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.
only then / not until才 vs then / just就 (late vs early)
Same time, different reactions
- The meeting starts at nine. Li arrived at 8:30; Wang strolled in at 9:30.
- 小李八点半then / just就to / arrive到(completed / change)了，小王九点半only then / not until才to / arrive到。 — "Li was there as early as 8:30; Wang didn't arrive until 9:30."
Time + then / just就 + Verb + (completed / change)了 versus Time + only then / not until才 + Verb
- then / just就 = earlier, sooner or easier than expected; the sentence usually has (completed / change)了: he / him他六点then / just就to get out of bed起床(completed / change)了.
- only then / not until才 = later or harder than expected: he / him他九点only then / not until才to get out of bed起床 is the short model used here. Other contexts can also include (completed / change)了.
he他six o'clock六点already就get up起床了。
It depends on the expectation
- A child getting up at seven for school: he / him他七点then / just就to get out of bed起床(completed / change)了 if you expected eight.
- The same seven o'clock for a farmer who usually rises at five: he / him他七点only then / not until才to get out of bed起床。
he他nine o'clock九点not until才get up起床。
The (completed / change)了 rule
- then / just就 sentences about the past normally take (completed / change)了: he / him他八点then / just就to / arrive到(completed / change)了.
- Use he / him他十点only then / not until才to / arrive到 as the simple late-arrival model. This is not a ban on (completed / change)了 in every sentence containing only then / not until才.
With amounts and effort too
- then / just就 = little effort needed: he / him他to see看(completed / change)了one time (all the way…一遍then / just就to understand懂(completed / change)了。 — "He understood after reading it once."
- only then / not until才 = a lot of effort needed: I / me我to see看(completed / change)了三遍only then / not until才to understand懂。 — "I only understood after reading it three times."
I我read看了three times三遍only then才understand懂。
Recap
- then / just就 can present an event as early, quick or easy; only then / not until才 as late, slow or hard. Aspect marking depends on the complete sentence.
- The choice depends on the speaker's expectation, not on the clock alone.
Practise this pattern step by step.
just now刚 vs just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 (just now: adverb vs time-word)
You only just missed her
- You knock on your friend's door; her roommate says she left a few minutes ago.
- she / her她just now (variant of 刚才)刚才to go out出去(completed / change)了。 — "She went out a moment ago." just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 is a time word for "just now".
just now刚 is an adverb, just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 is a time word
- just now刚 + Verb = "have just (done)"; it goes right before the verb: 我刚to / arrive到 — "I've just arrived."
- just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 = "a moment ago"; like yesterday昨天, it can start the sentence: just now (variant of 刚才)刚才you你to go去where哪儿(completed / change)了？
I我just刚arrive到home家。
How recent is "just"?
- just now刚 can stretch: he / him他just now刚to come来Beijing, capital of the…北京一个月。 — "He's only been in Beijing a month." It is recent from the speaker's view.
- just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 is only a few minutes ago: just now (variant of 刚才)刚才someone有人to / for / give给you你to make a telephone call打电话。 — "Someone called you just now."
just now刚才there was有someone人to给you你make打a phone call电话。
Position and (completed / change)了
- just now刚 never starts the sentence: 我刚to have a meal吃饭, not just now刚I / me我to have a meal吃饭. just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 may come first: just now (variant of 刚才)刚才I / me我to have a meal吃饭(completed / change)了.
- just now刚 + verb usually has no (completed / change)了: 我刚to / arrive到. just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 sentences take (completed / change)了 normally: he / him他just now (variant of 刚才)刚才to walk走(completed / change)了.
just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 can describe a past state
- just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 works with adjectives and negatives: just now (variant of 刚才)刚才degree / adjective linker很to warm up热，now现在many好多(completed / change)了。 — "It was hot just now; now it's much better."
- just now刚 does not: you cannot say just now刚degree / adjective linker很to warm up热. Use just now (variant of 刚才)刚才.
just now刚才very很hot热，now现在better好much多了。
Recap
- just now刚 + Verb = have just done (adverb, before the verb, usually no (completed / change)了).
