Particles

• 7 Particles

  PDF (EN) 2-up

  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.

  Verb + (ongoing -ing)着zhe (ongoing state)

  The door is open

  • You come home and notice the door open and the lights on.
  • 门开mén kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe，lamp灯dēngalso也yěbright亮liàng(ongoing -ing)着zhe。 — "The door is open, and the lights are on too." (ongoing -ing)着zhe describes a state that continues.

  Verb + (ongoing -ing)着zhe = an ongoing state

  • Verb + (ongoing -ing)着zhe describes a state that lasts: 开着kāi zhe (is open), attire穿着chuān zhe (is wearing), to sit坐zuò(ongoing -ing)着zhe (is sitting).
  • Negate with not / haven't没méi: gate门ménnot / haven't没méito open (transitive or…开kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe — "The door isn't open."

  she她tāwear穿chuān(ongoing)着zhea一yí(measure word)件jiànred红hóngtop衣服yī fu。

  

  Doing one thing while in a state

  • Verb1 + (ongoing -ing)着zhe + Verb2: the first state goes on while the second action happens: he / him他tāto laugh笑xiào(ongoing -ing)着zhevariant of 说说shuō："it doesn't matter没关系méi guān xì。" — "He said with a smile, 'It doesn't matter.'"
  • we / us我们wǒ mento sit坐zuò(ongoing -ing)着zheto chat聊天liáo tiān。 — "We sat and chatted."

  he他tāsmile笑xiào(while)着zhesay说shuō：it doesn't matter没关系méi guān xi。

  State, not progress

  • (ongoing -ing)着zhe describes a state; for an action in progress, use at / in在zài: he / him他tāat / in在zàito open a door (lit. and…开门kāi mén (he is opening the door) vs 门开mén kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe (the door is open).
  • Negate with not / haven't没méi, not not不bù: lamp灯dēngnot / haven't没méibright亮liàng(ongoing -ing)着zhe.

  (ongoing -ing)着zhe versus at / in在zài

  • at / in在zài + Verb = in the middle of doing: he / him他tāat / in在zài穿衣服chuān yī fú — "He's getting dressed."
  • Verb + (ongoing -ing)着zhe = the resulting state: he / him他tāattire穿着chuān zhe一件yī jiàn白衬衫bái chèn shān — "He's wearing a white shirt."

  he他tā(in progress)在zàiput on穿chuānclothes衣服yī fu。

  Recap

  • Verb + (ongoing -ing)着zhe = an ongoing state (门开mén kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe); V1(ongoing -ing)着zhe + V2 = do V2 while in state V1.
  • at / in在zài + Verb = action in progress. Negate (ongoing -ing)着zhe with not / haven't没méi.

  Practise this pattern step by step.

  Sentence-final (completed / change)了le (change of state)

  It's started raining

  • You were about to go out, but you look out of the window and see rain.
  • to rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le！ — "It's raining (now)!" The final (completed / change)了le says the situation has changed.

  Sentence + (completed / change)了le = something has changed

  • (completed / change)了le at the end of a sentence announces a new situation: it's cold (weather)天冷tiān lěng(completed / change)了le (it has turned cold), I / me我wǒto be hungry饿è(completed / change)了le (I'm hungry now).
  • It is not a past tense; it marks a change from before.

  the weather天tiāncold冷lěng了le。

  

  New facts, new plans, new ages

  • I / me我wǒ二十岁èr shí suì(completed / change)了le。 — "I'm twenty now." he / him他tānot不bùto come来lái(completed / change)了le。 — "He's not coming any more."
  • With rapid快kuài or want / will / need要yào: 快到kuài dào(completed / change)了le。 — "We're almost there."

  he他tānot不bùcome来lái了le。

  Not just "past"

  • A past habit with no change takes no (completed / change)了le: I / me我wǒbefore以前yǐ qiánoften常常cháng chángto go去qù, not I / me我wǒbefore以前yǐ qiánoften常常cháng chángto go去qù(completed / change)了le.
  • not不bù…(completed / change)了le = no longer: I / me我wǒnot不bù喝咖啡hē kā fēi(completed / change)了le means "I've stopped drinking coffee", not "I didn't drink coffee".

