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.
original本来 vs original原来 (originally vs it turns out)
Plan versus discovery
- You planned to take the bus, then found out your friend had been driving there all along.
- I / me我original本来want / think / miss想to sit坐public transport vehicle公交车，original原来you你to drive a car开车to come来(completed / change)了！ — "I was originally going to take the bus — oh, so you drove here!"
Both can mean "originally"
- original本来 / original原来 + earlier state: he / him他original本来to live住at / in在Beijing, capital of the…北京 = he / him他original原来to live住at / in在Beijing, capital of the…北京 — "He originally lived in Beijing."
- Before a noun with (modifier / structural particle)的, both work: original本来(modifier / structural particle)的plan计划 / original原来(modifier / structural particle)的plan计划.
he他originally原来lived住in在Beijing北京。
Only original原来: so it turns out
- original原来 announces a discovery: original原来to be / is是you你！ — "Oh, it's you!"
- original本来 cannot do this: original本来to be / is是you你 does not mean "so it's you".
so it turns out原来he他is是a teacher老师。
Only original本来: of course
- original本来then / just就 = naturally, should have been obvious: 这件matter事original本来exactly就是you你(modifier / structural particle)的mistake错 — "This was your fault from the start."
- original原来then / just就 does not carry this "of course" meaning.
Choose by job
- Discovery → original原来. Obvious from the start → original本来then / just就. Original plan or state → either.
- he / him他original本来unexpectedly不想to come来，afterwards后来friend朋友to advise劝(completed / change)了he / him他。 — "He didn't want to come at first, but then his friend persuaded him."
he他originally本来not不want to想come来。
Recap
- Originally: original本来 or original原来. So it turns out: only original原来. Of course, naturally: only original本来(then / just就).
- Pick the word by the job it does in the sentence.
Practise this pattern step by step.
often常常 vs usually往往 (often vs tends to)
Rainy Mondays
- You notice a pattern: the subway is always more crowded when it rains.
- to rain下雨(modifier / structural particle)的time时候，underground railway地铁usually往往很挤。 — "When it rains, the subway tends to be crowded."
often常常 = often (a frequency)
- often常常 says something happens often: I / me我often常常to go去library图书馆. It can describe the future: after以后我会often常常to come来.
- It needs no special condition.
I我often常常go to去the library图书馆。
usually往往 = tends to (under a condition)
- usually往往 describes a regular pattern found under certain conditions: weekend周末(modifier / structural particle)的supermarket (abbr. for 超级市场)超市usually往往person人很多。 — "Supermarkets tend to be crowded at weekends."
- The condition (time, situation) is usually stated.
at weekends周末的supermarkets超市tend to往往people人be many很多。
Where usually往往 does not fit
- usually往往 is not for wishes or the future: after以后我会often常常to come来, not after以后我会usually往往to come来.
- Without a condition, usually往往 sounds unfinished: he / him他usually往往to arrive late迟到 is weak; he / him他下雨天usually往往to arrive late迟到 works.
Side by side
- I / me我often常常喝咖啡 — "I often drink coffee" (frequency).
- I / me我to stay up late or all night熬夜(modifier / structural particle)的time时候usually往往喝咖啡 — "When I stay up late, I tend to drink coffee" (a pattern under a condition).
I我stay up late熬夜的when时候tend to往往drink喝coffee咖啡。
Recap
- often常常 = often (any time, including the future). usually往往 = tends to, under a stated condition.
- usually往往 is not for wishes or future plans.
Practise this pattern step by step.
just now刚 vs just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 (adverb vs time-word)
Just now, or just?
- You arrive at the café and your friend says he has only just sat down; a moment ago he was outside on the phone.
- 我刚to / arrive到，just now (variant of 刚才)刚才at / in在outside (also pr. for this…外面to make a telephone call打电话。 — "I've just arrived; a moment ago I was outside on the phone."
just now刚 is an adverb
- just now刚 + verb = have just (done): 刚到, just now刚variant of 吃吃to finish完. It stands right before the verb.
- It can stretch to "recently": he / him他just now刚to come来Beijing, capital of the…北京两个moon月.
he他just刚came to来Beijing北京two months两个月。
just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 is a time word
- just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 = a moment ago, like yesterday昨天: it can start the sentence and works with adjectives and not / haven't没.
- just now (variant of 刚才)刚才degree / adjective linker很to warm up热，now现在nice and cold凉快(completed / change)了。 — "It was hot a moment ago; now it's cooler."
a moment ago刚才very很hot热，now现在cool凉快了。
Three tests
- Start of the sentence? Only just now (variant of 刚才)刚才. Before an adjective or not / haven't没? Only just now (variant of 刚才)刚才: just now (variant of 刚才)刚才not / haven't没to hear听见.
- With a duration after the verb (two months)? Only just now刚: just now刚to come来两个moon月.
Both possible
- he / him他just now刚to walk走。 / he / him他just now (variant of 刚才)刚才to walk走(completed / change)了。 — both mean he left a moment ago.
- just now刚 sentences usually have no (completed / change)了; just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 sentences take (completed / change)了 normally.
he他a moment ago刚才left走了。
Recap
- just now刚 + verb = have just (adverb; can stretch to "recently"; usually no (completed / change)了).
- just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 = a moment ago (time word; can start the sentence; works with adjectives and not / haven't没).
Practise this pattern step by step.
