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 + (after a verb) indicating…起来 (in terms of doing it)
Easy to use?
- A friend asks what you think of your new phone after a week.
- this这个cell phone手机to use / with用(after a verb) indicating…起来degree / adjective linker很convenient方便。 — "This phone is very convenient to use."
Verb + (after a verb) indicating…起来 + comment = when you do it
- Verb + (after a verb) indicating…起来 = "when it comes to doing it, in the doing": the comment judges the experience.
- variant of 说说(after a verb) indicating…起来easy容易，to make做(after a verb) indicating…起来difficult / hard难 — "Easier said than done."
say说(in doing)起来easy容易，do做(in doing)起来hard难。
Senses and experience
- this这个vegetable菜variant of 吃吃(after a verb) indicating…起来slightly有点儿hot (spicy)辣。 — "This dish tastes a bit spicy."
- this这首歌to listen to听(after a verb) indicating…起来degree / adjective linker很to be familiar with熟悉。 — "This song sounds familiar."
this这(measure word)首song歌listen听(when)起来very很familiar熟悉。
The thing judged comes first
- Put what you are judging first: this这本书to read out读(after a verb) indicating…起来degree / adjective linker很interesting有意思, not to read out读(after a verb) indicating…起来this这本书degree / adjective linker很interesting有意思 in most speech.
- (after a verb) indicating…起来 here does not mean "get up" or "start"; it marks the experience of doing.
Three uses of (after a verb) indicating…起来
- Judging: to use / with用(after a verb) indicating…起来degree / adjective linker很convenient方便. Starting: he / him他笑了起来 — "He started laughing."
- Upward movement: station站(after a verb) indicating…起来 — "stand up". Context and the following comment tell you which.
he他laugh笑了(start)起来。
Recap
- Thing + Verb + (after a verb) indicating…起来 + comment = it is … to do: to use / with用(after a verb) indicating…起来convenient方便, variant of 说说(after a verb) indicating…起来easy容易.
- Other (after a verb) indicating…起来: start (to laugh笑(after a verb) indicating…起来), upward (station站(after a verb) indicating…起来).
Practise this pattern step by step.
Direction complement to come来 / to go去 (HSK 4)
Bring it in, take it out
- You ask your brother to carry the shopping bags from the car into the kitchen.
- (把: marks the object)把thing东西to hold拿to come in进来(suggestion)吧。 — "Bring the things in."
Verb + direction + to come来 / to go去
- Verb + (bound form) up上/down下/to go forward进/variant of 出 (classifier…出/variant of 回回/(experienced)过/to rise起 + to come来/to go去 shows how an action moves: to hold拿to come in进来, to walk走to go out出去, to run跑to return回来, station站(after a verb) indicating…起来.
- to come来 = towards the speaker; to go去 = away from the speaker.
he他out of从the classroom教室(inside)里walk走come out出来了。
Where the place and object go
- A place goes before to come来/to go去: he / him他to enter走进classroom教室to come来(completed / change)了。 — "He walked into the classroom."
- A thing can go before to come来/to go去 or after the whole complement: to take out拿出one / a一本书to come来 / to hold拿(after a verb, indicates…出来one / a一本书.
he他took拿out出a一(measure word)本book书(towards me)来。
Place before to come来 / to go去
- to enter走进classroom教室to come来, not to enter走进to come来classroom教室: a place never follows to come来 / to go去.
- Pick to come来 or to go去 by where the speaker is: inside the room → to come in进来; outside → to go in进去.
Abstract meanings
- want / think / miss想(after a verb) indicating…起来 = remember: I / me我want / think / miss想(after a verb) indicating…起来(completed / change)了！ — "I've remembered!"
- to see看(after a verb, indicates…出来 = make out, notice: I / me我to see看(after a verb, indicates…出来he / him他not不happy高兴 — "I could tell he wasn't happy."
I我think想(recall)起来了！
Recap
- Verb + direction + to come来/to go去 = movement towards / away from the speaker: to hold拿to come in进来, to walk走to go out出去.
