have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的deperson人rén for "some people don't like it".
• With an object you know, put the topic first: these这些zhè xiēvegetable菜cài，to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的deI / me我wǒ没吃过méi chī guò – "Some of these dishes I haven't tried."

to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的de versus some一些yī xiē

• some一些yī xiē = "some, a few" and can go in object position: I / me我wǒto buy买mǎi(completed / change)了lesome一些yī xiēfruit水果shuǐ guǒ.
• to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的de picks out part of a group, usually as the subject, often in contrast: to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的deexpensive贵guì，to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的decheap便宜pián yi.

I我wǒbought买mǎi了lesome一些yì xiēfruit水果shuǐ guǒ。

Recap

• to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的de + noun = some (of a group), in subject position; to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的de…，to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的de… = some…, others….
• sometimes有时候yǒu shí hòu = sometimes. For "some" as an object, use some一些yī xiē.

Practise this pattern step by step.

half半bàn (half / and a half)

Half a cake left

• After the party, your mum looks at the table and counts what is left.
• furthermore还有hái yǒuhalf of sth半个bàn gècake蛋糕dàn gāoand / with和héone and a half一个半yí gè bànwatermelon西瓜xī guā。 – "There's half a cake and one and a half watermelons left."

half半bàn + measure word (half a …)

• half半bàn + measure word + noun = half a …: half of sth半个bàn gèapple苹果píng guǒ, 半杯bàn bēiwater水shuǐ, half a year半年bàn nián.
• half半bàn comes before the measure word, with no one / a一yī in front.

I我wǒdrank喝hē了lehalf半bàna glass杯bēiof milk牛奶niú nǎi。

Number + measure word + half半bàn (… and a half)

• Number + measure word + half半bàn = … and a half: one and a half一个半yí gè bànhour小时xiǎo shí (an hour and a half), 两年liǎng niánhalf半bàn (two and a half years).
• With time: 三点sān diǎnhalf半bàn = half past three.

I我wǒwaited等děng了leone一个yí gèand a half半bànhours小时xiǎo shí。

Where half半bàn goes

• Half a … : half半bàn before the measure word (half of sth半个bàn gèhour小时xiǎo shí). … and a half: half半bàn after it (one and a half一个半yí gè bànhour小时xiǎo shí).
• Do not say half一半yí bàn(measure word)个gè or 一个yí gèhour小时xiǎo shíhalf半bàn: say half of sth半个bàn gè and one and a half一个半yí gè bànhour小时xiǎo shí.

half一半yí bàn = half of something

• half一半yí bàn is a noun: half (of a whole): half一半yí bàn(modifier / structural particle)的destudent学生xué shēngto be / is是shìschoolgirl女生nǚ shēng。 – "Half of the students are girls."
• I / me我wǒonly只zhǐvariant of 吃吃chī(completed / change)了lehalf一半yí bàn – "I only ate half (of it)."

half一半yí bàn的destudents学生xué shengare是shìgirls女生nǚ shēng。

Recap

• half半bàn + MW = half a …; Number + MW + half半bàn = … and a half; X点半diǎn bàn = half past X.
• half一半yí bàn = half of something, a noun.

Practise this pattern step by step.

after以后yǐ hòu vs then / after然后rán hòu vs afterwards后来hòu lái (then / after)

Telling your day in order

• You describe last Saturday: shopping, then lunch, and much later a surprise phone call.
• I / me我wǒearly先xiānto go去qùto buy买mǎithing东西dōng xī，then / after然后rán hòuvariant of 吃吃chī(completed / change)了lelunch午饭wǔ fàn。afterwards后来hòu lái，I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的deold friend老朋友lǎo péng yǒuto / for / give给gěiI / me我wǒto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà(completed / change)了le。 – "First I went shopping, then I had lunch. Later on, an old friend phoned me."

