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.
on the contrary反而 vs opposite相反 (instead vs on the contrary)
The opposite happened
- You took medicine for a headache, but it got worse.
- variant of 吃吃(completed / change)了medicine药，headache头疼on the contrary反而more更(used to describe sb or sth…厉害(completed / change)了。 — "After taking the medicine, my headache actually got worse."
on the contrary反而 = instead, on the contrary (adverb)
- on the contrary反而 goes after the subject, before the verb: the result is the opposite of what was expected.
- It often follows not only (... but also ...)不但not / haven't没 / not only (... but also ...)不但not不: he / him他not only (... but also ...)不但没生气，on the contrary反而to laugh笑(completed / change)了.
he他not only不但didn't没get angry生气，instead反而laughed笑了。
opposite相反 = the opposite (adjective / linker)
- opposite相反 describes opposition: idea意见opposite相反 — "opposite opinions"; just (in time)正好opposite相反 — "exactly the opposite".
- opposite相反，… starts a sentence: "On the contrary, …": he / him他not不lazy懒。opposite相反，he / him他degree / adjective linker很to make an effort努力。
he他not不lazy懒。on the contrary相反，he他very很hard-working努力。
Position decides
- Inside a clause, before the verb, use on the contrary反而: illness病on the contrary反而重了, not illness病opposite相反重了.
- Starting a new sentence with a comma, or as "opposite", use opposite相反: opposite相反，…; direction方向opposite相反.
Together in a paragraph
- I / me我to think (i.e. to take it…以为他会degree / adjective linker很to feel sad难过，opposite相反，he / him他seemingly看起来degree / adjective linker很light轻松。 — "I thought he'd be upset; on the contrary, he looked relaxed."
- Or with on the contrary反而: I / me我to think (i.e. to take it…以为他会to feel sad难过，he / him他on the contrary反而degree / adjective linker很light轻松.
he他instead反而very很relaxed轻松。
Recap
- on the contrary反而 = instead (adverb, after the subject, before the verb).
- opposite相反 = the opposite / on the contrary (adjective, or opposite相反，… starting a sentence).
Practise this pattern step by step.
to be certain肯定 vs definite确定 vs definitely一定 (sure / certain)
How sure are you?
- Your friend asks if the train leaves at eight. You checked the ticket twice.
- I / me我definite确定to be / is是八点，you你definitely一定want / will / need要早点儿to / arrive到。 — "I'm sure it's eight; you really must get there early."
definitely一定 = certainly, must
- definitely一定 + verb = certainly will / must: he / him他definitely一定can / will会to come来, you你definitely一定want / will / need要to go去.
- not不definitely一定 = not necessarily: expensive贵(modifier / structural particle)的not不definitely一定good好.
expensive贵(ones)的not不necessarily一定good好。
to be certain肯定 = definitely (confident judgement)
- to be certain肯定 = definitely, surely: he / him他to be certain肯定to forget忘(completed / change)了 — "He's definitely forgotten."
- It can also be an adjective / verb of affirming: teacher老师to be certain肯定(completed / change)了I / me我(modifier / structural particle)的way of thinking想法 — "The teacher approved my idea."
he他definitely肯定forgot忘了。
definite确定 = be sure, confirm (a verb)
- definite确定 is a verb: be sure of, confirm, fix: you你definite确定(yes/no ?)吗？ — "Are you sure?" (concept of) time时间still / also还not / haven't没definite确定 — "The time hasn't been fixed."
- definite确定 does not go before another verb as "certainly": he / him他definitely一定can / will会to come来, not he / him他definite确定can / will会to come来 in that sense.
Which word when?
- Predicting or requiring: definitely一定 (definitely一定want / will / need要, definitely一定can / will会). Guessing confidently: to be certain肯定.
- Checking or deciding: definite确定 (definite确定(concept of) time时间, I / me我not不definite确定).
you你sure确定吗？
Recap
- definitely一定 = must / certainly (not不definitely一定 = not necessarily). to be certain肯定 = definitely (confident guess; also "affirm").
- definite确定 = be sure / confirm / fix (a verb).