  Final (completed / change)了le versus verb (completed / change)了le

  • Verb + (completed / change)了le marks a completed action: I / me我wǒvariant of 吃吃chī(completed / change)了le一个yí gèapple苹果píng guǒ — "I ate an apple."
  • Final (completed / change)了le marks a change: I / me我wǒnot不bùto be hungry饿è(completed / change)了le — "I'm not hungry any more." Some sentences have both.

  I我wǒeat吃chī了lean一个yí gèapple苹果píng guǒ。

  Recap

  • Sentence-final (completed / change)了le = a new situation, a change: to rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le, I / me我wǒto be hungry饿è(completed / change)了le, he / him他tānot不bùto come来lái(completed / change)了le.
  • not不bù…(completed / change)了le = no longer; rapid快kuài…(completed / change)了le = soon. It is not a simple past tense.

  Practise this pattern step by step.

  Questions with (and …? / softener)呢ne (and you? / where?)

  Meeting a new classmate

  • A new classmate tells you she comes from Chengdu, then waits for you to say where you are from.
  • I / me我wǒto be / is是shìChengdu subprovincial city…成都chéng dūperson人rén，you你nǐ(and …? / softener)呢ne？ — "I'm from Chengdu. And you?"

  Noun + (and …? / softener)呢ne？ = "What about …?"

  • X + (and …? / softener)呢ne？ asks the same question again about X: I / me我wǒdegree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo，you你nǐ(and …? / softener)呢ne？ — "I'm fine, and you?"
  • The question is understood from what was just said, so it can be very short.

  I我wǒvery很hěnwell好hǎo，you你nǐ(and …?)呢ne？

  

  Where is it? (and …? / softener)呢ne on its own

  • With no context, Noun + (and …? / softener)呢ne？ asks where something is: I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的dekey钥匙yào shi(and …? / softener)呢ne？ — "Where are my keys?"
  • (and …? / softener)呢ne also softens a question-word question: you你nǐat / in在zàiwhat are you doing?干什么gàn shén me(and …? / softener)呢ne？ — "What are you up to?"

  my我wǒ的dekeys钥匙yào shi(where?)呢ne？

  (and …? / softener)呢ne and (yes/no ?)吗ma are different

  • Do not put (and …? / softener)呢ne on a yes-no question: you你nǐto be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī(yes/no ?)吗ma？, not you你nǐto be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī(and …? / softener)呢ne？
  • Do not add (yes/no ?)吗ma to a question-word question: you你nǐto go去qùwhere哪儿nǎr？ or you你nǐto go去qùwhere哪儿nǎr(and …? / softener)呢ne？, not you你nǐto go去qùwhere哪儿nǎr(yes/no ?)吗ma？

  (and …? / softener)呢ne for an ongoing action

  • At the end of a statement, (and …? / softener)呢ne can mark something still going on: he / him他tāat / in在zàito go to bed睡觉shuì jiào(and …? / softener)呢ne。 — "He's sleeping (right now)."
  • It often goes with at / in在zài or (ongoing -ing)着zhe: outside (also pr. for this…外面wài miàn下着雨xià zhe yǔ(and …? / softener)呢ne — "It's raining out."

  he他tā(in progress)在zàisleep睡觉shuì jiào呢ne。

  Recap

  • X + (and …? / softener)呢ne？ = and X? / what about X?; with no context, where is X?
  • Not on yes-no questions (use (yes/no ?)吗ma). After at / in在zài + verb, (and …? / softener)呢ne marks an ongoing action.

  Practise this pattern step by step.

  (modifier / structural particle)的de / (degree marker)得de / (adverb -ly)地de (the three “de”)

  Three characters, one sound

  • A friend texts you about a classmate who runs fast, but writes the wrong "de" and the sentence looks odd.
  • he / him他tāto run跑pǎo(degree marker)得de很快hěn kuài。 — "He runs fast." (modifier / structural particle)的de, (degree marker)得de and (adverb -ly)地de are all read de, but each has its own job.

