Basic sentence patterns

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 / also也yě (even)

A hot stove

• A friend doesn't know that you shouldn't touch a hot stove.
• this这个zhè geto link连liánchild小孩子xiǎo hái ziall / both都dōuto know知道zhī dào！ – "Even a small child knows that!"

to link连lián + X + all / both都dōu / also也yě + Verb = even X

• to link连lián X all / both都dōu/also也yě + verb = "even X": X is the least likely case, so the statement is strong.
• The to link连lián phrase comes before the verb: to link连liánhe / him他tāall / both都dōuto come来lái(completed / change)了le – "Even he came."

even连liánhe他tā(even)都dōucame来lái了le。

Surprising subjects and objects

• Subject: to link连liánteacher老师lǎo shīalso也yěnot不bùto know知道zhī dàoanswer答案dá àn。 – "Even the teacher doesn't know the answer."
• Object moved forward: he / him他tāto link连liánweekend周末zhōu mòall / both都dōuat / in在zàito work工作gōng zuò。 – "He works even at weekends."

he他tāeven连liánat weekends周末zhōu mò(even)都dōu(is)在zàiworking工作gōng zuò。

Keep all / both都dōu / also也yě

• to link连lián needs all / both都dōu or also也yě after X: to link连liánhe / him他tāall / both都dōuto come来lái(completed / change)了le, not to link连liánhe / him他tāto come来lái(completed / change)了le.
• Choose X as the most surprising case; to link连lián + ordinary item sounds odd.

Positive to link连lián versus negative to link连lián

• Positive: to link连liánchild小孩子xiǎo hái ziall / both都dōucan / will会huì – even a child can do it (so it's easy).
• Negative: to link连lián一个yí gèletter字zìall / both都dōuimprobable不会bú huìto write写xiě – can't write even one character (so it's hopeless).

he他tāeven连liánone一个yí gècharacter字zì(even)都dōucan't不bú(can)会huìwrite写xiě。

Recap

• to link连lián X all / both都dōu / also也yě + Verb = even X …; X is the most surprising case.
• Keep all / both都dōu / also也yě; negative forms mean "not even".

Practise this pattern step by step.

Question Word + all / both都dōu (every)

Anywhere is fine

• Your friend asks where you want to eat. You are hungry and not fussy.
• where哪儿nǎr都行dōu xíng，you你nǐto choose选xuǎn(suggestion)吧ba。 – "Anywhere is fine; you choose."

Question word + all / both都dōu = every-, any-

• who谁shéiall / both都dōu (everyone), what什么shén meall / both都dōu (everything), where哪儿nǎrall / both都dōu (everywhere), what什么shén metime时候shí hòuall / both都dōu (any time), how / why怎么zěn meall / both都dōu (however).
• The QW goes before all / both都dōu and the verb.

he他tāanything什么shén meall都dōucan do会huì。

Negatives: no one, nothing

• I / me我wǒwhat什么shén meall / both都dōuunexpectedly不想bù xiǎngvariant of 吃吃chī。 – "I don't want to eat anything."
• how / why怎么zěn meall / both都dōuto try to find找zhǎonot to arrive不到bú dào。 – "I can't find it no matter how I look."

I我wǒhowever怎么zěn me(still)都dōulook找zhǎo(can't)不bufind到dào。

QW first

• I / me我wǒwhat什么shén meall / both都dōuvariant of 吃吃chī, not I / me我wǒvariant of 吃吃chīwhat什么shén meall / both都dōu: the QW moves before all / both都dōu.
• With a noun: which哪个nǎ ge / what什么shén me + noun + all / both都dōu: what什么shén mevegetable菜càiall / both都dōuto be fond of eating好吃hǎo chī.

Versus not to be concerned不管bù guǎn + QW

• QW + all / both都dōu is short and spoken: who谁shéiall / both都dōucan / may可以kě yǐto come来lái.
• not to be concerned不管bù guǎn + QW，all / both都dōu … spells out the condition: not to be concerned不管bù guǎnwho谁shéito come来lái，I / me我wǒall / both都dōuto welcome欢迎huān yíng.

no matter不管bù guǎnwho谁shéicomes来lái，I我wǒ(all)都dōuwelcome欢迎huān yíng。

Recap

• QW + all / both都dōu + verb = every- / any-; with not不bù / not / haven't没méi = no- / nothing.
• QW before all / both都dōu; not to be concerned不管bù guǎn + QW is the longer form.

