Sentence patterns — quantity & scope

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.

to link连lián … all / both都dōu … not不bù / not / haven't没méi (not even)

A day with no break

• You were so busy at work that you didn't have a single break.
• I / me我wǒtoday今天jīn tiānbusy忙máng(degree marker)得deto link连liánreadily一口yī kǒuwater水shuǐall / both都dōunot / haven't没méito shout喝hē。 – "I was so busy today I didn't even have a sip of water."

to link连lián + X + all / both都dōu / also也yě + not不bù / not / haven't没méi + Verb

• to link连lián X all / both都dōu/also也yě + negative = "not even X": X is the smallest or easiest thing, and still it didn't happen.
• X moves before the verb: to link连liánhe / him他tā(modifier / structural particle)的dename (of a person or thing)名字míng zìall / both都dōunot不bùto know知道zhī dào.

I我wǒeven连liánhis他tā的dename名字míng zi(even)都dōudon't不bùknow知道zhī dào。

The minimum didn't happen

• he / him他tāto link连lián一个yí gèletter字zìall / both都dōunot / haven't没méito write写xiě。 – "He didn't write a single character."
• so much这么zhè mesimple简单jiǎn dān(modifier / structural particle)的detopic题tí，he / him他tāto link连liánto see看kànall / both都dōunot / haven't没méito see看kànthen / just就jiùto hand over交jiāo(completed / change)了le。 – "Such an easy question, and he handed it in without even looking at it."

he他tāeven连liánone一个yí gècharacter字zì(even)都dōudidn't没méiwrite写xiě。

X before the verb

• The to link连lián phrase comes before the verb: 连饭lián fànall / both都dōunot / haven't没méivariant of 吃吃chī, not not / haven't没méivariant of 吃吃chī连饭lián fàn.
• Keep all / both都dōu / also也yě: 连水lián shuǐnot / haven't没méito shout喝hē is incomplete; say 连水lián shuǐall / both都dōunot / haven't没méito shout喝hē.

to link连lián + Verb + all / both都dōu + not / haven't没méi + Verb

• The same verb can repeat: he / him他tāto link连liánwant / think / miss想xiǎngall / both都dōunot / haven't没méiwant / think / miss想xiǎngthen / just就jiùto answer答应dā yìng(completed / change)了le。 – "He agreed without even thinking."
• This shows how little effort or care was taken.

he他tāeven连liánthink想xiǎng(even)都dōudidn't没méithink想xiǎngthen就jiùagreed答应dā ying了le。

Recap

• to link连lián X all / both都dōu / also也yě + not不bù / not / haven't没méi + Verb = not even X.
• X goes before the verb; keep all / both都dōu / also也yě. 连想lián xiǎngall / both都dōunot / haven't没méiwant / think / miss想xiǎng = without even thinking.

Practise this pattern step by step.

for为wèi … and / but而ér … (for the sake of)

Working for a dream

• Your cousin works two jobs to save for university.
• he / him他tāin order to为了wèi le(bound form) up上shànguniversity大学dà xuéand / but而érto make an effort努力nǔ lìto work工作gōng zuò。 – "He works hard in order to go to university."

for为wèi((completed / change)了le) + goal + and / but而ér + action

• for为wèi((completed / change)了le) A and / but而ér B = "do B for the sake of A": a formal way to link a purpose with an action.
• and / but而ér links the purpose to the verb that follows: for为wèian ideal理想lǐ xiǎngand / but而érto strive奋斗fèn dòu – "strive for an ideal".

we我们wǒ menfor为wèiour ideals理想lǐ xiǎng(and)而érstrive奋斗fèn dòu。

Feelings caused by something

• for为wèi + cause + and / but而ér + feeling: everyone大家dà jiāall / both都dōufor为wèihe / him他tā(modifier / structural particle)的desuccess成功chéng gōngand / but而érhappy高兴gāo xìng。 – "Everyone was happy about his success."
• don't不要bú yàofor为wèitrifle小事xiǎo shìand / but而érto get angry生气shēng qì。 – "Don't get angry over small things."

everyone大家dà jiāall都dōuabout为wèihis他tā的desuccess成功chéng gōng(and)而érhappy高兴gāo xìng。

Formal, and for为wèi is wèi

• In this pattern for为wèi is read wèi ("for"); it is written or formal speech. In chat, in order to为了wèi le…, I / me我wǒ… is enough.
• and / but而ér does not mean "but" here; it links the purpose or cause to the action.

for为wèi…and / but而ér… versus in order to为了wèi le

• in order to为了wèi le + goal, clause: in order to为了wèi le(bound form) up上shànguniversity大学dà xué，he / him他tāto make an effort努力nǔ lìto work工作gōng zuò – the everyday form.
• for为wèi…and / but而ér… puts the goal and action in one tight phrase, common in speeches and slogans.

in order to为了wèi lego to上shànguniversity大学dà xué，he他tāhard努力nǔ lìworks工作gōng zuò。

Recap

• for为wèi((completed / change)了le) A and / but而ér B = do B for the sake of A; for为wèi + cause + and / but而ér + feeling = feel … about.
• Formal; for为wèi = wèi; and / but而ér links, it is not "but".