Practise this pattern step by step.
to fit适合 vs suitable合适 (to suit vs suitable)
Does it fit?
- You are trying on a jacket and ask your friend's opinion.
- 这件clothes衣服degree / adjective linker很suitable合适，color颜色also也degree / adjective linker很to fit适合you你。 — "This jacket fits well, and the colour suits you too."
to fit适合 = to suit (a verb with an object)
- to fit适合 + object = suit, be suitable for: to fit适合you你, to fit适合student学生, to fit适合to run跑步.
- It needs an object: this这个to work工作degree / adjective linker很to fit适合he / him他.
this这个job工作very很suits适合him他。
suitable合适 = suitable (an adjective)
- suitable合适 describes something as fitting, right: large and small大小suitable合适, (concept of) time时间suitable合适, degree / adjective linker很suitable合适.
- It takes no object: 这双鞋not不too太suitable合适 — "These shoes don't fit well."
these这(pair of)双shoes鞋not very不太suitable合适。
Object or no object?
- With an object, use to fit适合: to fit适合you你, not suitable合适you你.
- Without an object, use suitable合适: this这个(concept of) time时间degree / adjective linker很suitable合适, not this这个(concept of) time时间degree / adjective linker很to fit适合.
to / towards / correct对…suitable合适 and (modifier / structural particle)的
- To name the person with suitable合适, use to / towards / correct对: to / towards / correct对you你来说degree / adjective linker很suitable合适 — "very suitable for you".
- Both can describe a noun: suitable合适(modifier / structural particle)的to work工作 / to fit适合I / me我(modifier / structural particle)的to work工作.
I我am在looking for找a一个suitable合适的job工作。
Recap
- to fit适合 + object = to suit (to fit适合you你). suitable合适 = suitable, no object (degree / adjective linker很suitable合适).
- to / towards / correct对…(来说)suitable合适 names the person; both can describe a noun.
Practise this pattern step by step.
Practice without the models
on the contrary反而 vs opposite相反 (instead vs on the contrary)
2901.1 Complete: “He didn't get angry; instead he laughed.” he / him他没生气，…………to laugh笑(completed / change)了。
2901.2 “Our opinions are exactly the opposite.” Which fits? we / us我们(modifier / structural particle)的idea意见just (in time)正好____。
- A. opposite相反
- B. on the contrary反而
- C. to invert倒
- D. but却
2901.3 Build: “After the medicine, the headache actually got worse.”
Arrange all chunks: ，headache头疼 / on the contrary反而 / more更(used to describe sb or sth…厉害(completed / change)了。 / variant of 吃吃(completed / change)了medicine药
2901.4 opposite相反 can start a sentence followed by a comma.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
2901.5 You took medicine for a headache, but it got worse. 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.
to be certain肯定 vs definite确定 vs definitely一定 (sure / certain)
2902.1 Ask: “Are you sure?” you你…………(yes/no ?)吗？
2902.2 “Expensive things aren't necessarily good.” Which fits? expensive贵(modifier / structural particle)的____good好。
- A. definitely一定not不
- B. not不to be certain肯定
- C. not不definite确定
- D. not不definitely一定
2902.3 Match each sentence to its meaning.
-
- you你definitely一定want / will / need要to come来。
-
- he / him他to be certain肯定to forget忘(completed / change)了。
-
- (concept of) time时间still / also还not / haven't没definite确定。
-
A. He's definitely forgotten.
-
B. You really must come.
-
C. The time hasn't been fixed yet.
2902.4 teacher老师to be certain肯定(completed / change)了I / me我(modifier / structural particle)的way of thinking想法 means the teacher approved my idea.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
2902.5 Your friend asks if the train leaves at eight. You checked the ticket twice. 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.
to fit适合 vs suitable合适 (to suit vs suitable)
2903.1 Complete: “This colour really suits you.” this这个color颜色degree / adjective linker很…………you你。
2903.2 Which sentence is correct?
- A. this这个(concept of) time时间degree / adjective linker很to fit适合。
- B. this这个(concept of) time时间degree / adjective linker很to fit适合suitable合适。
- C. this这个(concept of) time时间suitable合适you你。
- D. this这个(concept of) time时间degree / adjective linker很suitable合适。
2903.3 Build: “I'm looking for a suitable job.”
Arrange all chunks: 一个 / I / me我at / in在to try to find找 / to work工作。 / suitable合适(modifier / structural particle)的
2903.4 suitable合适you你 is correct.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
2903.5 You are trying on a jacket and ask your friend's opinion. 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
on the contrary反而 vs opposite相反 (instead vs on the contrary)
2901.1 on the contrary反而
on the contrary反而 before the verb = instead.