Practise this pattern step by step.

A to be / is是shì B (modifier / structural particle)的de N (two, three etc) -fold倍bèi (N times)

Twice as big

• You compare your new flat with the tiny room you rented before.
• now现在xiàn zài(modifier / structural particle)的dehouse房子fáng zito be / is是shìbefore以前yǐ qián(modifier / structural particle)的detriple三倍sān bèi。 – "My place now is three times the size of my old one."

A to be / is是shì B (modifier / structural particle)的de N (two, three etc) -fold倍bèi = A is N times B

• A to be / is是shì B (modifier / structural particle)的de N (two, three etc) -fold倍bèi = A is N times (as big / many as) B.
• (two, three etc) -fold倍bèi is a measure of multiples: twice as much两倍liǎng bèi, triple三倍sān bèi, tenfold十倍shí bèi.

this这个zhè gecity城市chéng shì的depopulation人口rén kǒuis是shìthat那个nà ge的detwo两liǎngtimes倍bèi。

than / compared to比bǐ + many多duō / to raise增加zēng jiā + N (two, three etc) -fold倍bèi

• A than / compared to比bǐ B 多一倍duō yí bèi = A is one time more than B, i.e. double.
• price价格jià géto raise增加zēng jiā(completed / change)了le一倍yí bèi。 – "The price has doubled." to raise增加zēng jiā(completed / change)了le N (two, three etc) -fold倍bèi counts the increase on top of the original.

this year今年jīn nián的destudents学生xué shengthan比bǐlast year去年qù niánmore多duōone time一倍yí bèi。

"Is N times" versus "N times more"

• to be / is是shì…(modifier / structural particle)的detwice as much两倍liǎng bèi = twice as much (×2), and so is than / compared to比bǐ…多一倍duō yí bèi. In careful usage, than / compared to比bǐ…多两倍duō liǎng bèi = ×3.
• (two, three etc) -fold倍bèi is for increases; for "half as much", use half一半yí bàn: A to be / is是shì B (modifier / structural particle)的dehalf一半yí bàn.

(two, three etc) -fold倍bèi versus next in sequence次cì

• (two, three etc) -fold倍bèi = times as much (multiples).
• next in sequence次cì = times (occasions): I / me我wǒ去过qù guòthird三次sān cì – "I've been three times."

I我wǒgo去qù(experience)过guothree times三次sān cì。

Recap

• A to be / is是shì B (modifier / structural particle)的de N (two, three etc) -fold倍bèi = A is N times B; A than / compared to比bǐ B 多一倍duō yí bèi = double.
• "Half as much" = half一半yí bàn; occasions are counted with next in sequence次cì.

Practise this pattern step by step.

a bit一点yì diǎn + also也yě / all / both都dōu + not不bù (not at all)

A boring horror film

• A friend asks if the horror film was scary. You thought it was boring.
• erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn éralso也yěnot不bùawful可怕kě pà。 – "It wasn't scary at all."

erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn ér + also也yě / all / both都dōu + not不bù / not / haven't没méi + Adj / Verb

• erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn éralso也yěnot不bù + Adj = "not … at all": erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn éralso也yěnot不bùcold冷lěng, erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn érall / both都dōunot不bùexpensive贵guì.
• With verbs: erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn éralso也yěunexpectedly不想bù xiǎngto go去qù, erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn éralso也yěnot / haven't没méito change变biàn.

today今天jīn tiāna bit一点儿yì diǎnreven也yěnot不bùcold冷lěng。

Strong denial

• I / me我wǒerhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn érall / both都dōunot不bùrope累lèi。 – "I'm not tired in the slightest."
• he / him他tāerhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn éralso也yěnot / haven't没méito change变biàn，or / still还是hái shìlike that那么nà meyoung年轻nián qīng。 – "He hasn't changed at all; he still looks so young."

