Conjunctions

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.

in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎn (so as to avoid)

Just in case

• The forecast is uncertain, and you're heading out for the whole day.
• you你nǐto take along with one带上dài shàngumbrella雨伞yǔ sǎn，in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎnto get soaked淋湿lín shī。 – "Take an umbrella so you don't get soaked."

Action，in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎn + unwanted result

• in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎn = "so as to avoid, lest": the first clause is a precaution, the second the result you want to avoid.
• It starts the second clause: to ask请qǐngto conserve保存bǎo cúngood好hǎoreceipt收据shōu jù，in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎnto lose丢失diū shī.

please请qǐngkeep保存bǎo cúnsafely好hǎothe receipt收据shōu jù，so as to avoid以免yǐ miǎnlosing it丢失diū shī。

Warnings and instructions

• to drive a car开车kāi chēo'clock时shídon't不要bú yàoto see看kàncell phone手机shǒu jī，in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎnto happen发生fā shēngaccident事故shì gù。 – "Don't look at your phone while driving, to avoid accidents."
• (把: marks the object)把bǎmedicine药yào放在fàng zàihigh place高处gāo chù，in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎnchild孩子hái zito get拿到ná dào。 – "Put the medicine up high so children can't reach it."

把bǎthe medicine药yàoput放fàngat在zàia high place高处gāo chù，so that … not以免yǐ miǎnchildren孩子hái zireach it拿到ná dào。

Only unwanted results

• What follows in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎn is something bad you want to avoid; for a positive goal use so that以便yǐ biàn: 早点儿zǎo diǎn érto set off出发chū fā，so that以便yǐ biànon time准时zhǔn shíto / arrive到dào.
• Do not add not不bù after in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎn: in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎnto arrive late迟到chí dào, not in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎnnot不bùto arrive late迟到chí dào (that would mean the opposite).

in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎn versus so as not to免得miǎn de and to avoid省得shěng de

• so as not to免得miǎn de / to avoid省得shěng de mean the same in speech: 早点儿zǎo diǎn érto walk走zǒu，so as not to免得miǎn detraffic jam堵车dǔ chē.
• in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎn is more formal and common in instructions and notices.

early早zǎoa bit点儿diǎnrleave走zǒu，to avoid免得miǎn detraffic jams堵车dǔ chē。

Recap

• Precaution，in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎn + unwanted result = so as to avoid (formal).
• Positive goals take so that以便yǐ biàn; spoken equivalents so as not to免得miǎn de / to avoid省得shěng de; no not不bù after in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎn.

Practise this pattern step by step.

as well as以及yǐ jí (as well as / and)

A formal list

• A company report lists everyone who took part in a project.
• to participate参加cān jiāmeeting会议huì yì(modifier / structural particle)的deto have / there is有yǒumanager经理jīng lǐ、engineer工程师gōng chéng shīas well as以及yǐ jípart部分bù fènclient客户kè hù。 – "Attending the meeting were the manager, the engineers, and some of the clients."

A、B as well as以及yǐ jí C = and, as well as

• as well as以及yǐ jí joins the last item of a list in formal writing, like a formal and / with和hé.
• It often adds an item of a slightly different kind or lower importance.

students学生xué sheng、teachers老师lǎo shīas well as以及yǐ jíparents家长jiā zhǎngall都dōutook part参加cān jiā了le。

Joining phrases and clauses

• It can join larger units: everyone大家dà jiāto discuss讨论tǎo lùn(completed / change)了leto exercise活动huó dòng(modifier / structural particle)的de(concept of) time时间shí jiān、place地点dì diǎnas well as以及yǐ jícost费用fèi yòng。 – "Everyone discussed the time, place and cost of the event."
• Questions too: how / why怎么zěn meto go去qùas well as以及yǐ jíwhat什么shén metime时候shí hòuto go去qù，still / also还háinot / haven't没méito decide (to do something)决定jué dìng.

discussed讨论tǎo lùn了lethe time时间shí jiān、place地点dì diǎnand以及yǐ jícost费用fèi yong。

Formal, and before the last item

• In casual speech, and / with和hé sounds more natural: I / me我wǒto buy买mǎi(completed / change)了leapple苹果píng guǒand / with和hébanana香蕉xiāng jiāo.
• Put as well as以及yǐ jí before the last item only: A、B as well as以及yǐ jí C, not A as well as以及yǐ jí B as well as以及yǐ jí C.

as well as以及yǐ jí versus and / with和hé and and及jí

• and / with和hé = and (everyday).
• and及jí is an even more compact written form: student学生xué shēngand及jíhead of a household家长jiā zhǎng. as well as以及yǐ jí can join longer phrases than and及jí.

students学生xué shengand及jíparents家长jiā zhǎng。

Recap

• A、B as well as以及yǐ jí C = A, B, and (also) C (formal writing).
• Everyday and / with和hé; compact written and及jí; as well as以及yǐ jí can join phrases and clauses.