Practise this pattern step by step.

any任何rèn hé + Noun + all / both都dōu / also也yě (any)

Any questions?

• At the end of the lesson your teacher wants to be sure everyone understood.
• to have / there is有yǒuany任何rèn héquestion问题wèn tí，all / both都dōucan / may可以kě yǐto ask问wènI / me我wǒ。 – "If you have any questions at all, you can ask me."

any任何rèn hé + Noun + all / both都dōu / also也yě

• any任何rèn hé + noun = "any (at all)"; all / both都dōu or also也yě usually follows: 任何人rèn hé rénall / both都dōucan / may可以kě yǐto participate参加cān jiā.
• In the negative: 任何人rèn hé rénall / both都dōunot不bùto know知道zhī dào / he / him他tānot have / haven't没有méi yǒuany任何rèn héquestion问题wèn tí – "nobody / no … at all".

any任何rèn héperson人rén(all)都dōucan可以kě yǐtake part参加cān jiā。

Total statements

• I / me我wǒimprobable不会bú huìto tell告诉gào sù任何人rèn hé rén。 – "I won't tell anyone."
• any任何rèn hétime时候shí hòuyou你nǐall / both都dōucan / may可以kě yǐto / for / give给gěiI / me我wǒto make a telephone call打电话dǎ diàn huà。 – "You can call me any time."

I我wǒwon't不bú(will)会huìtell告诉gào suany任何rèn héperson人rén。

Add all / both都dōu as a subject

• As a subject, any任何rèn hé + noun needs all / both都dōu / also也yě: 任何人rèn hé rénall / both都dōuto know知道zhī dào, not 任何人rèn hé rénto know知道zhī dào.
• any任何rèn hé goes before a noun only; it does not stand alone: 任何人rèn hé rén, not just any任何rèn hé.

any任何rèn hé versus question word + all / both都dōu

• Spoken: who谁shéiall / both都dōucan / may可以kě yǐto come来lái – "Anyone can come."
• 任何人rèn hé rénall / both都dōucan / may可以kě yǐto come来lái says the same in a more formal way.

anyone谁shéi(all)都dōucan可以kě yǐcome来lái。

Recap

• any任何rèn hé + noun + all / both都dōu / also也yě = any … at all; negative = no … at all.
• Needs a noun and, as a subject, all / both都dōu / also也yě. who谁shéiall / both都dōu is the spoken equivalent.

Practise this pattern step by step.

already既jì … also也yě / again又yòu … (both … and …)

Good-looking and practical

• You are recommending a backpack to a friend.
• this这个zhè geto cover包bāoalready既jìgood-looking好看hǎo kànagain又yòupractical实用shí yòng。 – "This bag is both good-looking and practical."

already既jì A again又yòu / also也yě B = both A and B

• already既jì A again又yòu B joins two qualities or actions of the same subject; again又yòu / also也yě introduces the second.
• It sounds a little more formal and balanced than again又yòu…again又yòu….

she她tāboth既jìclever聪明cōng mingand又yòuhard-working努力nǔ lì。

Two roles or two actions

• he / him他tāalready既jìto be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī，also也yěto be / is是shìauthor作家zuò jiā。 – "He is both a teacher and a writer."
• we / us我们wǒ menalready既jìwant / will / need要yàoto learn学习xué xí，also也yěwant / will / need要yàorest休息xiū xī。 – "We need both to study and to rest."

we我们wǒ menboth既jìneed to要yàostudy学习xué xí，also也yěneed to要yàorest休息xiū xi。

Same subject, same direction

• Both parts belong to one subject: he / him他tāalready既jì…again又yòu…, not he / him他tāalready既jì…，she / her她tāagain又yòu….
• The two qualities should fit together (both good, both bad); for a contrast use but但是dàn shì.

already既jì…again又yòu… versus not only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn…moreover而且ér qiě…

• already既jì…again又yòu… gives two qualities equal weight.
• not only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn…moreover而且ér qiě… builds up: the second point is stronger: not only (... but also ...)不但bù dàncheap便宜pián yi，moreover而且ér qiěquality质量zhì liàngdegree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo.

not only不但bú dàncheap便宜pián yi，but also而且ér qiěquality质量zhì liàngvery很hěngood好hǎo。

Recap

• already既jì A again又yòu / also也yě B = both A and B (same subject, equal weight).
• not only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn…moreover而且ér qiě… builds up to a stronger second point.