- just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 = a moment ago (time word, can start the sentence, works with (completed / change)了, adjectives and not / haven't没).
Practise this pattern step by step.
a little有点 vs a bit一点 (a bit too… vs a little …er)
Trying on shoes
- The shoes fit badly and you want to ask for another size.
- 这双鞋a little有点small小，有大a bit一点(modifier / structural particle)的(yes/no ?)吗？ — "These shoes are a bit small. Do you have a slightly bigger pair?"
a little有点 + Adj before, Adj + a bit一点 after
- a little有点(non-syllabic diminutive…儿) + Adj = "a bit (too) …", usually a complaint: a little有点expensive贵, a little有点cold冷.
- Adj + a bit一点(non-syllabic diminutive…儿) = "a little more …", for comparing or asking: cheap便宜a bit一点, rapid快a bit一点.
today今天a bit有点cold冷。
Complain, then request
- Bargaining: this这个a little有点expensive贵，can / be able to能cheap便宜a bit一点(yes/no ?)吗？ — "It's a bit expensive; can you make it a little cheaper?"
- Asking for change: you你variant of 说说(degree marker)得a little有点rapid快，to ask请variant of 说说slow慢a bit一点。 — "You speak a bit fast; please speak a little slower."
please请speak说slow慢a little一点。
Keep them on the right side
- a little有点 goes before the adjective: a little有点expensive贵, not expensive贵a little有点.
- a bit一点 goes after the adjective: cheap便宜a bit一点, not a bit一点cheap便宜 (a bit一点 before a noun means "a little of": a bit一点water水).
a little有点 sounds negative
- a little有点 + a pleasant word sounds odd: a little有点pretty漂亮 is unusual. Use 很漂亮 or fairly / rather比较pretty漂亮.
- a little有点 + negative adjectives is natural: 有点累, a little有点difficult / hard难, a little有点not不comfortable舒服.
I我a bit有点not不well舒服。
Recap
- a little有点 + Adj = a bit too … (a complaint); Adj + a bit一点 = a little more … (comparison or request).
- Typical pair: a little有点expensive贵，cheap便宜a bit一点(suggestion)吧.
Practise this pattern step by step.
again / then再 vs again又 (again: future vs past)
Again: done or still to come?
- You visited the Great Wall last year. This year you went again, and next year you want to go once more.
- I / me我this year今年again又to go去(completed / change)了the Great Wall长城，next year明年still / also还want / think / miss想again / then再to go去。 — "I went to the Great Wall again this year, and I want to go again next year."
again又 for the past, again / then再 for the future
- again又 + Verb + (completed / change)了 = it happened again (already): he / him他again又to arrive late迟到(completed / change)了.
- again / then再 + Verb = do it again (still to come), in plans, requests and suggestions: to ask请to say again再说one time (all the way…一遍.
please请again再say说once一遍。
Requests and plans
- to welcome欢迎you你next time下次again / then再to come来！ — "Come again next time!"
- we / us我们tomorrow明天again / then再to discuss讨论(suggestion)吧。 — "Let's discuss it again tomorrow." again / then再 can also mean "then, later".
welcome欢迎you你next time下次again再come来！
Picking the right "again"
- Past repetition: again又, not again / then再: he / him他yesterday昨天again又to come来(completed / change)了, not he / him他yesterday昨天again / then再to come来(completed / change)了.
- Future plan or request: again / then再, not again又: tomorrow明天again / then再to come来, not tomorrow明天again又to come来 (unless it is a predictable repeat).
The exception: certain repeats
- again又 can look ahead for something sure to come round again: tomorrow明天again又to be / is是weekend周末(completed / change)了！ — "It's the weekend again tomorrow!"
- still / also还want / think / miss想again / then再 / 还要again / then再 shows a wish to repeat: I / me我still / also还want / think / miss想again / then再variant of 吃吃一碗 — "I'd like another bowl."