Three words for "after"

• after以后yǐ hòu follows an event (to have a meal吃饭chī fànafter以后yǐ hòu) or, alone, means "in the future" (after以后yǐ hòuto say again再说zài shuō).
• then / after然后rán hòu links the next step, in the past or future (early先xiānto wash one's hands洗手xǐ shǒu，then / after然后rán hòuto have a meal吃饭chī fàn). afterwards后来hòu lái jumps forward in a past story only.

first先xiānwash hands洗手xǐ shǒu，then然后rán hòueat吃饭chī fàn。

Choosing by the situation

• Plan: we / us我们wǒ menearly先xiānto have a meal吃饭chī fàn，then / after然后rán hòuto go去qùto see看kànmovie电影diàn yǐng。 – "Let's eat first, then see a film." (after以后yǐ hòu / then / after然后rán hòu, not afterwards后来hòu lái)
• Story: we / us我们wǒ mento be / is是shìuniversity大学dà xuéto study at the same school同学tóng xué，afterwards后来hòu láito marry结婚jié hūn(completed / change)了le。 – "We were classmates at university, and later we got married."

we我们wǒ menwere是shìuniversity大学dà xuéclassmates同学tóng xué，later后来hòu láimarry结婚jié hūn了le。

Two common slips

• afterwards后来hòu lái is never for the future: we / us我们wǒ menafter以后yǐ hòuto appear见jiàn, not we / us我们wǒ menafterwards后来hòu láito appear见jiàn.
• afterwards后来hòu lái is never added after an event: to finish class下课xià kèafter以后yǐ hòu, not to finish class下课xià kèafterwards后来hòu lái.

after以后yǐ hòu after a clause

• I / me我wǒto / arrive到dào(completed / change)了leafter以后yǐ hòuto / for / give给gěiyou你nǐto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà。 – "I'll call you after I arrive."
• then / after然后rán hòu cannot do this job: it starts the next clause instead: I / me我wǒto / arrive到dào(completed / change)了le，then / after然后rán hòuto / for / give给gěiyou你nǐto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà。

I我wǒarrive到dào了leafter以后yǐ hòuto给gěiyou你nǐmake打dǎa call电话diàn huà。

Recap

• after以后yǐ hòu = after X / in the future; then / after然后rán hòu = and then (next step, any time); afterwards后来hòu lái = later on (past stories only).
• Plans use then / after然后rán hòu or after以后yǐ hòu, never afterwards后来hòu lái.

Practise this pattern step by step.

Practice without the models

Choose a pattern, cover its teaching examples, and attempt its questions. Use the labels to find feedback in the separate key.

Time / Verb + before以前yǐ qián (before …)

0501.1 Complete: “Please come back before ten.” to ask请qǐng十点shí diǎn…………to return回来huí lái。

0501.2 Which says “Turn off the light before you leave.”?

• A. to walk走zǒubefore以前yǐ qián关灯guān dēng。
• B. to walk走zǒu关灯guān dēngbefore以前yǐ qián。
• C. before以前yǐ qiánto walk走zǒu关灯guān dēng。
• D. 关灯guān dēngto walk走zǒubefore以前yǐ qián。

0501.3 Build: “The homework must be handed in before Friday.”

Arrange all chunks: before以前yǐ qián / Friday星期五xīng qī wǔ / school assignment作业zuò yè。 / 要交yào jiāo

0501.4 三天sān tiānfront前qián and 三天sān tiānbefore以前yǐ qián both mean “three days ago”.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0501.5 Your doctor gives you advice about a good night's sleep. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

before以前yǐ qián，… (in the past, …)

0502.1 Complete: “I used to be very shy.” I / me我wǒ…………degree / adjective linker很hěnshy害羞hài xiū。

0502.2 Match each sentence to its meaning.

• 1. before以前yǐ qiánI / me我wǒnot不bù喝咖啡hē kā fēi。
• 2. 喝咖啡hē kā fēibefore以前yǐ qián，I / me我wǒearly先xiānvariant of 吃吃chībreakfast早饭zǎo fàn。

• A. Before drinking coffee I eat breakfast.

• B. I didn't use to drink coffee.

