全 + Noun (the whole / all of)
IntroducedIdentify the whole group
- All members of a family arrive at a gathering.
- the whole family全家all都come来(completed / change)了。 — the whole family全家 includes the entire family being discussed.
All members of a family arrive at a gathering. What does 全家都来了。 communicate?
全家 includes the entire family being discussed. The group is defined by context. 全家 does not refer to every family in the world.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is all全 + Noun (the whole / all of). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
the whole family全家all都come来了。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: The whole family came: ____ 家都来了。
全 + Noun = the whole / all the …: 全家 (the whole family).
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, the whole family全家all都come来(completed / change)了。: the whole family全家 includes the entire family being discussed.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
What does 全 mean before a noun?
全 = whole / entire: 全班, 全国, 全世界.
Build: “The whole family came.”
全 + Noun + 都 + Verb: 全家 + 都 + 来了.
Know the boundary
- The group is defined by context.
- the whole family全家 does not refer to every family in the world.
全 often pairs with 都 (全家都来了).
Yes — 全 + Noun + 都 is very common: 全家都来了.
In the opening situation: 全家 includes the entire family being discussed.
The group is defined by context. 全家 does not refer to every family in the world. 全家 includes the entire family being discussed.
Use the distinction
- the whole family全家 includes the entire family being discussed.
- The group is defined by context. the whole family全家 does not refer to every family in the world.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Adjectives.
All members of a family arrive at a gathering. 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.
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.