  (modifier / structural particle)的de before a noun

  • (modifier / structural particle)的de links a description or owner to a noun: I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的debook书shū, pretty漂亮piào liàng(modifier / structural particle)的declothes衣服yī fú, yesterday昨天zuó tiānto buy买mǎi(modifier / structural particle)的dething东西dōng xī.
  • Test: is the next word a noun (or is the noun left out)? Then it is (modifier / structural particle)的de.

  this这zhèis是shìmy我wǒyesterday昨天zuó tiānbought买mǎi(that)的debook书shū。

  

  (adverb -ly)地de before a verb, (degree marker)得de after a verb

  • (adverb -ly)地de links a manner to the verb that follows: conscientious认真rèn zhēn(adverb -ly)地deto learn学习xué xí, slowly慢慢màn màn(adverb -ly)地deto walk走zǒu.
  • (degree marker)得de follows a verb and introduces how well or how much: to run跑pǎo(degree marker)得de很快hěn kuài, variant of 说说shuō(degree marker)得dedegree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo, rope累lèi(degree marker)得deunexpectedly不想bù xiǎng(of sth) to move动dòng.

  she她tāspeaks说shuō得devery很hěnfluently流利liú lì。

  The quick test

  • Look at what follows: a noun → (modifier / structural particle)的de; a verb → (adverb -ly)地de; and after a verb, a description of the result → (degree marker)得de.
  • Typing tip: in to run跑pǎo(degree marker)得de很快hěn kuài the verb to run跑pǎo is before the particle, so it must be (degree marker)得de, not (modifier / structural particle)的de.

  One sentence, two particles

  • he / him他tāhappy高兴gāo xìng地说dì shuō，he / him他tā考得kǎo dédegree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo。 — "He said happily that he had done well in the exam."
  • I / me我wǒto like喜欢xǐ huanvariant of 吃吃chīmama妈妈mā māto make做zuò(modifier / structural particle)的devegetable菜cài。 — "I love the food my mum makes." Here the (modifier / structural particle)的de phrase describes vegetable菜cài.

  he他tāhappily高兴gāo xìng地desaid说shuō，he他tātest考kǎo得devery很hěnwell好hǎo。

  Recap

  • (modifier / structural particle)的de + noun (I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的debook书shū), (adverb -ly)地de + verb (conscientious认真rèn zhēn地学dì xué), verb + (degree marker)得de + result (to run跑pǎo(degree marker)得de很快hěn kuài).
  • All are read de; choose by what comes before and after.

  Practise this pattern step by step.

  Practice without the models

  Verb + (ongoing -ing)着zhe (ongoing state)

  0511.1 Complete: “The window is open.” window窗户chuāng hùto open (transitive or…开kāi…………。

  0511.2 Which says “He is opening the door” (the action in progress)?

  • A. he / him他tāat / in在zàito open a door (lit. and…开门kāi mén。
  • B. 他开tā kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhegate门mén(completed / change)了le。
  • C. gate门ménat / in在zài开着kāi zhe。
  • D. 门开mén kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe。

  0511.3 Build: “He said with a smile...”

  Arrange all chunks: to laugh笑xiào(ongoing -ing)着zhe / variant of 说说shuō。 / he / him他tā

  0511.4 The negative of 门开mén kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe is 门不开mén bù kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe.

  True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

  0511.5 You come home and notice the door open and the lights on. 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.

  Sentence-final (completed / change)了le (change of state)

  0512.1 The light turns green: “It's green now, let's go.” green light (traffic signal)绿灯lǜ dēng…………，to walk走zǒu(suggestion)吧ba。

  0512.2 What does I / me我wǒnot不bùto smoke (a cigarette…抽烟chōu yān(completed / change)了le mean?

  • A. I've quit smoking.
  • B. I don't want to smoke.
  • C. I'm smoking now.
  • D. I didn't smoke.