0502.3 Build: “He didn't use to like spicy food.”

Arrange all chunks: not不bùto like喜欢xǐ huan / variant of 吃吃chīhot (spicy)辣là(modifier / structural particle)的de。 / he / him他tā / before以前yǐ qián

0502.4 original原来yuán lái stresses that the situation later changed.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0502.5 Your grandmother looks at old photos of her village with dirt roads and no cars. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cái (a moment ago)

0503.1 Complete: “It was raining just now; now it has stopped.” …………at / in在zàito rain下雨xià yǔ，now现在xiàn zàito stop停tíng(completed / change)了le。

0503.2 Which sentence is correct?

• A. just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cáihe / him他tādegree / adjective linker很hěnbusy忙máng。
• B. he / him他tādegree / adjective linker很hěn刚忙gāng máng。
• C. he / him他tābusy忙mángjust now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cáidegree / adjective linker很hěn。
• D. just now刚gānghe / him他tādegree / adjective linker很hěnbusy忙máng。

0503.3 Build: “Where did you go just now?”

Arrange all chunks: to go去qùwhere哪儿nǎr / (completed / change)了le？ / just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cái / you你nǐ

0503.4 just now (variant of 刚才)刚才gāng cái is a good choice for “I moved house recently.”

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0503.5 You come back from the shower and see your roommate pointing at your phone. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

Time / Verb + o'clock时shí (when …)

0504.1 Complete: “When I got home, he was already asleep.” I / me我wǒto / arrive到dàohome家jiā…………，he / him他tāalready已经yǐ jīngto sleep睡shuì(completed / change)了le。

0504.2 Which says “Call me when you have time.”?

• A. you你nǐwhat什么shén metime时候shí hòuto have time (to do sth)有空yǒu kòngto / for / give给gěiI / me我wǒto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà。
• B. you你nǐto have time (to do sth)有空yǒu kòng(modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòuto / for / give给gěiI / me我wǒto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà。
• C. you你nǐto / for / give给gěiI / me我wǒto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huàto have time (to do sth)有空yǒu kòng(modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu。
• D. time时候shí hòuyou你nǐto have time (to do sth)有空yǒu kòngto / for / give给gěiI / me我wǒto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà。

0504.3 Build: “In class, please turn off your phone.”

Arrange all chunks: 请关qǐng guān / cell phone手机shǒu jī。 / ， / 上课时shàng kè shí

0504.4 o'clock时shí is more common than (modifier / structural particle)的detime时候shí hòu in everyday conversation.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0504.5 You are telling a friend a story from your childhood about learning to swim. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

after以后yǐ hòu (after / in the future)

0505.1 Complete: “Call me after you arrive.” you你nǐto / arrive到dào(completed / change)了le…………to / for / give给gěiI / me我wǒto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà。

0505.2 What does after以后yǐ hòu我会wǒ huì早点儿zǎo diǎn érto sleep睡shuì mean?

• A. I used to go to bed early.
• B. I went to bed early afterwards.
• C. From now on I'll go to bed earlier.
• D. I went to bed after eating.

0505.3 Build: “After I graduate from university, I want to work abroad.”

Arrange all chunks: 大学毕业dà xué bì yè / to go去qùabroad国外guó wàito work工作gōng zuò。 / ，I / me我wǒwant / think / miss想xiǎng / after以后yǐ hòu

0505.4 after以后yǐ hòuto have a meal吃饭chī fàn means “after eating”.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0505.5 A friend in her final year asks what you plan to do once you finish university. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

… ，afterwards后来hòu lái … (afterwards / later – past)

0506.1 Complete the story: “At first I didn't like him, but later we became friends.” to start开始kāi shǐI / me我wǒnot不bùto like喜欢xǐ huanhe / him他tā，…………we / us我们wǒ mento succeed成chéng(completed / change)了lefriend朋友péng yǒu。