- A place goes before to come来/to go去; abstract uses: want / think / miss想(after a verb) indicating…起来, to see看(after a verb, indicates…出来.
Practise this pattern step by step.
Verb / Adj + (after a verb) indicating…起来 (start to …)
The music starts
- At a party, the band plays a favourite song and the room comes alive.
- music音乐一响，everyone大家all / both都to jump跳(after a verb) indicating…起来(completed / change)了。 — "As soon as the music played, everyone started dancing."
Verb / Adj + (after a verb) indicating…起来 = start to, begin to
- Verb + (after a verb) indicating…起来 = an action starts and continues: to laugh笑(after a verb) indicating…起来, to cry哭(after a verb) indicating…起来, down下to rise起雨来.
- Adj + (after a verb) indicating…起来 = a state begins to develop: weather天气to warm up热(after a verb) indicating…起来(completed / change)了, he / him他fat胖(after a verb) indicating…起来(completed / change)了.
the weather天气slowly慢慢hot热(start to)起来了。
With an object: split to rise起…to come来
- The object goes between to rise起 and to come来: down下to rise起雨来(completed / change)了。 — "It started to rain." 唱起歌to come来 — "start singing".
- Without an object: down下(after a verb) indicating…起来(completed / change)了.
outside外面fall下(start)起rain雨(start)来了。
Object in the middle
- down下to rise起雨来, not down下(after a verb) indicating…起来(literary) to rain雨: the object sits between to rise起 and to come来.
- Adj + (after a verb) indicating…起来 usually describes a change towards more: to warm up热(after a verb) indicating…起来, good好(after a verb) indicating…起来; "getting cold" is often 冷下来 / to let sth cool down凉to come down下来.
(after a verb) indicating…起来 versus to go down下去
- (after a verb) indicating…起来 = start something new: they他们聊起来(completed / change)了.
- to go down下去 = continue something already going: to ask请variant of 说说to go down下去.
please请speak说(continue)下去。
Recap
- Verb / Adj + (after a verb) indicating…起来 = start to, begin to (to laugh笑(after a verb) indicating…起来, to warm up热(after a verb) indicating…起来).
- Object goes between: down下to rise起雨来; to go down下去 = continue.
Practise this pattern step by step.
Potential complement (degree marker)得 / not不 (HSK 4)
Sold out
- You try to book concert tickets online, but they are gone in minutes.
- ticket票all / both都to be sold out卖完(completed / change)了，we / us我们买不到(completed / change)了。 — "The tickets are sold out; we can't get any."
Verb + (degree marker)得 / not不 + result / direction
- Verb + (degree marker)得 + complement = can; Verb + not不 + complement = can't: to buy买to get得到 / 买不到, 拿得动 / to hold拿motionless不动.
- It says whether the result is possible in the situation.
this这个box箱子too太heavy重，I我lift拿(cannot)不move动。
Common HSK 4 pairs
- to have enough time来得及 / there's not enough time (to…来不及 = there is / isn't enough time: now现在to set off出发still / also还to have enough time来得及.
- unbearable受不了 = can't stand; to listen to听not不clear清楚 = can't hear clearly; can't remember记不住 = can't remember.
now现在set off出发still还in time来得及。
Not the same as cannot不能
- cannot不能 is about permission or general ability: here这里cannot不能to pull up (stop one's…停车. Potential complements are about whether the result can be achieved: I / me我unable to make sense of…听不懂.
- Put the object after the complement or before as a topic: I / me我unable to make sense of…听不懂he / him他if (coming after a…的话 / he / him他if (coming after a…的话I / me我unable to make sense of…听不懂.
(as a resultative verb…不了 = can't (at all)
- Verb + (as a resultative verb…不了 (liǎo) = unable to do it: I / me我to go去(as a resultative verb…不了 — "I can't make it." variant of 吃吃(as a resultative verb…不了 — "can't finish eating."
- Positive: to go去(degree marker)得(completed / change)了 — "able to go".
tomorrow明天I我go去can't不了。
Recap
- Verb + (degree marker)得/not不 + complement = can / can't achieve it (买不到, to hold拿motionless不动, to have enough time来得及).