he他tāa bit一点儿yì diǎnreven也yěhasn't没méichanged变biàn。

Order and the negative

• Put erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn éralso也yě before not不bù / not / haven't没méi: erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn éralso也yěnot不bùcold冷lěng, not not不bùerhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn ércold冷lěng.
• It needs a negative; erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn éralso也yěcold冷lěng is wrong. "A bit cold" is slightly有点儿yǒu diǎn ércold冷lěng.

erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn éralso也yěnot不bù versus slightly有点儿yǒu diǎn ér and 不太bù tài

• slightly有点儿yǒu diǎn ércold冷lěng = a bit cold; not不bù太冷tài lěng = not very cold.
• erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn éralso也yěnot不bùcold冷lěng = not cold at all (the strongest).

today今天jīn tiānnot very不太bú tàicold冷lěng。

Recap

• erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn ér + also也yě/all / both都dōu + not不bù/not / haven't没méi + Adj/Verb = not … at all.
• Needs a negative; scale: 不太bù tài → erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn éralso也yěnot不bù (strongest).

Practise this pattern step by step.

not不bùto know知道zhī dào + embedded choice + good好hǎo (unsure what is best)

Which present?

• It's your mother's birthday tomorrow and you still haven't chosen a gift.
• I / me我wǒnot不bùto know知道zhī dàoto send送sòngwhat什么shén megood好hǎo。 – "I don't know what would be best to give."

not不bùto know知道zhī dào + Verb + QW + good好hǎo

• not不bùto know知道zhī dào + verb + question word + good好hǎo = "don't know what / which / how it would be best to …".
• good好hǎo at the end means "would be good, best": not不bùto know知道zhī dàoto buy买mǎiwhich哪个nǎ gegood好hǎo.

I我wǒdon't不bùknow知道zhī dàobuy买mǎiwhich one哪个nǎ ge(is best)好hǎo。

Choices between options

• I / me我wǒnot不bùto know知道zhī dàoto go去qùBeijing, capital of the…北京běi jīnggood好hǎoor / still还是hái shìto go去qùShanghai municipality…上海shàng hǎigood好hǎo。 – "I don't know whether it's better to go to Beijing or Shanghai."
• he / him他tānot不bùto know知道zhī dàowhat's to be done怎么办zěn me bàngood好hǎo。 – "He didn't know what to do."

he他tādidn't不bùknow知道zhī dàohow怎么zěn meto handle it办bàn(best)好hǎo。

A statement, not a question

• The question word is embedded, so there is no question mark: not不bùto know知道zhī dàoto buy买mǎiwhat什么shén megood好hǎo。
• good好hǎo goes at the end of the embedded choice, not after to know知道zhī dào: not不bùto know知道zhī dàovariant of 说说shuōwhat什么shén megood好hǎo, not not不bùto know知道zhī dàogood好hǎovariant of 说说shuōwhat什么shén me.

Asking for advice

• Turn it into a question with you你nǐvariant of 说说shuō: you你nǐvariant of 说说shuōI / me我wǒto buy买mǎiwhich哪个nǎ gegood好hǎo？ – "Which do you think I should buy?"
• Or with (yes/no ?)吗ma: you你nǐto know知道zhī dàoto buy买mǎiwhich哪个nǎ gegood好hǎo(yes/no ?)吗ma？

you你nǐsay说shuōI我wǒbuy买mǎiwhich one哪个nǎ ge(is best)好hǎo？

Recap

• not不bùto know知道zhī dào + Verb + QW + good好hǎo = don't know what / which / how is best.
• good好hǎo closes the embedded choice; ask advice with you你nǐvariant of 说说shuō…good好hǎo？

Practise this pattern step by step.

to / towards / correct对duì … 来说lái shuō (for / as far as … is concerned)

For me, it's hard

• Your classmate finds Chinese tones easy, but you don't.
• to / towards / correct对duìI / me我wǒ来说lái shuō，tone声调shēng diào很难hěn nán。 – "For me, tones are hard."

to / towards / correct对duì + person + 来说lái shuō，… = for, as far as … is concerned

• to / towards / correct对duì X 来说lái shuō gives the point of view from which something is judged.
• It usually starts the sentence, followed by a comma.