0506.2 Which fits a plan? “Let's eat first, then go shopping.”

• A. we / us我们wǒ menafterwards后来hòu láito have a meal吃饭chī fàn，early先xiānto go去qùto buy买mǎithing东西dōng xī。
• B. we / us我们wǒ menearly先xiānto have a meal吃饭chī fàn，then / after然后rán hòuto go去qùto buy买mǎithing东西dōng xī。
• C. we / us我们wǒ menearly先xiānto have a meal吃饭chī fàn，afterwards后来hòu láito go去qùto buy买mǎithing东西dōng xī。
• D. we / us我们wǒ mento have a meal吃饭chī fànafterwards后来hòu lái，to go去qùto buy买mǎithing东西dōng xī。

0506.3 Ask to continue a story: “And how did it turn out?”

Arrange all chunks: how about怎么样zěn me yàng / afterwards后来hòu lái / (completed / change)了le？

0506.4 he / him他tāin one's childhood小时候xiǎo shí hòu很瘦hěn shòu，afterwards后来hòu lái长胖zhǎng pàng(completed / change)了le describes a change with a gap of time.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0506.5 You are telling a friend about a classmate who moved to Shenzhen two years ago. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

Approximating with sequential numbers

0507.1 Complete: “There are a dozen or so students in the class.” 班里bān lǐto have / there is有yǒu…………(measure word)个gèstudent学生xué shēng。

0507.2 Which says “five or six days”?

• A. 五个wǔ gè六天liù tiān
• B. six六liù五天wǔ tiān
• C. 五天wǔ tiān六天liù tiān
• D. 五六天wǔ liù tiān

0507.3 Match each phrase to its meaning.

• 1. 二十多个èr shí duō gè
• 2. 几十个jǐ shí gè
• 3. 三十岁sān shí suìleft and right左右zuǒ yòu
• 4. 七八个qī bā gè

• A. seven or eight

• B. twenty-odd

• C. around thirty years old

• D. dozens

0507.4 Build: “Seven or eight people came.”

Arrange all chunks: person人rén。 / to come来lái(completed / change)了le / (measure word)个gè / 七八qī bā

0507.5 Your teacher asks how many people came to the club meeting. You did not count exactly. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

Big numbers: ten thousand万wàn / 100 million亿yì

0508.1 Write 50,000 in Chinese: …………

0508.2 How do you say 100,000?

• A. 一万yī wàn
• B. 一百万yì bǎi wàn
• C. hundred thousand十万shí wàn
• D. one / a一yī百千bǎi qiān

0508.3 Match the numbers.

• 1. 一万yī wàn
• 2. 一百万yì bǎi wàn
• 3. 一亿yī yì
• 4. one billion十亿shí yì

• A. 1,000,000,000

• B. 1,000,000

• C. 10,000

• D. 100,000,000

0508.4 一千万yī qiān wàn means ten million.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0508.5 You read that the city of Chongqing has about thirty million people and wonder how to say it. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

Times to the minute (point点diǎn … part分fēn)

0509.1 Write 10:30 with half半bàn: 十点shí diǎn…………

0509.2 What time is used in 参差差chàvery十分shí fēn九点jiǔ diǎn?

• A. 10:09
• B. 8:50
• C. 9:10
• D. 9:50

0509.3 Build: “I get up at a quarter past six.”

Arrange all chunks: early morning早上zǎo shàng / 六点liù diǎn一刻yī kè / I / me我wǒ / to get out of bed起床qǐ chuáng。

0509.4 8:05 is said 八点bā diǎn五分wǔ fēn with no zero零líng.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0509.5 You are buying a train ticket and the clerk tells you the departure time. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

Telling the hour (Number + point点diǎn)

0510.1 Ask: “What time is it now?” now现在xiàn zài…………point点diǎn？

0510.2 How do you say “2 o'clock in the afternoon”?

• A. afternoon下午xià wǔ两点liǎng diǎn
• B. afternoon下午xià wǔ二点èr diǎn
• C. afternoon下午xià wǔ两个liǎng gèhour小时xiǎo shí
• D. 两点liǎng diǎnafternoon下午xià wǔ