Practise this pattern step by step.

at / in在zài + Place + (bound form) up上shàng / down下xià / li, ancient measure of…里lǐ / side旁边páng biān (location)

Where did I put it?

• You can't find your keys and your roommate helps you look.
• key钥匙yào shiat / in在zàitable桌子zhuō zi(bound form) up上shàng，cell phone手机shǒu jīat / in在zàito cover包bāoli, ancient measure of…里lǐ。 – "The keys are on the table, and the phone is in the bag."

at / in在zài + place + (bound form) up上shàng / down下xià / li, ancient measure of…里lǐ / side旁边páng biān

• at / in在zài + noun + location word = on / under / in / beside: at / in在zàitable桌子zhuō zi(bound form) up上shàng, at / in在zàivariant of 床床chuángdown下xià, at / in在zàito cover包bāoli, ancient measure of…里lǐ, at / in在zàigate门ménside旁边páng biān.
• Most ordinary nouns need the location word: at / in在zàitable桌子zhuō zi(bound form) up上shàng, not at / in在zàitable桌子zhuō zi.

the cat猫māois在zàithe bed床chuángunder下xià。

Doing something somewhere

• Before a verb: he / him他tāat / in在zàilibrary图书馆tú shū guǎnli, ancient measure of…里lǐto read看书kàn shū。 – "He's reading in the library."
• After a verb: (把: marks the object)把bǎbook书shū放在fàng zàitable桌子zhuō zi(bound form) up上shàng。 – "Put the book on the table."

把bǎthe book书shūput放fàngon在zàithe table桌子zhuō zi(on)上shang。

When to drop the location word

• Ordinary objects need it: at / in在zàischoolbag书包shū bāoli, ancient measure of…里lǐ, not at / in在zàischoolbag书包shū bāo.
• Place names and places that are already locations do not: at / in在zàiBeijing, capital of the…北京běi jīng, at / in在zàischool学校xué xiào, not at / in在zàiBeijing, capital of the…北京běi jīngli, ancient measure of…里lǐ.

(bound form) up上shàng / li, ancient measure of…里lǐ / to hit (the mark)中zhōng for abstract places

• at / in在zàitelevision电视diàn shì(bound form) up上shàng / at / in在zàionline网上wǎng shàng = on TV / online; at / in在zàinewspaper报纸bào zhǐ(bound form) up上shàng = in the newspaper.
• at / in在zàichest心里xīn lǐ = in one's heart; 在生活中zài shēng huó zhōng = in life. Fixed phrases are worth learning as chunks.

I我wǒon在zàithe internet网上wǎng shàngbought买mǎi的de。

Recap

• at / in在zài + noun + (bound form) up上shàng/down下xià/li, ancient measure of…里lǐ/side旁边páng biān = on/under/in/beside; ordinary nouns need the location word.
• Place names do not (at / in在zàiBeijing, capital of the…北京běi jīng). Fixed phrases: at / in在zàionline网上wǎng shàng, at / in在zàinewspaper报纸bào zhǐ(bound form) up上shàng, 在生活中zài shēng huó zhōng.

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.

to link连lián … all / both都dōu … not不bù / not / haven't没méi (not even)

2301.1 Complete: “He doesn't even know my name.” he / him他tā…………I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的dename (of a person or thing)名字míng zìall / both都dōunot不bùto know知道zhī dào。

2301.2 Which sentence is correct?

• A. he / him他tānot / haven't没méivariant of 吃吃chīto link连liánbreakfast早饭zǎo fàn。
• B. he / him他tāto link连liánbreakfast早饭zǎo fànnot / haven't没méivariant of 吃吃chī。
• C. to link连liánhe / him他tāall / both都dōubreakfast早饭zǎo fànnot / haven't没méivariant of 吃吃chī。
• D. he / him他tāto link连liánbreakfast早饭zǎo fànall / both都dōunot / haven't没méivariant of 吃吃chī。

2301.3 Build: “He agreed without even thinking.”

Arrange all chunks: then / just就jiù / all / both都dōunot / haven't没méiwant / think / miss想xiǎng / he / him他tāto link连liánwant / think / miss想xiǎng / to answer答应dā yìng(completed / change)了le。