Practise this pattern step by step.

in a word总之zǒng zhī (in short / in a word)

Wrapping it up

• At the end of a long discussion about holiday plans, you sum up.
• in a word总之zǒng zhī，we / us我们wǒ mendown下xiàFriday周五zhōu wǔto set off出发chū fā。 – "In short, we leave next Friday."

in a word总之zǒng zhī，+ summary = in short, in a word

• in a word总之zǒng zhī introduces a conclusion or summary after several points.
• It usually starts the sentence, followed by a comma.

in short总之zǒng zhī，this这次zhè cìevent活动huó dòngvery很hěnsuccessful成功chéng gōng。

After a list of reasons

• price价格jià gé太高tài gāo，quality质量zhì liàngsame一般yì bān，to serve服务fú wùalso也yěno good不好bù hǎo。in a word总之zǒng zhī，I / me我wǒnot不bùto recommend推荐tuī jiàn。 – "The price is too high, the quality average, the service poor. In short, I don't recommend it."
• It pulls everything together into one point.

in short总之zǒng zhī，I我wǒdon't不bùrecommend it推荐tuī jiàn。

After the details, not before

• in a word总之zǒng zhī comes after the points it sums up; it cannot open a conversation.
• It closes a discussion; for "for example" use for example比如bǐ rú.

in a word总之zǒng zhī versus in short总而言之zǒng ér yán zhī and anyway反正fǎn zhèng

• in short总而言之zǒng ér yán zhī = the full, more formal form.
• anyway反正fǎn zhèng = anyway, whatever happens: anyway反正fǎn zhèngI / me我wǒnot不bùto go去qù – the speaker's mind is made up.

anyway反正fǎn zhèngI我wǒwon't不búgo去qù。

Recap

• in a word总之zǒng zhī，… = in short, in a word (a summary after several points).
• Formal in short总而言之zǒng ér yán zhī; anyway反正fǎn zhèng = anyway (mind made up).

Practise this pattern step by step.

(literary) (conjunction…则zé (while / whereas – formal contrast)

North and south

• An essay compares eating habits across China.
• north北方běi fāng人爱rén ài吃面chī miàn，南方人nán fāng rén(literary) (conjunction…则zéto love爱àivariant of 吃吃chī(cooked) rice米饭mǐ fàn。 – "Northerners love noodles, whereas southerners love rice."

A …，B (literary) (conjunction…则zé … = whereas, while (formal contrast)

• (literary) (conjunction…则zé follows the subject of the second clause and marks a contrast with the first: he / him他tāto like喜欢xǐ huanquiet安静ān jìng，I / me我wǒ(literary) (conjunction…则zéto like喜欢xǐ huanbustling with noise and…热闹rè nào.
• It is written and formal.

he他tālikes喜欢xǐ huanquiet安静ān jìng，I我wǒwhereas则zélike喜欢xǐ huanbustle热闹rè nao。

Consequence: then

• (literary) (conjunction…则zé can also mean "then" in a condition: (idiom) (the Analects)…欲速则不达yù sù zé bù dá。 – "More haste, less speed."
• if如果rú guǒ…，(literary) (conjunction…则zé… in formal writing: if如果rú guǒtemperature温度wēn dùto surpass超过chāo guòone / a一yīBaidu, Internet portal and…百度bǎi dù，(literary) (conjunction…则zé水会shuǐ huì(of a liquid) to boil沸腾fèi téng.

wanting欲yùspeed速sùthen则zénot不bùarriving达dá。

After the subject

• (literary) (conjunction…则zé follows the subject: 南方人nán fāng rén(literary) (conjunction…则zé…, not (literary) (conjunction…则zé南方人nán fāng rén….
• It is formal; in speech, and / but而ér or but但是dàn shì / but可是kě shì are more natural.

(literary) (conjunction…则zé versus and / but而ér

• and / but而ér starts the contrasting clause: north北方běi fāngcold冷lěng，and / but而érsouth南方nán fāngwarm暖和nuǎn huo.
• (literary) (conjunction…则zé sits inside it, after the subject: north北方běi fāngcold冷lěng，south南方nán fāng(literary) (conjunction…则zéwarm暖和nuǎn huo.

the north北方běi fāngis cold冷lěng，whereas而érthe south南方nán fāngis warm暖和nuǎn huo。

Recap

• …，B (literary) (conjunction…则zé … = whereas (formal contrast, after the subject); in conditions, (literary) (conjunction…则zé = then.
• and / but而ér starts the clause; speech uses but但是dàn shì / but可是kě shì.