for对duìme我wǒ(as far as … goes)来说lái shuō，tones声调shēng diàovery很hěnhard难nán。

Groups and things too

• to / towards / correct对duìstudent学生xué shēng来说lái shuō，(concept of) time时间shí jiānmost最zuìimportant重要zhòng yào。 – "For students, time is the most important thing."
• to / towards / correct对duìthis这个zhè gecity城市chéng shì来说lái shuō，trip旅游lǚ yóudegree / adjective linker很hěnimportant重要zhòng yào。 – "Tourism is very important for this city."

for对duìstudents学生xué sheng(as far as … goes)来说lái shuō，time时间shí jiānmost最zuìimportant重要zhòng yào。

Keep all three parts

• Use the full frame to / towards / correct对duì…来说lái shuō: to / towards / correct对duìI / me我wǒ来说lái shuō, not to / towards / correct对duìI / me我wǒvariant of 说说shuō (that means "said to me").
• The judgement follows: to / towards / correct对duìhe / him他tā来说lái shuō，this这zhèno不是bú shìquestion问题wèn tí.

to / towards / correct对duì…来说lái shuō versus at / in在zài…apparently看来kàn lái

• to / towards / correct对duì…来说lái shuō = how it affects or matters to someone: to / towards / correct对duìI / me我wǒ来说lái shuō很难hěn nán.
• at / in在zài…apparently看来kàn lái = someone's opinion: in my opinion在我看来zài wǒ kàn lái，this这个zhè gemeans办法bàn fǎno good不好bù hǎo.

in在zàimy我wǒview看来kàn lái，this这个zhè gemethod办法bàn fǎnot不bùgood好hǎo。

Recap

• to / towards / correct对duì X 来说lái shuō，… = for X / as far as X is concerned.
• Keep 来说lái shuō (to / towards / correct对duìI / me我wǒvariant of 说说shuō = said to me); at / in在zài…apparently看来kàn lái = in someone's opinion.

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 / also也yě (even)

2401.1 Complete: “Even my grandma uses WeChat.” …………I / me我wǒ(informal) grandma…奶奶nǎi nǎiall / both都dōuto use / with用yòngWeixin or WeChat (mobile…微信wēi xìn。

2401.2 Which sentence is correct?

• A. teacher老师lǎo shīto link连liánalso也yěnot不bùto know知道zhī dào。
• B. to link连liánteacher老师lǎo shīalso也yěnot不bùto know知道zhī dào。
• C. to link连liánteacher老师lǎo shīnot不bùto know知道zhī dào。
• D. to link连liánalso也yěteacher老师lǎo shīnot不bùto know知道zhī dào。

2401.3 Build: “He works even at weekends.”

Arrange all chunks: to work工作gōng zuò。 / all / both都dōuat / in在zài / he / him他tā / to link连liánweekend周末zhōu mò

2401.4 to link连liánchild小孩子xiǎo hái ziall / both都dōucan / will会huì suggests the task is easy.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2401.5 A friend doesn't know that you shouldn't touch a hot stove. 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.

Question Word + all / both都dōu (every)

2402.1 Complete: “He can do anything.” he / him他tā…………all / both都dōucan / will会huì。

2402.2 Which says “Every dish is delicious”?

• A. vegetable菜càiwhat什么shén meall / both都dōuto be fond of eating好吃hǎo chī。
• B. all / both都dōuwhat什么shén mevegetable菜càito be fond of eating好吃hǎo chī。
• C. to be fond of eating好吃hǎo chīwhat什么shén mevegetable菜càiall / both都dōu。
• D. what什么shén mevegetable菜càiall / both都dōuto be fond of eating好吃hǎo chī。

2402.3 Build: “I can't find it no matter how I look.”

Arrange all chunks: to try to find找zhǎo / I / me我wǒ / not to arrive不到bú dào。 / how / why怎么zěn meall / both都dōu

2402.4 who谁shéiall / both都dōucan / may可以kě yǐto come来lái means “Anyone can come.”

