lessons 1-8

LESSON 1: What is the basic sentence order in Chinese?

Subject → Verb → Object, same as English. Example: 我吃米饭 (I eat rice). Simple sentences map directly — no surprises here.

LESSON 1: Where do time words go in a Chinese sentence?

BEFORE the verb, not at the end like English. Wrong: 我吃米饭今天 ❌ Right: 我今天吃米饭 ✅ (I today eat rice = I eat rice today)

LESSON 1: Where do place words go in a Chinese sentence?

BEFORE the verb, usually with 在 (zài = at). Example: 我在家吃饭 (I at-home eat). Both time AND place before verb — time comes first: 我今天在家吃饭

LESSON 1: How do you make a yes/no question?

Add 吗 (ma) to the very end — don't reorder anything. 你喝茶 → 你喝茶吗? Think of 吗 as a question mark you clip on.

LESSON 1: How do you negate a verb? What's the exception?

Put 不 (bù) before most verbs. EXCEPTION: for 有 (have), use 没 — 我没有钱. Never say 我不有 — always wrong.

LESSON 2: When do you use 是 vs 很?

是 links nouns only: 我是学生 ✅. Adjectives use 很 instead — no 是 needed. 我是很好 ❌ → 我很好 ✅

LESSON 2: What is a measure word and why is it required?

Chinese requires a counting word between a number and a noun. Structure: [Number] + [Measure word] + [Noun]. Example: 一杯茶 (one cup of tea) — you can't skip the measure word.

LESSON 2: What are the 3 most important measure words?

杯 (bēi) — cups/glasses: 一杯水. 张 (zhāng) — flat things: 一张菜单. 个 (gè) — default fallback for anything else: 一个朋友. When unsure, 个 is almost always acceptable.

LESSON 3: How do you ask how someone else is doing?

[Person] + 怎么样? Example: 你妈妈怎么样? (how is your mum?). Swap any person into the subject slot — structure never changes.

LESSON 3: Where do question words go in Chinese sentences?

They stay IN PLACE where the answer would go — never move to the front like English. 你喜欢什么? (you like WHAT?) not 什么你喜欢? Same for 谁/哪里/为什么.

LESSON 3: How do you say "and you?" after answering?

你呢 (nǐ ne) — bounces any question back. 我很好，你呢? (I'm fine, and you?). 呢 implies "what about…?" without repeating the full question.

LESSON 4: How do you tell the time?

[Number] + 点 (o'clock) + [minutes] + 分. Example: 三点十五分 (3:15), 三点半 (3:30). Ask the time: 几点了?

LESSON 4: How do you build a sentence with both time AND place?

Time → Place → Verb, always in this fixed order. Example: 我明天在家吃饭 (I tomorrow at-home eat). Think: when → where → what.

LESSON 4: What's the difference between 今天/明天/昨天 in position?

All go before the verb in the same time slot. 我昨天去了机场 (I yesterday went to the airport), 我明天去机场 (I tomorrow go to the airport).

LESSON 5: What's the difference between a fixed phrase and a buildable sentence?

BUILDABLE: constructed from grammar rules. FIXED: memorised as a set chunk — don't try to derive it. Test: "Could I have built this myself?" If no → memorise as a whole unit.

LESSON 5: How do you say "I want one ___"?

我要 + [number] + [measure word] + [noun]. Example: 我要一杯咖啡 (I want one cup of coffee), 我要一张票 (I want one ticket). 要 (yào) = want/need.

LESSON 6: How do you ask where something is?

[Place] + 在哪里? Example: 火车站在哪里? (where is the train station?). Or: 怎么去 + [place]? (how do I get to ___?). Question word stays in place — never moves to front.

LESSON 6: How do you describe distance?

[Place] + 很 + 近/远. Example: 医院很近 (the hospital is near). For questions: 火车站很近吗? Remember: no 是 before adjectives.

LESSON 7: How do you make comparisons using 比?

[A] + 比 + [B] + [adjective]. Example: 今天比昨天热 (today is hotter than yesterday, literally "today compared-to yesterday hot"). No extra words needed.

LESSON 7: How do you say "the most ___"?

Put 最 (zuì) directly before the adjective. Example: 最好 (best), 最贵 (most expensive). Full sentence: 这个最好吃 (this is the most delicious).

LESSON 8: How does 了 (le) work for completed actions?

Place 了 after the verb to mark a completed action. 我喝了茶 (I drank tea). Negate with 没 and drop 了: 我没喝茶 (I didn't drink tea). Think of 了 as a "done" stamp.

LESSON 8: How does 会 (huì) work for future actions?

Place 会 before the verb to express future intention. 我会去 (I will go), 我明天会来 (I will come tomorrow). 不会 = won't: 我不会去 (I won't go).