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.

in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎn (so as to avoid)

0301.1 Complete: “Keep the receipt so you don't lose it.” to ask请qǐngto conserve保存bǎo cúngood好hǎoreceipt收据shōu jù，…………to lose丢失diū shī。

0301.2 “Leave early so you arrive on time.” Which fits? 早点儿zǎo diǎn érto set off出发chū fā，____准时到达zhǔn shí dào dá。

• A. so as not to免得miǎn de
• B. so that以便yǐ biàn
• C. to avoid省得shěng de
• D. in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎn

0301.3 Build: “Put the medicine up high so children can't reach it.”

Arrange all chunks: in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎn / (把: marks the object)把bǎmedicine药yào放在fàng zàihigh place高处gāo chù / ， / child孩子hái zito get拿到ná dào。

0301.4 so as not to免得miǎn de is a spoken equivalent of in order to avoid以免yǐ miǎn.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0301.5 The forecast is uncertain, and you're heading out for the whole day. 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.

as well as以及yǐ jí (as well as / and)

0302.1 Complete (formal): “Students, teachers and parents all took part.” student学生xué shēng、teacher老师lǎo shī…………head of a household家长jiā zhǎngall / both都dōuto participate参加cān jiā(completed / change)了le。

0302.2 Which suits casual speech? “I bought apples and bananas.”

• A. I / me我wǒto buy买mǎi(completed / change)了leapple苹果píng guǒas well as以及yǐ jíbanana香蕉xiāng jiāo。
• B. I / me我wǒto buy买mǎi(completed / change)了leapple苹果píng guǒand / with和hébanana香蕉xiāng jiāo。
• C. I / me我wǒto buy买mǎi(completed / change)了leas well as以及yǐ jíapple苹果píng guǒbanana香蕉xiāng jiāo。
• D. I / me我wǒto buy买mǎi(completed / change)了leapple苹果píng guǒand及jíbanana香蕉xiāng jiāo。

0302.3 Build: “We discussed the time, place and cost.”

Arrange all chunks: (concept of) time时间shí jiān、place地点dì diǎn / as well as以及yǐ jí / cost费用fèi yòng。 / we / us我们wǒ mento discuss讨论tǎo lùn(completed / change)了le

0302.4 as well as以及yǐ jí can join longer phrases than and及jí.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0302.5 A company report lists everyone who took part in a project. 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.

in a word总之zǒng zhī (in short / in a word)

0303.1 Sum up: “In short, the event was a success.” …………，这次zhè cìto exercise活动huó dòngdegree / adjective linker很hěnsuccess成功chéng gōng。

0303.2 “Whatever you say, I'm not going anyway.” Which fits? ____I / me我wǒnot不bùto go去qù。

• A. then / after然后rán hòu
• B. for example比如bǐ rú
• C. in a word总之zǒng zhī
• D. anyway反正fǎn zhèng

0303.3 Build: “In short, I don't recommend it.”

Arrange all chunks: not不bùto recommend推荐tuī jiàn。 / in a word总之zǒng zhī / ， / I / me我wǒ

0303.4 in a word总之zǒng zhī can open a conversation before any points are made.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0303.5 At the end of a long discussion about holiday plans, you sum up. 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.

(literary) (conjunction…则zé (while / whereas – formal contrast)

0304.1 Complete (written): “He likes quiet, whereas I like bustle.” he / him他tāto like喜欢xǐ huanquiet安静ān jìng，I / me我wǒ…………to like喜欢xǐ huanbustling with noise and…热闹rè nào。

0304.2 Which is correct?

• A. (literary) (conjunction…则zénorth北方běi fāngcold冷lěng，south南方nán fāngwarm暖和nuǎn huo。
• B. north北方běi fāngcold冷lěng，south南方nán fāng(literary) (conjunction…则zéwarm暖和nuǎn huo。
• C. north北方běi fāngcold冷lěng，(literary) (conjunction…则zésouth南方nán fāngwarm暖和nuǎn huo。
• D. north北方běi fāng(literary) (conjunction…则zécold冷lěng，south南方nán fāngwarm暖和nuǎn huo(literary) (conjunction…则zé。

0304.3 Build: “More haste, less speed.”

Arrange all chunks: (literary) (conjunction…则zé / 不达bù dá。 / 欲速yù sù

0304.4 and / but而ér starts the contrasting clause; (literary) (conjunction…则zé follows its subject.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0304.5 An essay compares eating habits across China. 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 report uses (literary) (conjunction…则zé to imply that one city's policy caused another city's policy, but supplies only a contrast. What needs correction?

R2. Use it yourself. Give a preventive instruction and close a short conclusion without adding evidence.

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