- Verb + (as a resultative verb…不了 = unable to; cannot不能 = not allowed / generally can't.
Practise this pattern step by step.
Practice without the models
Verb + (after a verb) indicating…起来 (in terms of doing it)
2001.1 Complete: “This method sounds simple but is hard to do.” this这个method方法to listen to听…………simple简单，to make做(after a verb) indicating…起来difficult / hard难。
2001.2 Match each sentence to the use of (after a verb) indicating…起来.
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- this这个包背(after a verb) indicating…起来degree / adjective linker很comfortable舒服。
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- everyone大家all / both都to laugh笑(after a verb) indicating…起来(completed / change)了。
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- to ask请station站(after a verb) indicating…起来。
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A. judging the experience
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B. upward movement
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C. starting an action
2001.3 Build: “This song sounds familiar.”
Arrange all chunks: this这首歌 / degree / adjective linker很to be familiar with熟悉。 / to listen to听(after a verb) indicating…起来
2001.4 variant of 说说(after a verb) indicating…起来easy容易，to make做(after a verb) indicating…起来difficult / hard难 means “easier said than done”.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
2001.5 A friend asks what you think of your new phone after a week. 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.
Direction complement to come来 / to go去 (HSK 4)
2002.1 You are inside. Ask a friend: “Bring the chairs in.” (把: marks the object)把chair椅子搬进…………(suggestion)吧。
2002.2 Which sentence is correct?
- A. he / him他to enter走进to come来classroom教室(completed / change)了。
- B. he / him他to come in进来to walk走classroom教室(completed / change)了。
- C. he / him他to walk走classroom教室to come in进来(completed / change)了。
- D. he / him他to enter走进classroom教室to come来(completed / change)了。
2002.3 Build: “He took a book out.”
Arrange all chunks: to come来。 / one / a一本书 / to take out拿出 / he / him他
2002.4 I / me我to see看(after a verb, indicates…出来he / him他not不happy高兴 means “I could tell he was unhappy.”
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
2002.5 You ask your brother to carry the shopping bags from the car into the kitchen. 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.
Verb / Adj + (after a verb) indicating…起来 (start to …)
2003.1 Complete: “The baby suddenly started crying.” darling宝宝suddenly突然to cry哭…………(completed / change)了。
2003.2 Which says “It started to snow”?
- A. 雪下to rise起(completed / change)了to come来。
- B. down下起雪来(completed / change)了。
- C. down下(after a verb) indicating…起来snow雪(completed / change)了。
- D. (after a verb) indicating…起来to snow下雪(completed / change)了。
2003.3 Build: “They started singing.”
Arrange all chunks: 唱起 / to come来(completed / change)了。 / they他们 / variant of 歌歌
2003.4 to ask请variant of 说说to go down下去 asks someone to start speaking.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
2003.5 At a party, the band plays a favourite song and the room comes alive. 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.
Potential complement (degree marker)得 / not不 (HSK 4)
2004.1 Complete: “The box is too heavy; I can't lift it.” suitcase箱子太重(completed / change)了，I / me我to hold拿…………(of sth) to move动。
2004.2 A sign forbids parking. Which fits? here这里____to pull up (stop one's…停车。
- A. cannot不能
- B. must not不得
- C. to stop停not to arrive不到
- D. to stop停(as a resultative verb…不了
2004.3 Match each form to its meaning.
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- there's not enough time (to…来不及
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- unbearable受不了
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- can't remember记不住
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- 买不到
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A. not enough time
-
B. can't remember
-
C. can't stand it
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D. can't get hold of
2004.4 Build: “I can't make it tomorrow.”
Arrange all chunks: (as a resultative verb…不了。 / tomorrow明天 / to go去 / I / me我
2004.5 You try to book concert tickets online, but they are gone in minutes. 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 + (after a verb) indicating…起来 (in terms of doing it)
2001.1 (after a verb) indicating…起来
Verb + (after a verb) indicating…起来 + comment.