0510.3 Build: “I go to bed at nine in the evening.”

Arrange all chunks: 九点jiǔ diǎn / evening晚上wǎn shàng / I / me我wǒ / to go to bed睡觉shuì jiào。

0510.4 三点sān diǎn and 三个sān gèhour小时xiǎo shí mean the same.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0510.5 Your new school timetable starts much earlier than you are used to. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

Verb + (ongoing -ing)着zhe (ongoing state)

0511.1 Complete: “The window is open.” window窗户chuāng hùto open (transitive or…开kāi…………。

0511.2 Which says “He is opening the door” (the action in progress)?

• A. he / him他tāat / in在zàito open a door (lit. and…开门kāi mén。
• B. 他开tā kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhegate门mén(completed / change)了le。
• C. gate门ménat / in在zài开着kāi zhe。
• D. 门开mén kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe。

0511.3 Build: “He said with a smile...”

Arrange all chunks: to laugh笑xiào(ongoing -ing)着zhe / variant of 说说shuō。 / he / him他tā

0511.4 The negative of 门开mén kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe is 门不开mén bù kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0511.5 You come home and notice the door open and the lights on. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

Sentence-final (completed / change)了le (change of state)

0512.1 The light turns green: “It's green now, let's go.” green light (traffic signal)绿灯lǜ dēng…………，to walk走zǒu(suggestion)吧ba。

0512.2 What does I / me我wǒnot不bùto smoke (a cigarette…抽烟chōu yān(completed / change)了le mean?

• A. I've quit smoking.
• B. I don't want to smoke.
• C. I'm smoking now.
• D. I didn't smoke.

0512.3 Build: “We're almost there.”

Arrange all chunks: to / arrive到dào / rapid快kuài / we / us我们wǒ men / (completed / change)了le。

0512.4 I / me我wǒbefore以前yǐ qiánoften常常cháng chángto go去qù(completed / change)了le is correct for a past habit.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0512.5 You were about to go out, but you look out of the window and see rain. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

Questions with (and …? / softener)呢ne (and you? / where?)

0513.1 Complete: “I like tea. What about you?” I / me我wǒto like喜欢xǐ huanto drink tea喝茶hē chá，you你nǐ…………？

0513.2 Which question is correct?

• A. you你nǐto go去qùwhere哪儿nǎr(yes/no ?)吗ma？
• B. you你nǐto be / is是shìstudent学生xué shēng(and …? / softener)呢ne？
• C. you你nǐto be / is是shìstudent学生xué shēng(yes/no ?)吗ma(and …? / softener)呢ne？
• D. you你nǐto be / is是shìstudent学生xué shēng(yes/no ?)吗ma？

0513.3 Said while searching your bag, I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的decell phone手机shǒu jī(and …? / softener)呢ne？ means “Where's my phone?”

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0513.4 Build: “He's sleeping right now.”

Arrange all chunks: (and …? / softener)呢ne。 / at / in在zài / he / him他tā / to go to bed睡觉shuì jiào

0513.5 A new classmate tells you she comes from Chengdu, then waits for you to say where you are from. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

(modifier / structural particle)的de / (degree marker)得de / (adverb -ly)地de (the three “de”)

0514.1 Complete: “She sings very well.” she / her她tāto sing唱chàng…………degree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo。

0514.2 Fill the gaps: I / me我wǒ__friend朋友péng yǒuslowly慢慢màn màn__to walk走zǒusee 过来过来guò lái。

• A. (adverb -ly)地de … (degree marker)得de
• B. (degree marker)得de … (modifier / structural particle)的de
• C. (modifier / structural particle)的de … (adverb -ly)地de
• D. (modifier / structural particle)的de … (degree marker)得de

0514.3 Match each phrase to its particle.

• 1. pretty漂亮piào liàng__clothes衣服yī fú
• 2. conscientious认真rèn zhēn__to work工作gōng zuò
• 3. to write写xiě__degree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo

• A. (degree marker)得de

• B. (adverb -ly)地de

• C. (modifier / structural particle)的de

0514.4 In mama妈妈mā māto make做zuò(modifier / structural particle)的devegetable菜cài, (modifier / structural particle)的de is correct because vegetable菜cài is a noun.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0514.5 A friend texts you about a classmate who runs fast, but writes the wrong "de" and the sentence looks odd. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的de (some / some…, others…)

0515.1 Complete: “Some students live at school.” …………student学生xué shēngto live住zhùat / in在zàischool学校xué xiào。

0515.2 Which says “I bought some apples.”?

• A. I / me我wǒto have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的deto buy买mǎi(completed / change)了leapple苹果píng guǒ。
• B. I / me我wǒto buy买mǎi(completed / change)了lesome一些yī xiēapple苹果píng guǒ。
• C. to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的deI / me我wǒto buy买mǎi(completed / change)了leapple苹果píng guǒ。
• D. I / me我wǒto buy买mǎi(completed / change)了leto have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的deapple苹果píng guǒ。

0515.3 Build: “Some of these books are interesting; some are boring.”

Arrange all chunks: to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的dedegree / adjective linker很hěninteresting有意思yǒu yì si / to have / there is有yǒu(modifier / structural particle)的dedegree / adjective linker很hěnbored无聊wú liáo。 / these这些zhè xiēbook书shū / ，

0515.4 sometimes有时候yǒu shí hòu means “sometimes”.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0515.5 Your class votes on a trip. Some want the beach, others want the mountains. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

half半bàn (half / and a half)

0516.1 Complete: “The film is two and a half hours long.” movie电影diàn yǐngto have / there is有yǒu两个liǎng gè…………hour小时xiǎo shí。

0516.2 Which says “half an hour”?

• A. hour小时xiǎo shíhalf半bàn
• B. 一个yí gèhour小时xiǎo shíhalf半bàn
• C. half一半yí bàn(measure word)个gèhour小时xiǎo shí
• D. half of sth半个bàn gèhour小时xiǎo shí

0516.3 Match each phrase to its meaning.

• 1. half a year半年bàn nián
• 2. 一年yī niánhalf半bàn
• 3. half一半yí bàn
• 4. 三点sān diǎnhalf半bàn

• A. half past three

• B. half a year

• C. half (of it)

• D. a year and a half

0516.4 一个yí gèhour小时xiǎo shíhalf半bàn is the usual way to say “an hour and a half”.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0516.5 After the party, your mum looks at the table and counts what is left. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

after以后yǐ hòu vs then / after然后rán hòu vs afterwards后来hòu lái (then / after)

0517.1 A recipe: “Wash the vegetables, then cut them.” early先xiān洗菜xǐ cài，…………切菜qiè cài。

0517.2 Which says “See you later” (in the future)?

• A. we / us我们wǒ mento appear见jiànafterwards后来hòu lái。
• B. we / us我们wǒ menafterwards后来hòu láito appear见jiàn。
• C. we / us我们wǒ menthen / after然后rán hòuto appear见jiànafter以后yǐ hòu。
• D. we / us我们wǒ menafter以后yǐ hòuto appear见jiàn。

0517.3 Match each word to its use.

• 1. after以后yǐ hòu
• 2. then / after然后rán hòu
• 3. afterwards后来hòu lái

• A. the next step

• B. later on in a past story

• C. after an event / in the future

0517.4 Build: “I'll call you after I arrive.”

Arrange all chunks: to / arrive到dào(completed / change)了leafter以后yǐ hòu / to make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà。 / to / for / give给gěiyou你nǐ / I / me我wǒ

0517.5 You describe last Saturday: shopping, then lunch, and much later a surprise phone call. 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.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

A fresh situation

R1. Interpret and repair. A learner writes he / him他tāconscientious认真rèn zhēn(degree marker)得deto learn学习xué xí but wants to say he studies carefully. Repair the character and give the post-verb alternative.

R2. Use it yourself. Write a message with a precise time and an event that happens after you arrive home.

Write your responses before opening the key. Compare meaning as well as form; a different valid answer need not copy the model.