I我still还want想again再eat吃a bowl一碗。
Recap
- again又 = again, already happened (again又 + V + (completed / change)了). again / then再 = again, still to come (plans, requests).
- again又 can look ahead only for a certain repeat (again又to be / is是weekend周末(completed / change)了).
Practise this pattern step by step.
Practice without the models
only then / not until才 vs then / just就 (late vs early)
0213.1 The train was due at ten but arrived at eleven. train火车十一点…………to / arrive到。
0213.2 Which reports arrival as early in the completed-event model used here?
- A. he / him他七点to / arrive到(completed / change)了then / just就。
- B. he / him他only then / not until才十点to / arrive到(completed / change)了。
- C. he / him他十点only then / not until才to / arrive到(completed / change)了。
- D. he / him他七点then / just就to / arrive到(completed / change)了。
0213.3 “I asked three times before he agreed.” Which word fits? I / me我to ask问(completed / change)了third三次he / him他____to agree同意。
- A. again又
- B. only then / not until才
- C. then / just就
- D. again / then再
0213.4 Build: “He got up as early as six.”
Arrange all chunks: he / him他 / then / just就 / to get out of bed起床(completed / change)了。 / 六点
0213.5 The meeting starts at nine. Li arrived at 8:30; Wang strolled in at 9:30. 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.
just now刚 vs just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 (just now: adverb vs time-word)
0214.1 Complete: “What did you say just now?” …………you你variant of 说说what什么？
0214.2 Which sentence is correct?
- A. just now刚I / me我to / arrive到home家。
- B. I / me我to / arrive到家刚。
- C. 我刚to / arrive到home家。
- D. just now刚degree / adjective linker很cold冷。
0214.3 just now (variant of 刚才)刚才degree / adjective linker很busy忙 is correct, but just now刚degree / adjective linker很busy忙 is not.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
0214.4 Build: “Someone called you just now.”
Arrange all chunks: just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 / to / for / give给you你 / someone有人 / to make a telephone call打电话。
0214.5 You knock on your friend's door; her roommate says she left a few minutes ago. 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 little有点 vs a bit一点 (a bit too… vs a little …er)
0215.1 Complain: “The soup is a bit salty.” soup汤…………salted咸。
0215.2 Ask for change: “Could you walk a little faster?”
- A. you你can / be able to能a bit一点rapid快to walk走(yes/no ?)吗？
- B. you你can / be able to能to walk走a little有点rapid快(yes/no ?)吗？
- C. you你can / be able to能to walk走rapid快a bit一点(yes/no ?)吗？
- D. you你can / be able to能a little有点rapid快to walk走(yes/no ?)吗？
0215.3 Build: “It's a bit expensive; can you make it a little cheaper?”
Arrange all chunks: can / be able to能cheap便宜 / a bit一点(yes/no ?)吗？ / this这个a little有点expensive贵 / ，
0215.4 she / her她a little有点pretty漂亮 is a natural compliment.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
0215.5 The shoes fit badly and you want to ask for another size. 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.
again / then再 vs again又 (again: future vs past)
0216.1 Ask politely: “Please try again.” to ask请…………to test试first一次。
0216.2 Fill both gaps: he / him他last week上个星期__to catch cold感冒(completed / change)了，doctor医生variant of 说说next month下个月__to come来inspection检查。
- A. again / then再 … again / then再
- B. again又 … again又
- C. again / then再 … again又
- D. again又 … again / then再
0216.3 Build: “Come again next time!”
Arrange all chunks: next time下次 / again / then再 / to welcome欢迎you你 / to come来！
0216.4 tomorrow明天again又to be / is是Friday星期五(completed / change)了 is correct.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
0216.5 You visited the Great Wall last year. This year you went again, and next year you want to go once more. 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.
Answers and explanations
only then / not until才 vs then / just就 (late vs early)
0213.1 only then / not until才
Eleven is later than the expected ten, so use only then / not until才.