  0512.3 Build: “We're almost there.”

  Arrange all chunks: to / arrive到dào / rapid快kuài / we / us我们wǒ men / (completed / change)了le。

  0512.4 I / me我wǒbefore以前yǐ qiánoften常常cháng chángto go去qù(completed / change)了le is correct for a past habit.

  True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

  0512.5 You were about to go out, but you look out of the window and see rain. 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.

  Questions with (and …? / softener)呢ne (and you? / where?)

  0513.1 Complete: “I like tea. What about you?” I / me我wǒto like喜欢xǐ huanto drink tea喝茶hē chá，you你nǐ…………？

  0513.2 Which question is correct?

  • A. you你nǐto go去qùwhere哪儿nǎr(yes/no ?)吗ma？
  • B. you你nǐto be / is是shìstudent学生xué shēng(and …? / softener)呢ne？
  • C. you你nǐto be / is是shìstudent学生xué shēng(yes/no ?)吗ma(and …? / softener)呢ne？
  • D. you你nǐto be / is是shìstudent学生xué shēng(yes/no ?)吗ma？

  0513.3 Said while searching your bag, I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的decell phone手机shǒu jī(and …? / softener)呢ne？ means “Where's my phone?”

  True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

  0513.4 Build: “He's sleeping right now.”

  Arrange all chunks: (and …? / softener)呢ne。 / at / in在zài / he / him他tā / to go to bed睡觉shuì jiào

  0513.5 A new classmate tells you she comes from Chengdu, then waits for you to say where you are from. 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.

  (modifier / structural particle)的de / (degree marker)得de / (adverb -ly)地de (the three “de”)

  0514.1 Complete: “She sings very well.” she / her她tāto sing唱chàng…………degree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo。

  0514.2 Fill the gaps: I / me我wǒ__friend朋友péng yǒuslowly慢慢màn màn__to walk走zǒusee 过来过来guò lái。

  • A. (adverb -ly)地de … (degree marker)得de
  • B. (degree marker)得de … (modifier / structural particle)的de
  • C. (modifier / structural particle)的de … (adverb -ly)地de
  • D. (modifier / structural particle)的de … (degree marker)得de

  0514.3 Match each phrase to its particle.

  • 1. pretty漂亮piào liàng__clothes衣服yī fú
  • 2. conscientious认真rèn zhēn__to work工作gōng zuò
  • 3. to write写xiě__degree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo

  • A. (degree marker)得de

  • B. (adverb -ly)地de

  • C. (modifier / structural particle)的de

  0514.4 In mama妈妈mā māto make做zuò(modifier / structural particle)的devegetable菜cài, (modifier / structural particle)的de is correct because vegetable菜cài is a noun.

  True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

  0514.5 A friend texts you about a classmate who runs fast, but writes the wrong "de" and the sentence looks odd. 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

  Verb + (ongoing -ing)着zhe (ongoing state)

  0511.1 (ongoing -ing)着zhe

  Verb + (ongoing -ing)着zhe describes the continuing state.

  0511.2 A. he / him他tāat / in在zàito open a door (lit. and…开门kāi mén。

  An action in progress takes at / in在zài + Verb; 门开mén kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe is the state.

  0511.3 he / him他tāto laugh笑xiào(ongoing -ing)着zhevariant of 说说shuō。

  V1 + (ongoing -ing)着zhe + V2.

  0511.4 False.

  (ongoing -ing)着zhe is negated with not / haven't没méi: gate门ménnot / haven't没méito open (transitive or…开kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe.

  0511.5 One possible response: 门开mén kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe，lamp灯dēngalso也yěbright亮liàng(ongoing -ing)着zhe。

  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.
  • (ongoing -ing)着zhe describes a state; for an action in progress, use at / in在zài: he / him他tāat / in在zàito open a door (lit. and…开门kāi mén (he is opening the door) vs 门开mén kāi(ongoing -ing)着zhe (the door is open).
  • Negate with not / haven't没méi, not not不bù: lamp灯dēngnot / haven't没méibright亮liàng(ongoing -ing)着zhe.
  • 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.