2001.2 1–A: this这个包背(after a verb) indicating…起来degree / adjective linker很comfortable舒服。 = judging the experience; 2–C: everyone大家all / both都to laugh笑(after a verb) indicating…起来(completed / change)了。 = starting an action; 3–B: to ask请station站(after a verb) indicating…起来。 = upward movement
The comment and the verb tell you which use it is.
2001.3 this这首歌to listen to听(after a verb) indicating…起来degree / adjective linker很to be familiar with熟悉。
Thing + Verb + (after a verb) indicating…起来 + comment.
2001.4 True.
It judges saying versus doing.
2001.5 One possible response: this这个cell phone手机to use / with用(after a verb) indicating…起来degree / adjective linker很convenient方便。
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.
- Put what you are judging first: this这本书to read out读(after a verb) indicating…起来degree / adjective linker很interesting有意思, not to read out读(after a verb) indicating…起来this这本书degree / adjective linker很interesting有意思 in most speech.
- (after a verb) indicating…起来 here does not mean "get up" or "start"; it marks the experience of doing.
- 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.
Direction complement to come来 / to go去 (HSK 4)
2002.1 to come来
Towards the speaker: to come in进来.
2002.2 D. he / him他to enter走进classroom教室to come来(completed / change)了。
he / him他to enter走进classroom教室to come来(completed / change)了 is right: with a place word, the place goes between to go forward进 and to come来 (to enter走进 + classroom教室 + to come来).
2002.3 he / him他to take out拿出one / a一本书to come来。
Verb + variant of 出 (classifier…出 + object + to come来.
2002.4 True.
True. to see看(after a verb, indicates…出来 means “can tell, make out” from what you see: I / me我to see看(after a verb, indicates…出来he / him他not不happy高兴 “I could tell he was unhappy.”
2002.5 One possible response: (把: marks the object)把thing东西to hold拿to come in进来(suggestion)吧。
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.
- to enter走进classroom教室to come来, not to enter走进to come来classroom教室: a place never follows to come来 / to go去.
- Pick to come来 or to go去 by where the speaker is: inside the room → to come in进来; outside → to go in进去.
- 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.
Verb / Adj + (after a verb) indicating…起来 (start to …)
2003.1 (after a verb) indicating…起来
Verb + (after a verb) indicating…起来 = start to.
2003.2 B. down下起雪来(completed / change)了。
The object goes between to rise起 and to come来.
2003.3 they他们唱起歌to come来(completed / change)了。
Verb + to rise起 + object + to come来.
2003.4 False.
to go down下去 = continue; starting is (after a verb) indicating…起来.
2003.5 One possible response: music音乐一响，everyone大家all / both都to jump跳(after a verb) indicating…起来(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.
- down下to rise起雨来, not down下(after a verb) indicating…起来(literary) to rain雨: the object sits between to rise起 and to come来.
- Adj + (after a verb) indicating…起来 usually describes a change towards more: to warm up热(after a verb) indicating…起来, good好(after a verb) indicating…起来; "getting cold" is often 冷下来 / to let sth cool down凉to come down下来.
- 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.
Potential complement (degree marker)得 / not不 (HSK 4)
2004.1 not不
Verb + not不 + (of sth) to move动 = can't move it.
2004.2 A. cannot不能
Prohibition is cannot不能; potential complements are about whether a result is achievable.
2004.3 1–A: there's not enough time (to…来不及 = not enough time; 2–C: unbearable受不了 = can't stand it; 3–B: can't remember记不住 = can't remember; 4–D: 买不到 = can't get hold of
Verb + not不 + complement = the result can't be achieved.
2004.4 tomorrow明天I / me我to go去(as a resultative verb…不了。
Verb + (as a resultative verb…不了 = unable to.
2004.5 One possible response: ticket票all / both都to be sold out卖完(completed / change)了，we / us我们买不到(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.
- cannot不能 is about permission or general ability: here这里cannot不能to pull up (stop one's…停车. Potential complements are about whether the result can be achieved: I / me我unable to make sense of…听不懂.
- Put the object after the complement or before as a topic: I / me我unable to make sense of…听不懂he / him他if (coming after a…的话 / he / him他if (coming after a…的话I / me我unable to make sense of…听不懂.
- 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.