Mandarin Chinese Grammar Flashcards

24 sample cards from the Grammar deck

Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.

1. How do you negate an experiential 过 sentence?

   Use 没(有) before the verb, keeping 过. Example: 我没去过日本 (wǒ méi qù guo rìběn) = "I have never been to Japan."

2. Contrast the meaning of 了 vs 过: 我看了那部电影 vs 我看过那部电影.

   我看了那部电影 = "I watched that movie" (a specific completed event). 我看过那部电影 = "I have seen that movie (before)" (life experience, at least once). 了 = completion, 过 = experience.

3. How is ongoing/progressive action ("be doing") marked with 在 (zài)?

   Place 在 (or 正在, 正) before the verb: (正)在 + Verb. Example: 我在看书 (wǒ zài kàn shū) = "I am reading a book." Often reinforced by final 呢 (ne).

4. What does the particle 着 (zhe) express, and how does it differ from 在 (zài)?

   Verb + 着 marks a continuous/persisting state resulting from an action (durative aspect), whereas 在 marks a progressive action in process. 门开着 (mén kāi zhe) = "The door is (standing) open."

5. How does 着 (zhe) express two simultaneous actions? Give the structure.

   Verb1 + 着 + Verb2 = doing V2 while V1 continues. Example: 他站着说话 (tā zhàn zhe shuō huà) = "He talks while standing / He stands talking."

6. What is the meaning and use of the modal verb 会 (huì)?

   会 (huì) expresses a learned ability/skill or future likelihood. Ability: 我会说中文 (wǒ huì shuō zhōngwén) = "I can speak Chinese." Likelihood: 明天会下雨 = "It will rain tomorrow."

7. Distinguish 能 (néng), 会 (huì), and 可以 (kěyǐ) for expressing "can."

   会 = acquired skill/knowing how; 能 = physical capability or circumstantial possibility; 可以 = permission or possibility. E.g. 我会开车 (I know how to drive) vs 我今天不能开车 (I can't drive today) vs 你可以走了 (you may go).

8. What do the auxiliary verbs 想 (xiǎng), 要 (yào), and 应该 (yīnggāi) express?

   想 = want to / would like to (desire); 要 = want to / will / must (stronger intention or need); 应该 = should / ought to. Example: 我想去 (I want to go); 我要走 (I'm going to leave); 你应该休息 (you should rest).

9. How is a plain adjectival predicate sentence structured, and how is it negated?

   Subject + 很 (or other degree adverb) + Adjective; no 是 needed. Negation: replace 很 with 不 before the adjective. 他很累 (tā hěn lèi) = "He is tired"; 他不累 (tā bú lèi) = "He is not tired."

10. Why does an adjective in a bare sentence like 她漂亮 (without 很) often sound incomplete or comparative?

    An unmodified adjective predicate implies contrast/comparison ("She is pretty [but...]"). Adding 很 or another degree adverb neutralizes it into a simple statement: 她很漂亮 = "She is pretty."

11. What is the basic structure for a comparison using 比 (bǐ)?

    A + 比 + B + Adjective. Example: 我比你高 (wǒ bǐ nǐ gāo) = "I am taller than you." Do NOT add 很 before the adjective in a 比 sentence.

12. How do you express the degree of difference in a 比 comparison (e.g. "a little taller," "three years older")?

    Put the amount AFTER the adjective: A 比 B + Adj + amount. Example: 我比你高一点儿 (gāo yìdiǎnr) = "a little taller"; 他比我大三岁 (dà sān suì) = "three years older."

13. How do you negate a comparison and say "A is not as ... as B"?

    Use 没有 (méiyǒu) instead of 比: A + 没有 + B + (那么/这么) + Adj. Example: 我没有你高 (wǒ méiyǒu nǐ gāo) = "I am not as tall as you."

14. How do you say two things are equal/the same in a comparison?

    Use A 跟/和 B 一样 + Adj. Example: 我跟你一样高 (wǒ gēn nǐ yíyàng gāo) = "I am as tall as you." Negation: A 跟 B 不一样.

15. What is a degree complement, and what particle connects the verb/adjective to it?

    A degree complement describes the extent or result of an action/state, connected by 得 (de). Structure: Verb + 得 + complement. Example: 他跑得很快 (tā pǎo de hěn kuài) = "He runs fast."

16. How do you form a degree-complement sentence when the verb takes an object (e.g. "He speaks Chinese well")?

    Repeat the verb: Verb + Object + Verb + 得 + complement. Example: 他说中文说得很好 (tā shuō zhōngwén shuō de hěn hǎo) = "He speaks Chinese well." The object can also be topicalized: 他中文说得很好.

17. What is a coverb, and give a common example with 在 (zài) for location.

    A coverb is a verb-like preposition that introduces a phrase before the main verb. 在 as coverb marks location of the action: Subject + 在 + Place + Verb. Example: 我在图书馆学习 (wǒ zài túshūguǎn xuéxí) = "I study in the library."

18. Explain the coverbs 给 (gěi), 跟 (gēn), and 用 (yòng) and their word order.

    They form a prepositional phrase before the main verb. 给 = to/for (recipient): 我给你打电话 (I call you). 跟 = with: 我跟他说话 (I talk with him). 用 = using (instrument): 我用筷子吃饭 (I eat with chopsticks).

19. How does the coverb 从 (cóng) work, and how does it combine with 到 (dào)?

    从 = "from" (starting point), placed before the main verb. 从...到... = "from...to...". Example: 从北京到上海 (cóng Běijīng dào Shànghǎi) = "from Beijing to Shanghai"; 从九点到五点 = "from 9 to 5."

20. How is existence/possession expressed with 有 (yǒu), and how is it negated?

    有 = "to have" / "there is/are." Example: 桌子上有书 (zhuōzi shàng yǒu shū) = "There are books on the table." Negation is ALWAYS 没有 (méiyǒu), never 不有.

21. Contrast existential 有 (yǒu) and locational 在 (zài): 桌子上有书 vs 书在桌子上.

    Place + 有 + Thing introduces something new/indefinite at a location ("There are books on the table"). Thing + 在 + Place tells where a known/definite thing is located ("The books are on the table").

22. What is the word order for a location sentence using 在 (zài) as the main verb?

    Subject (definite thing) + 在 + Place. Example: 我在家 (wǒ zài jiā) = "I am at home"; 猫在椅子下面 (māo zài yǐzi xiàmiàn) = "The cat is under the chair."

23. List the basic Mandarin directional/localizer words for on, under, inside, outside, front, and behind.

    上面 (shàngmiàn) on/above; 下面 (xiàmiàn) under/below; 里面 (lǐmiàn) inside; 外面 (wàimiàn) outside; 前面 (qiánmiàn) in front; 后面 (hòumiàn) behind. Placed AFTER the noun: 桌子上面 = "on the table."

24. What are simple directional complements 来 (lái) and 去 (qù) after a verb, and what do they indicate?

    Verb + 来/去 shows motion relative to the speaker: 来 = toward the speaker, 去 = away from the speaker. Example: 进来 (jìn lái) = "come in" (toward me); 出去 (chū qù) = "go out" (away from me).

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