Use the examples with their context and limits. Recall a sentence before reading the model. Original teaching additions accompany examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA); see the course reference provenance.
Buy a small quantity
Ask the price and buy a stated number of things.
Build the meaning
Count ordinary objects with number + measure word + noun: 两个苹果, two apples. 两 is useful before 个; 二 is used in numbers such as 二十.
多少钱 asks a price. 我要…… says what you want in this buying situation; it is not the same as 我有……, I have.
Useful words in context
- 苹果 píngguǒ — apple. 我要两个苹果。
- 个 ge — general measure word. 三个苹果。
- 多少钱 duōshao qián — how much money. 多少钱？
- 块 kuài — yuan, spoken. 十块钱。
- 要 yào — want, in this request. 我要水。
Read for meaning
林安要两个苹果和一杯水。两个苹果六块钱，一杯水三块钱。一共九块钱。
Lin An wants two apples and one cup of water. The apples cost six yuan and the water three: nine yuan altogether.
Listen to a different passage
Ask a partner to read this with the script closed. Use the online practice for browser playback.
我要三个苹果，不要水。三个苹果九块钱。
I want three apples, not water. Three apples cost nine yuan.
Speak and write
Be a customer: ask a price, then order three apples. Be the seller and give a price.
Write a short order for two apples and water. State a fictional total price.
One speaking model: A: 三个苹果多少钱？ B: 九块钱。 A: 我要三个苹果。
One writing model: 我要两个苹果和一杯水。一共十块钱。
- Use a number and measure word with 苹果.
- Include both requested items.
- Label the price as a total.
Check the distinction: The count is 两个, not 二个 in this ordinary phrase. Use a measure word instead of directly copying English two apples.