Practice without the models
original本来 vs original原来 (originally vs it turns out)
2701.1 You open the door and see your cousin: “Oh, it's you!” …………to be / is是you你！
2701.2 “Students are of course supposed to study.” Which fits? student学生____then / just就should应该to learn学习。
- A. original本来
- B. original原来
- C. afterwards后来
- D. always从来
2701.3 Match each sentence to its meaning.
-
- original原来to be / is是this way / so这样！
-
- this这original本来exactly就是you你(modifier / structural particle)的matter事。
-
- he / him他original原来to live住at / in在Shanghai municipality…上海。
-
A. He used to live in Shanghai.
-
B. So that's how it is!
-
C. This was your business from the start.
2701.4 original本来(modifier / structural particle)的plan计划 and original原来(modifier / structural particle)的plan计划 both mean “the original plan”.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
2701.5 You planned to take the bus, then found out your friend had been driving there all along. 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.
often常常 vs usually往往 (often vs tends to)
2702.1 Complete: “At weekends, parks tend to be full of people.” weekend周末park (for public recreation)公园li, ancient measure of…里…………person人很多。
2702.2 “I'll come and visit you often in future.” Which fits? after以后我会____来看you你。
- A. often常常
- B. always从来
- C. usually往往
- D. original本来
2702.3 Build: “When I stay up late, I tend to drink coffee.”
Arrange all chunks: I / me我to stay up late or all night熬夜(modifier / structural particle)的time时候 / coffee (loanword)咖啡。 / to shout喝 / usually往往
2702.4 usually往往 works well for future plans.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
2702.5 You notice a pattern: the subway is always more crowded when it rains. 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 (adverb vs time-word)
2703.1 Complete: “I didn't hear you just now.” …………I / me我not / haven't没to hear听见。
2703.2 Which says “She's only been working here for a week”?
- A. she / her她at / in在here这儿to work工作just now刚一个week星期(completed / change)了。
- B. she / her她just now刚at / in在here这儿to work工作一个week星期。
- C. she / her她just now (variant of 刚才)刚才at / in在here这儿to work工作一个week星期。
- D. just now刚she / her她at / in在here这儿to work工作一个week星期。
2703.3 Build: “It was hot a moment ago.”
Arrange all chunks: degree / adjective linker很 / just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 / to warm up热。
2703.4 he / him他just now刚to walk走 and he / him他just now (variant of 刚才)刚才to walk走(completed / change)了 can both describe someone who left a moment ago.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
2703.5 You arrive at the café and your friend says he has only just sat down; a moment ago he was outside on the phone. 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
original本来 vs original原来 (originally vs it turns out)
2701.1 original原来
A discovery takes original原来.
2701.2 A. original本来
original本来then / just就 = naturally, of course.
2701.3 1–B: original原来to be / is是this way / so这样！ = So that's how it is!; 2–C: this这original本来exactly就是you你(modifier / structural particle)的matter事。 = This was your business from the start.; 3–A: he / him他original原来to live住at / in在Shanghai municipality…上海。 = He used to live in Shanghai.
original原来 = discovery or originally; original本来then / just就 = of course.
2701.4 True.
For “original(ly)”, both words work.
2701.5 One possible response: I / me我original本来want / think / miss想to sit坐public transport vehicle公交车，original原来you你to drive a car开车to come来(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.
- original本来then / just就 = naturally, should have been obvious: 这件matter事original本来exactly就是you你(modifier / structural particle)的mistake错 – "This was your fault from the start."
- original原来then / just就 does not carry this "of course" meaning.
- 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.
often常常 vs usually往往 (often vs tends to)
2702.1 usually往往
A pattern under a condition (weekends) takes usually往往.
2702.2 A. often常常
Future and wishes take often常常.
2702.3 I / me我to stay up late or all night熬夜(modifier / structural particle)的time时候usually往往喝咖啡。
Condition + usually往往 + verb.
2702.4 False.
False. usually往往 states what tends to happen from past experience and cannot describe future plans. For plans use often常常: after以后我会often常常来看you你.
2702.5 One possible response: to rain下雨(modifier / structural particle)的time时候，underground railway地铁usually往往很挤。
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.
- usually往往 is not for wishes or the future: after以后我会often常常to come来, not after以后我会usually往往to come来.
- Without a condition, usually往往 sounds unfinished: he / him他usually往往to arrive late迟到 is weak; he / him他下雨天usually往往to arrive late迟到 works.
- 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 (adverb vs time-word)
2703.1 just now (variant of 刚才)刚才
Only just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 starts the sentence and goes with not / haven't没.
2703.2 B. she / her她just now刚at / in在here这儿to work工作一个week星期。
A duration after the verb takes just now刚.
2703.3 just now (variant of 刚才)刚才degree / adjective linker很to warm up热。
just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 + adjective.
2703.4 True.
True. just now刚 is an adverb (“just”): he / him他just now刚to walk走. just now (variant of 刚才)刚才 is a time noun (“a moment ago”) and usually takes (completed / change)了: he / him他just now (variant of 刚才)刚才to walk走(completed / change)了. Both fit someone who left a moment ago.
2703.5 One possible response: 我刚to / arrive到，just now (variant of 刚才)刚才at / in在outside (also pr. for this…外面to make a telephone call打电话。
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.
- Start of the sentence? Only just now (variant of 刚才)刚才. Before an adjective or not / haven't没? Only just now (variant of 刚才)刚才: just now (variant of 刚才)刚才not / haven't没to hear听见.
- With a duration after the verb (two months)? Only just now刚: just now刚to come来两个moon月.
- 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.