  Sentence-final (completed / change)了le (change of state)

  0512.1 (completed / change)了le

  Final (completed / change)了le announces the change.

  0512.2 A. I've quit smoking.

  not不bù…(completed / change)了le = no longer.

  0512.3 we / us我们wǒ men快到kuài dào(completed / change)了le。

  rapid快kuài + verb + (completed / change)了le = about to.

  0512.4 False.

  A past habit with no change takes no (completed / change)了le.

  0512.5 One possible response: to rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le！

  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 past habit with no change takes no (completed / change)了le: I / me我wǒbefore以前yǐ qiánoften常常cháng chángto go去qù, not I / me我wǒbefore以前yǐ qiánoften常常cháng chángto go去qù(completed / change)了le.
  • not不bù…(completed / change)了le = no longer: I / me我wǒnot不bù喝咖啡hē kā fēi(completed / change)了le means "I've stopped drinking coffee", not "I didn't drink coffee".
  • 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.

  Questions with (and …? / softener)呢ne (and you? / where?)

  0513.1 (and …? / softener)呢ne

  X + (and …? / softener)呢ne repeats the question about X.

  0513.2 D. you你nǐto be / is是shìstudent学生xué shēng(yes/no ?)吗ma？

  Yes-no questions take (yes/no ?)吗ma; (and …? / softener)呢ne does not make a yes-no question.

  0513.3 True.

  With no earlier question, Noun + (and …? / softener)呢ne asks where something is.

  0513.4 he / him他tāat / in在zàito go to bed睡觉shuì jiào(and …? / softener)呢ne。

  at / in在zài + verb + (and …? / softener)呢ne marks an action in progress.

  0513.5 One possible response: I / me我wǒto be / is是shìChengdu subprovincial city…成都chéng dūperson人rén，you你nǐ(and …? / softener)呢ne？

  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.
  • Do not put (and …? / softener)呢ne on a yes-no question: you你nǐto be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī(yes/no ?)吗ma？, not you你nǐto be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī(and …? / softener)呢ne？
  • Do not add (yes/no ?)吗ma to a question-word question: you你nǐto go去qùwhere哪儿nǎr？ or you你nǐto go去qùwhere哪儿nǎr(and …? / softener)呢ne？, not you你nǐto go去qùwhere哪儿nǎr(yes/no ?)吗ma？
  • 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.

  (modifier / structural particle)的de / (degree marker)得de / (adverb -ly)地de (the three “de”)

  0514.1 (degree marker)得de

  After a verb, (degree marker)得de introduces how well.

  0514.2 C. (modifier / structural particle)的de … (adverb -ly)地de

  I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的defriend朋友péng yǒu (before a noun) and slowly慢慢màn màn(adverb -ly)地deto walk走zǒu (before a verb).

  0514.3 1–C: pretty漂亮piào liàng__clothes衣服yī fú = (modifier / structural particle)的de; 2–B: conscientious认真rèn zhēn__to work工作gōng zuò = (adverb -ly)地de; 3–A: to write写xiě__degree / adjective linker很hěngood好hǎo = (degree marker)得de

  Noun → (modifier / structural particle)的de; following verb → (adverb -ly)地de; after a verb → (degree marker)得de.

  0514.4 True.

  The (modifier / structural particle)的de phrase describes the noun vegetable菜cài.

  0514.5 One possible response: he / him他tāto run跑pǎo(degree marker)得de很快hěn kuài。

  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.
  • Look at what follows: a noun → (modifier / structural particle)的de; a verb → (adverb -ly)地de; and after a verb, a description of the result → (degree marker)得de.
  • Typing tip: in to run跑pǎo(degree marker)得de很快hěn kuài the verb to run跑pǎo is before the particle, so it must be (degree marker)得de, not (modifier / structural particle)的de.
  • 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.

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