2901.2 A. opposite相反
As the predicate meaning “opposite”, use opposite相反: we / us我们(modifier / structural particle)的idea意见just (in time)正好opposite相反. on the contrary反而, but却 and to invert倒 are adverbs that need a verb after them.
2901.3 variant of 吃吃(completed / change)了medicine药，headache头疼on the contrary反而more更(used to describe sb or sth…厉害(completed / change)了。
Subject + on the contrary反而 + verb phrase.
2901.4 True.
True. opposite相反 can start a sentence, followed by a comma, to mean “on the contrary”: he / him他没生气，opposite相反，he / him他degree / adjective linker很happy高兴.
2901.5 One possible response: variant of 吃吃(completed / change)了medicine药，headache头疼on the contrary反而more更(used to describe sb or sth…厉害(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.
- Inside a clause, before the verb, use on the contrary反而: illness病on the contrary反而重了, not illness病opposite相反重了.
- Starting a new sentence with a comma, or as "opposite", use opposite相反: opposite相反，…; direction方向opposite相反.
- 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.
to be certain肯定 vs definite确定 vs definitely一定 (sure / certain)
2902.1 definite确定
definite确定 is the verb “be sure”.
2902.2 D. not不definitely一定
not不definitely一定 means “not necessarily”: expensive贵(modifier / structural particle)的not不definitely一定good好. definitely一定not不 means “definitely not”, which is a different claim, and not不definite确定 / not不to be certain肯定 mean “unsure”.
2902.3 1–B: you你definitely一定want / will / need要to come来。 = You really must come.; 2–A: he / him他to be certain肯定to forget忘(completed / change)了。 = He's definitely forgotten.; 3–C: (concept of) time时间still / also还not / haven't没definite确定。 = The time hasn't been fixed yet.
definitely一定 = must, to be certain肯定 = definitely, definite确定 = fix / be sure.
2902.4 True.
to be certain肯定 can be a verb meaning “affirm”.
2902.5 One possible response: I / me我definite确定to be / is是八点，you你definitely一定want / will / need要早点儿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.
- definite确定 is a verb: be sure of, confirm, fix: you你definite确定(yes/no ?)吗？ – "Are you sure?" (concept of) time时间still / also还not / haven't没definite确定 – "The time hasn't been fixed."
- definite确定 does not go before another verb as "certainly": he / him他definitely一定can / will会to come来, not he / him他definite确定can / will会to come来 in that sense.
- 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.
to fit适合 vs suitable合适 (to suit vs suitable)
2903.1 to fit适合
With an object, to fit适合.
2903.2 D. this这个(concept of) time时间degree / adjective linker很suitable合适。
this这个(concept of) time时间degree / adjective linker很suitable合适 is right: suitable合适 is an adjective with no object. to fit适合 is a verb and needs one (to fit适合you你), so degree / adjective linker很to fit适合 alone is incomplete.
2903.3 I / me我at / in在to try to find找一个suitable合适(modifier / structural particle)的to work工作。
suitable合适(modifier / structural particle)的 + noun.
2903.4 False.
suitable合适 takes no object; say to fit适合you你 or to / towards / correct对you你suitable合适.
2903.5 One possible response: 这件clothes衣服degree / adjective linker很suitable合适，color颜色also也degree / adjective linker很to fit适合you你。
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.
- With an object, use to fit适合: to fit适合you你, not suitable合适you你.
- Without an object, use suitable合适: this这个(concept of) time时间degree / adjective linker很suitable合适, not this这个(concept of) time时间degree / adjective linker很to fit适合.
- 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.