0213.2 D. he / him他七点then / just就to / arrive到(completed / change)了。
he / him他七点then / just就to / arrive到(completed / change)了 presents seven as early. only then / not until才 would express the opposite expectation; (completed / change)了 is not universally banned after only then / not until才.
0213.3 B. only then / not until才
Three requests means more effort than expected, so only then / not until才.
0213.4 he / him他六点then / just就to get out of bed起床(completed / change)了。
Time + then / just就 + Verb + (completed / change)了.
0213.5 One possible response: 小李八点半then / just就to / arrive到(completed / change)了，小王九点半only then / not until才to / arrive到。
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- then / just就 sentences about the past normally take (completed / change)了: he / him他八点then / just就to / arrive到(completed / change)了.
- Use he / him他十点only then / not until才to / arrive到 as the simple late-arrival model. This is not a ban on (completed / change)了 in every sentence containing only then / not until才.
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.
just now刚 vs just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 (just now: adverb vs time-word)
0214.1 just now (variant of 刚才)刚才
Only the time word just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 can start the sentence.
0214.2 C. 我刚to / arrive到home家。
just now刚 stands right before the verb; it cannot start the sentence or go before an adjective.
0214.3 True.
just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 can describe a state a moment ago; just now刚 only goes before an action verb.
0214.4 just now (variant of 刚才)刚才someone有人to / for / give给you你to make a telephone call打电话。
just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 + someone有人 + to / for / give给 + person + to make a telephone call打电话.
0214.5 One possible response: she / her她just now (variant of 刚才)刚才to go out出去(completed / change)了。
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- just now刚 never starts the sentence: 我刚to have a meal吃饭, not just now刚I / me我to have a meal吃饭. just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 may come first: just now (variant of 刚才)刚才I / me我to have a meal吃饭(completed / change)了.
- just now刚 + verb usually has no (completed / change)了: 我刚to / arrive到. just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 sentences take (completed / change)了 normally: he / him他just now (variant of 刚才)刚才to walk走(completed / change)了.
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.
a little有点 vs a bit一点 (a bit too… vs a little …er)
0215.1 a little有点
a little有点 + Adj for something slightly unwelcome.
0215.2 C. you你can / be able to能to walk走rapid快a bit一点(yes/no ?)吗？
Verb + Adj + a bit一点 asks for “a little more …”.
0215.3 this这个a little有点expensive贵，can / be able to能cheap便宜a bit一点(yes/no ?)吗？
a little有点 + Adj (complaint), then Adj + a bit一点 (request).
0215.4 False.
a little有点 usually goes with unwelcome qualities. Say she / her她很漂亮.
0215.5 One possible response: 这双鞋a little有点small小，有大a bit一点(modifier / structural particle)的(yes/no ?)吗？
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- a little有点 goes before the adjective: a little有点expensive贵, not expensive贵a little有点.
- a bit一点 goes after the adjective: cheap便宜a bit一点, not a bit一点cheap便宜 (a bit一点 before a noun means "a little of": a bit一点water水).
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.
again / then再 vs again又 (again: future vs past)
0216.1 again / then再
A request for a future repeat takes again / then再.
0216.2 D. again又 … again / then再
The cold already came back (again又); the check-up is still to come (again / then再).
0216.3 to welcome欢迎you你next time下次again / then再to come来！
Time word + again / then再 + verb for a future repeat.
0216.4 True.
again又 can look ahead for a repeat that is certain to come.
0216.5 One possible response: I / me我this year今年again又to go去(completed / change)了the Great Wall长城，next year明年still / also还want / think / miss想again / then再to go去。
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- Past repetition: again又, not again / then再: he / him他yesterday昨天again又to come来(completed / change)了, not he / him他yesterday昨天again / then再to come来(completed / change)了.
- Future plan or request: again / then再, not again又: tomorrow明天again / then再to come来, not tomorrow明天again又to come来 (unless it is a predictable repeat).
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.