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2402.5 Your friend asks where you want to eat. You are hungry and not fussy. 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 to be / is是shì B (modifier / structural particle)的de N (two, three etc) -fold倍bèi (N times)

2403.1 Complete: “Her salary is twice his.” she / her她tā(modifier / structural particle)的dewages工资gōng zīto be / is是shìhe / him他tā(modifier / structural particle)的detwo两liǎng…………。

2403.2 B has 10 books. 'A than / compared to比bǐ B 多一倍duō yí bèi' – how many does A have?

• A. 11
• B. 5
• C. 20
• D. 30

2403.3 Build: “This city's population is twice that city's.”

Arrange all chunks: (two, three etc) -fold倍bèi。 / this这个zhè gecity城市chéng shì(modifier / structural particle)的depopulation人口rén kǒu / two两liǎng / to be / is是shìthat那个nà ge(modifier / structural particle)的de

2403.4 I / me我wǒ去过qù guòtriple三倍sān bèi means “I've been three times.”

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2403.5 You compare your new flat with the tiny room you rented before. 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 bit一点yì diǎn + also也yě / all / both都dōu + not不bù (not at all)

2404.1 Complete: “This isn't expensive at all.” this这个zhè geerhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn ér…………not不bùexpensive贵guì。

2404.2 Which is the strongest denial?

• A. erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn éralso也yě不难bù nán。
• B. fairly / rather比较bǐ jiàodifficult / hard难nán。
• C. 不太难bù tài nán。
• D. slightly有点儿yǒu diǎn érdifficult / hard难nán。

2404.3 Build: “He hasn't changed at all.”

Arrange all chunks: also也yěnot / haven't没méi / he / him他tā / erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn ér / to change变biàn。

2404.4 erhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn éralso也yěcold冷lěng means “a little cold”.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2404.5 A friend asks if the horror film was scary. You thought it was boring. 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.

not不bùto know知道zhī dào + embedded choice + good好hǎo (unsure what is best)

2405.1 Complete: “I don't know what to say.” I / me我wǒnot不bùto know知道zhī dàovariant of 说说shuōwhat什么shén me…………。

2405.2 Which sentence is correct?

• A. I / me我wǒnot不bùto know知道zhī dàoto ingratiate oneself买好mǎi hǎowhich哪个nǎ ge。
• B. I / me我wǒnot不bùto know知道zhī dàogood好hǎoto buy买mǎiwhich哪个nǎ ge。
• C. good好hǎoI / me我wǒnot不bùto know知道zhī dàoto buy买mǎiwhich哪个nǎ ge。
• D. I / me我wǒnot不bùto know知道zhī dàoto buy买mǎiwhich哪个nǎ gegood好hǎo。

2405.3 Build: “He didn't know what to do.”

Arrange all chunks: good好hǎo。 / what's to be done怎么办zěn me bàn / not不bùto know知道zhī dào / he / him他tā

2405.4 you你nǐvariant of 说说shuōI / me我wǒto buy买mǎiwhich哪个nǎ gegood好hǎo？ asks someone for advice.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2405.5 It's your mother's birthday tomorrow and you still haven't chosen a gift. 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 / towards / correct对duì … 来说lái shuō (for / as far as … is concerned)

2406.1 Complete: “For me, this isn't a problem.” to / towards / correct对duìI / me我wǒ…………，this这zhèno不是bú shìquestion问题wèn tí。

2406.2 What does he / him他tāto / towards / correct对duìI / me我wǒvariant of 说说shuō mean?

• A. In his opinion
• B. As far as I'm concerned
• C. He said to me
• D. For him, I …

2406.3 Build: “For students, time is the most important thing.”

Arrange all chunks: most最zuìimportant重要zhòng yào。 / to / towards / correct对duìstudent学生xué shēng来说lái shuō / ， / (concept of) time时间shí jiān

2406.4 in my opinion在我看来zài wǒ kàn lái introduces an opinion.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

2406.5 Your classmate finds Chinese tones easy, but you don't. 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 five-yuan item and a ten-yuan item are compared. A learner says 十元shí yuánto be / is是shì五元wǔ yuán(modifier / structural particle)的detwice as much两倍liǎng bèi means the difference is ten yuan. Repair the arithmetic.

R2. Use it yourself. State that you are not tired at all and identify who a difficult task is difficult for.

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