Nouns

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.

among其中qí zhōng (among them / of which)

Thirty students, five from abroad

• Your teacher describes your new class to a visitor.
• we / us我们wǒ men班有bān yǒu三十个sān shí gèstudent学生xué shēng，among其中qí zhōng五个wǔ gèto be / is是shìstudent studying abroad留学生liú xué shēng。 – "There are thirty students in our class, five of whom are international students."

Group，among其中qí zhōng + part

• among其中qí zhōng = "among them, of which": it refers back to a group just mentioned and picks out part of it.
• It starts the second clause: I / me我wǒto buy买mǎi(completed / change)了lethree三sān本书běn shū，among其中qí zhōng一本yī běnto be / is是shìnovel小说xiǎo shuō.

I我wǒbought买mǎi了lethree三本sān běnbooks书shū，of which其中qí zhōngone一本yì běnis是shìa novel小说xiǎo shuō。

The most, the best, a share

• these这些zhè xiēvegetable菜càiI / me我wǒall / both都dōuto like喜欢xǐ huan，among其中qí zhōngI / me我wǒmost最zuìto like喜欢xǐ huandumpling饺子jiǎo zi。 – "I like all these dishes; of them, I like dumplings best."
• With one of (sth)之一zhī yī: the Great Wall长城cháng chéngto be / is是shìamong其中qí zhōngmost最zuìfamous有名yǒu míng(modifier / structural particle)的detourist attraction景点jǐng diǎnone of (sth)之一zhī yī。 – "The Great Wall is one of the most famous sights among them."

among them其中qí zhōngI我wǒmost最zuìlike喜欢xǐ huandumplings饺子jiǎo zi。

Name the group first

• among其中qí zhōng needs a group in the previous clause; it cannot start a conversation.
• The common form is among其中qí zhōng + number + measure word: among其中qí zhōng两个liǎng gè, among其中qí zhōng一本yī běn.

among其中qí zhōng versus the middle中间zhōng jiān and li, ancient measure of…里lǐ

• among其中qí zhōng refers to a group already named: among其中qí zhōng两个liǎng gè.
• at / in在zài…to hit (the mark)中zhōng / at / in在zài…li, ancient measure of…里lǐ names the group in the same phrase: at / in在zàithese这些zhè xiēstudent学生xué shēngto hit (the mark)中zhōng，he / him他tātallest最高zuì gāo.

among在zàithese这些zhè xiēstudents学生xué sheng(among)中zhōng，he他tāmost最zuìtall高gāo。

Recap

• Group，among其中qí zhōng + part = of which, among them; it points back to a group just named.
• Use at / in在zài…to hit (the mark)中zhōng when the group is named in the same phrase.

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.

among其中qí zhōng (among them / of which)

0601.1 Complete: “I have three friends here; one of them is a doctor.” I / me我wǒat / in在zàihere这儿zhè érto have / there is有yǒu三个sān gèfriend朋友péng yǒu，…………一个yí gèto be / is是shìdoctor医生yī shēng。

0601.2 Which sentence is correct?

• A. I / me我wǒmost最zuìto like喜欢xǐ huanamong其中qí zhōng。
• B. among其中qí zhōngI / me我wǒmost最zuìto like喜欢xǐ huanthis这个zhè ge。
• C. among其中qí zhōng(modifier / structural particle)的dethese这些zhè xiēcolor颜色yán sèdegree / adjective linker很hěngood-looking好看hǎo kàn。
• D. these这些zhè xiēcolor颜色yán sèall / both都dōudegree / adjective linker很hěngood-looking好看hǎo kàn，among其中qí zhōngI / me我wǒmost最zuìto like喜欢xǐ huanblue (color)蓝色lán sè。

0601.3 Build: “I like all these dishes; of them, I like dumplings best.”

Arrange all chunks: among其中qí zhōngI / me我wǒ / ， / these这些zhè xiēvegetable菜càiI / me我wǒall / both都dōuto like喜欢xǐ huan / most最zuìto like喜欢xǐ huandumpling饺子jiǎo zi。

0601.4 at / in在zàithese这些zhè xiēstudent学生xué shēngto hit (the mark)中zhōng names the group within the same phrase.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0601.5 Your teacher describes your new class to a visitor. 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 group has twelve pupils, among其中qí zhōng四人会sì rén huìswimming游泳yóu yǒng. Someone says there are four pupils in the whole group. Repair the reading.

R2. Use it yourself. Describe ten books, three of which are in English, without claiming the language of every other book.

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