Complex sentence patterns

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.

Adj + 是 + Adj，但是 … (concede, then object)

Conceding a quality does not settle a decision

• An item is good, but the price is unacceptable.
• 好是好，但是太贵。 — The speaker accepts the quality before raising the price objection.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is Adj + 是 + Adj，但是 … (concede, then object). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
• Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.

good好hǎo(indeed)是shìgood好hǎo，but但是dàn shìtoo太tàiexpensive贵guì。

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, 好是好，但是太贵。: The speaker accepts the quality before raising the price objection.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• The concession is not a retraction of the quality.
• The final decision depends on the objection and context.

Use the distinction

• The speaker accepts the quality before raising the price objection.
• The concession is not a retraction of the quality. The final decision depends on the objection and context.

Try it with help closed

An item is good, but the price is unacceptable. 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.

One possible response: 好是好，但是太贵。

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• The concession is not a retraction of the quality.
• The final decision depends on the objection and context.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.

一 … 就 … (as soon as / whenever)

An immediate link can describe a habit

• You usually sleep shortly after reaching home.
• 我一到家就睡觉。 — The arrival triggers sleeping in the described routine.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is 一 … 就 … (as soon as / whenever). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
• Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.

I我wǒas soon as一yīget home到家dào jiāthen就jiùsleep睡觉shuì jiào。

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, 我一到家就睡觉。: The arrival triggers sleeping in the described routine.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• The frame also describes one event in an appropriate past context.
• It does not specify an exact number of seconds between the actions.

Use the distinction

• The arrival triggers sleeping in the described routine.
• The frame also describes one event in an appropriate past context. It does not specify an exact number of seconds between the actions.

Try it with help closed

You usually sleep shortly after reaching home. 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.

One possible response: 我一到家就睡觉。

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• The frame also describes one event in an appropriate past context.
• It does not specify an exact number of seconds between the actions.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.

一方面 … ，一方面 … (on one hand / on the other)

Two sides may reinforce or conflict

• Work and rest both matter when planning a week.
• 一方面要工作，另一方面要休息。 — The two aspects are set alongside each other for consideration.

Build the form

• The pattern in this lesson is 一方面 … ，一方面 … (on one hand / on the other). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
• Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.

on one hand一方面yì fāng miànneed to要yàowork工作gōng zuò，on the other一方面yì fāng miànneed to要yàorest休息xiū xi。

Read examples in context

• In the opening example, 一方面要工作，另一方面要休息。: The two aspects are set alongside each other for consideration.
• Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.

Know the boundary

• The aspects can be complementary or in tension.
• The frame does not assert that both must be done simultaneously.

Use the distinction

• The two aspects are set alongside each other for consideration.
• The aspects can be complementary or in tension. The frame does not assert that both must be done simultaneously.

Try it with help closed

Work and rest both matter when planning a week. 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.

One possible response: 一方面要工作，另一方面要休息。

• My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
• I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
• The aspects can be complementary or in tension.
• The frame does not assert that both must be done simultaneously.
• I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.

Practise this pattern step by step.