2301.4 he / him他tāto link连lián一个yí gèletter字zìall / both都dōunot / haven't没méito write写xiě means he wrote a lot.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2301.5 You were so busy at work that you didn't have a single break. 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.

for为wèi … and / but而ér … (for the sake of)

2302.1 Complete (formal): “Strive for your dreams.” for为wèi(fig.) to dream of梦想mèng xiǎng…………to strive奋斗fèn dòu。

2302.2 In don't不要bú yàofor为wèitrifle小事xiǎo shìand / but而érto get angry生气shēng qì, what does and / but而ér do?

• A. means “but”
• B. links the cause to the feeling
• C. asks a question
• D. means “and then later”

2302.3 Build: “Everyone was happy about his success.”

Arrange all chunks: everyone大家dà jiāall / both都dōu / happy高兴gāo xìng。 / and / but而ér / for为wèihe / him他tā(modifier / structural particle)的desuccess成功chéng gōng

2302.4 in order to为了wèi le…，… is the more everyday form.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2302.5 Your cousin works two jobs to save for 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.

any任何rèn hé + Noun + all / both都dōu / also也yě (any)

2303.1 Complete: “Anyone can take part.” …………person人rénall / both都dōucan / may可以kě yǐto participate参加cān jiā。

2303.2 Which sentence is correct?

• A. person人rénany任何rèn héall / both都dōuto know知道zhī dào这件zhè jiànmatter事shì。
• B. 任何人rèn hé rénall / both都dōuto know知道zhī dào这件zhè jiànmatter事shì。
• C. any任何rèn héall / both都dōuperson人rénto know知道zhī dào这件zhè jiànmatter事shì。
• D. 任何人rèn hé rénto know知道zhī dào这件zhè jiànmatter事shì。

2303.3 Build: “I won't tell anyone.”

Arrange all chunks: improbable不会bú huìto tell告诉gào sù / I / me我wǒ / person人rén。 / any任何rèn hé

2303.4 who谁shéiall / both都dōucan / may可以kě yǐto come来lái is a spoken way to say 任何人rèn hé rénall / both都dōucan / may可以kě yǐto come来lái.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2303.5 At the end of the lesson your teacher wants to be sure everyone understood. 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.

already既jì … also也yě / again又yòu … (both … and …)

2304.1 Complete: “This dish is both cheap and tasty.” this这个zhè gevegetable菜càialready既jìcheap便宜pián yi…………to be fond of eating好吃hǎo chī。

2304.2 Which sentence is correct?

• A. he / him他tāalready既jìhigh高gāoagain又yòuthin瘦shòu。
• B. he / him他tāhigh高gāoalready既jìagain又yòuthin瘦shòu。
• C. already既jìhe / him他tāhigh高gāoagain又yòuthin瘦shòu。
• D. he / him他tāalready既jìhigh高gāo，she / her她tāagain又yòuthin瘦shòu。

2304.3 Build: “He is both a teacher and a writer.”

Arrange all chunks: he / him他tāalready既jìto be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī / also也yěto be / is是shì / ， / author作家zuò jiā。

2304.4 not only (... but also ...)不但bù dàn…moreover而且ér qiě… usually makes the second point stronger.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2304.5 You are recommending a backpack to a friend. 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.

at / in在zài + Place + (bound form) up上shàng / down下xià / li, ancient measure of…里lǐ / side旁边páng biān (location)

2305.1 Complete: “The phone is in the bag.” cell phone手机shǒu jīat / in在zàito cover包bāo…………。

2305.2 Which is correct?

• A. he / him他tāBeijing, capital of the…北京běi jīngat / in在zàito work工作gōng zuò。
• B. he / him他tāat / in在zàitable桌子zhuō zito work工作gōng zuò。
• C. he / him他tāat / in在zàiBeijing, capital of the…北京běi jīngli, ancient measure of…里lǐto work工作gōng zuò。
• D. he / him他tāat / in在zàiBeijing, capital of the…北京běi jīngto work工作gōng zuò。

2305.3 Build: “Put the book on the table.”

Arrange all chunks: (bound form) up上shàng。 / table桌子zhuō zi / (把: marks the object)把bǎbook书shū / 放在fàng zài

2305.4 at / in在zàionline网上wǎng shàng means “online”.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2305.5 You can't find your keys and your roommate helps you look. 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 note says I / me我wǒerhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn érwater水shuǐalso也yěnot / haven't没méito shout喝hē. A reader reports a small drink. What does the negative frame actually say?

R2. Use it yourself. Describe a purpose for studying and a rule applying to any pupil.

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