Auxiliary Words

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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.

… (exclamation)啊a，… (exclamation)啊a (casual listing)

Everything in the bag
- Your father always packs at the last minute and stuffs everything in.
- passport护照hù zhào(exclamation)啊a，battery charger充电器chōng diàn qì(exclamation)啊a，medicine药yào(exclamation)啊a，he / him他tāall / both都dōuto be / is是shìbefore leaving临走lín zǒuonly then / not until才cái装进zhuāng jìnto cover包bāoli, ancient measure of…里lǐ。 — "Passport, charger, medicine — he always packs them right before he leaves."
A (exclamation)啊a，B (exclamation)啊a，(C (exclamation)啊a)…
- Noun + (exclamation)啊a after each item lists examples in a lively, casual way.
- The list is usually followed by all / both都dōu / what什么shén me(modifier / structural particle)的de and a comment.
apples苹果píng guǒ啊a，bananas香蕉xiāng jiāo啊a，he他tāall都dōulikes喜欢xǐ huan。

Ending the list
- With what什么shén me(modifier / structural particle)的de: plaything玩具wán jù(exclamation)啊a，故事书gù shì shū(exclamation)啊a，compact car小汽车xiǎo qì chē(exclamation)啊awhat什么shén me(modifier / structural particle)的de，to pile up堆duī(degree marker)得de满地mǎn dìall / both都dōuto be / is是shì。 — "Toys, storybooks, toy cars, all piled up on the floor."
- With all / both都dōu: invoice发票fā piào(exclamation)啊a，(business) contract合同hé tóng(exclamation)啊a，he / him他tāall / both都dōu放在fàng zàito cover包bāoli, ancient measure of…里lǐ(completed / change)了le.
toys玩具wán jù啊a，storybooks故事书gù shi shū啊aand so on什么的shén me de。

Casual speech only
- (exclamation)啊a here lists examples; in a formal text use 、 and to wait for等děng: invoice发票fā piào、(business) contract合同hé tóngto wait for等děng.
- In fast speech (exclamation)啊a blends with the word before it and may be written (particle equivalent to 啊…呀ya or replaces 啊 when following…哇wa (fruit水果shuǐ guǒ(particle equivalent to 啊…呀ya); (exclamation)啊a is always correct.
(exclamation)啊a-list versus 、 and and / with和hé
- apple苹果píng guǒ、banana香蕉xiāng jiāoand / with和héorange橙子chéng zi — a plain list.
- apple苹果píng guǒ(exclamation)啊a，banana香蕉xiāng jiāo(exclamation)啊a — a lively list of examples, as if you were pointing at them.
apples苹果píng guǒ、bananas香蕉xiāng jiāoand和héoranges橙子chéng zi。

Recap
- A (exclamation)啊a，B (exclamation)啊a…（what什么shén me(modifier / structural particle)的de） = a lively spoken list of examples, often followed by all / both都dōu.
- Formal lists use 、 and to wait for等děng.
Practise this pattern step by step.

Practice without the models

… (exclamation)啊a，… (exclamation)啊a (casual listing)

0301.1 Complete the list: “Fruit, drinks, paper cups and so on are all on the table.” fruit水果shuǐ guǒ(exclamation)啊a，drink饮料yǐn liào(exclamation)啊a，paper cup纸杯zhǐ bēi(exclamation)啊a…………，all / both都dōu放在fàng zài桌上zhuō shàng(completed / change)了le。

0301.2 Which suits a formal report?
- A. invoice发票fā piào(exclamation)啊a，(business) contract合同hé tóng(exclamation)啊a，all / both都dōuat / in在zàihere这儿zhè ér。
- B. invoice发票fā piào、(business) contract合同hé tóngto wait for等děngdocument文件wén jiànall / both都dōuat / in在zàihere这儿zhè ér。
- C. invoice发票fā piào(exclamation)啊a(business) contract合同hé tóng(exclamation)啊aet cetera等等děng děng(exclamation)啊a。
- D. (exclamation)啊ainvoice发票fā piào，(exclamation)啊a(business) contract合同hé tóng。
0301.3 Build: “Toys, storybooks and so on are all over the floor.”

Arrange all chunks: plaything玩具wán jù(exclamation)啊a / what什么shén me(modifier / structural particle)的de / ，to pile up堆duī(degree marker)得de满地mǎn dìall / both都dōuto be / is是shì。 / ，故事书gù shì shū(exclamation)啊a

0301.4 The (exclamation)啊a-list sounds more lively than a list with 、.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0301.5 Your father always packs at the last minute and stuffs everything in. 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

… (exclamation)啊a，… (exclamation)啊a (casual listing)

0301.1 what什么shén me(modifier / structural particle)的de

The (exclamation)啊a-list often ends with what什么shén me(modifier / structural particle)的de.

0301.2 B. invoice发票fā piào、(business) contract合同hé tóngto wait for等děngdocument文件wén jiànall / both都dōuat / in在zàihere这儿zhè ér。

Formal lists use 、 and to wait for等děng.

0301.3 plaything玩具wán jù(exclamation)啊a，故事书gù shì shū(exclamation)啊awhat什么shén me(modifier / structural particle)的de，to pile up堆duī(degree marker)得de满地mǎn dìall / both都dōuto be / is是shì。

A (exclamation)啊a，B (exclamation)啊awhat什么shén me(modifier / structural particle)的de + comment.

0301.4 True.

It sounds as if the speaker is pointing at each item.

0301.5 One possible response: passport护照hù zhào(exclamation)啊a，battery charger充电器chōng diàn qì(exclamation)啊a，medicine药yào(exclamation)啊a，he / him他tāall / both都dōuto be / is是shìbefore leaving临走lín zǒuonly then / not until才cái装进zhuāng jìnto cover包bāoli, ancient measure of…里lǐ。

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.
- (exclamation)啊a here lists examples; in a formal text use 、 and to wait for等děng: invoice发票fā piào、(business) contract合同hé tóngto wait for等děng.
- In fast speech (exclamation)啊a blends with the word before it and may be written (particle equivalent to 啊…呀ya or replaces 啊 when following…哇wa (fruit水果shuǐ guǒ(particle equivalent to 啊…呀ya); (exclamation)啊a is always correct.
- 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.