grammar l0-l5

[L0] What is the basic sentence structure in Chinese?

Subject + Verb + Object (SVO) — same order as English | 王朋 (Wáng Péng) 喜欢 (xǐhuan) 打球 (dǎ qiú). = Wang Peng likes to play ball. | ⚠️ Adverbials (time/place/manner) go BETWEEN subject and verb — NEVER at the end

[L0] Where do modifiers of nouns go?

BEFORE the noun they modify (opposite of many European languages) | 姐姐 (jiějie) 给 (gěi) 我 (wǒ) 买 (mǎi) 的 (de) 衬衫 (chènshān) = The shirt my older sister bought me

[L0] Where do adverbials go — and what's the key rule?

BEFORE the verb, after the subject | 王朋 (Wáng Péng) 昨天 (zuótiān) 看 (kàn) 了 (le) 一个 (yí ge) 中国 (Zhōngguó) 电影 (diànyǐng). = Wang Peng watched a Chinese movie yesterday. | ❌ NEVER at end of sentence (unlike English)

[L0] Why can't numbers go directly before nouns?

A MEASURE WORD must go between a numeral and a noun | 一个 (yí ge) 人 (rén) = one person | 三本 (sān běn) 书 (shū) = three books | ❌ 一人 / 三书 are wrong

[L0] Tone 1 — what does it sound like?

High and level — sustained flat pitch | Written: ā ē ī ō ū | 妈 (mā) = mom | Like holding a musical note steady

[L0] Tone 2 — what does it sound like?

Rising — goes up like asking a question in English | Written: á é í ó ú | 麻 (má) = hemp/numb

[L0] Tone 3 — what does it sound like?

Dip then rise — goes down low then comes back up | Written: ǎ ě ǐ ǒ ǔ | 马 (mǎ) = horse | Before another 3rd tone → first becomes 2nd tone: 你好 (nǐhǎo) → spoken (níhǎo)

[L0] Tone 4 — what does it sound like?

Sharp falling — drops quickly and firmly | Written: à è ì ò ù | 骂 (mà) = to scold | Like giving a firm command

[L0] Neutral tone — what is it?

Short, light, unstressed — no distinct pitch | No tone mark | 吗 (ma) / 吧 (ba) / 呢 (ne) / 的 (de)

[L0] Tone change rule: 不 (bù)

不 is normally 4th tone, but becomes 2nd tone (bú) before another 4th tone | 不是 (bú shì) = is not | 不去 (bú qù) = not going | All other combos: stays bù

[L0] Tone change rule: 一 (yī)

一 is 1st tone alone | → 2nd tone (yí) before a 4th-tone word: 一个 (yí ge) | → 4th tone (yì) before 1st, 2nd, or 3rd tone: 一天 (yì tiān) / 一年 (yì nián)

[L0] Tone change rule: 3rd + 3rd tone

When two 3rd-tone syllables appear together, the FIRST becomes 2nd tone | 你好 (nǐhǎo) → spoken as (níhǎo) | 也许 (yěxǔ) → spoken as (yéxǔ)

[L1] 姓 (xìng) — what does it mean and how is it used?

Means "surname is / family name is" — both a noun and a verb. As a verb must be followed by the surname | 你姓 (nǐ xìng) 什么 (shénme)? = What is your surname? → 我姓李 (Wǒ xìng Lǐ). = My surname is Li. | Polite form: 你贵姓 (nǐ guì xìng)? → Answer: 我姓王 (wǒ xìng Wáng). ❌ NOT 我贵姓王 — drop 贵 (guì) in your own answer | Negated with 不: 我不姓李 (wǒ bù xìng Lǐ).

[L1] 叫 (jiào) — what does it mean and how is it used?

Means "to be called" — used for full name or given name (not single-syllable given name alone) | 你叫 (nǐ jiào) 什么名字 (shénme míngzi)? = What is your name? → 我叫王小朋 (Wǒ jiào Wáng Xiǎopéng). | Negated with 不: 我不叫 (wǒ bù jiào) 李生 (Lǐ Shēng). = My name is not Li Sheng.

[L1] CONTRAST: 你姓什么 (nǐ xìng shénme) vs 你叫什么名字 (nǐ jiào shénme míngzi)?

姓 (xìng) asks ONLY for the surname | 叫...名字 (jiào...míngzi) asks for the FULL name | 你姓什么? = What is your family name? | 你叫什么名字? = What is your (full) name?

[L1] 呢 (ne) — what does it do?

Asks "what about ___?" — uses context already established in conversation. Must have prior context. | 我姓李，你呢 (nǐ ne)? = My surname is Li. How about you? | 我很好 (hěn hǎo)，你呢? = I'm fine, and you? | ❌ Cannot open a conversation with 呢 alone

[L1] 是 (shì) — the verb "to be"

Links two equivalent nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases | 你是 (nǐ shì) 老师 (lǎoshī) 吗 (ma)? = Are you a teacher? → 我是老师 (Wǒ shì lǎoshī). | 李友 (Lǐ Yǒu) 是学生 (shì xuésheng). | Negated with 不: 王朋 (Wáng Péng) 不是 (bú shì) 美国人 (Měiguó rén). = Wang Peng is not American.

[L1] 吗 (ma) — yes/no question particle

Add 吗 to the END of a declarative statement to make a yes/no question | 你是老师 (nǐ shì lǎoshī) 吗? = Are you a teacher? | Affirmative answer: drop 吗 → 我是老师 (Wǒ shì lǎoshī). | Negative answer: drop 吗, add 不 (bù) before verb → 我不是老师 (Wǒ bú shì lǎoshī).

[L1] 不 (bù) — the negative adverb

Negates verbs and adjectives — placed DIRECTLY before the verb | 我不是 (wǒ bú shì) 北京人 (Běijīng rén). = I'm not from Beijing. | 老师不姓 (lǎoshī bù xìng) 王 (Wáng). | ⚠️ Tone change: normally 4th tone (bù), becomes 2nd (bú) before another 4th-tone word

[L1] 也 (yě) — also, too

Placed AFTER the subject and BEFORE the verb — never at start or end of sentence | 我也是 (Wǒ yě shì) 学生 (xuésheng). = I'm a student too. | 王朋是学生，李友也是 (Lǐ Yǒu yě shì) 学生. | When used with 不: 也 goes BEFORE 不 → 李友也不是 (yě bú shì) 老师. = Li You is not a teacher either. | ❌ 也我是学生 / 我是学生也

[L1] Question pronouns — key rule

When a question word (谁 shéi, 什么 shénme, 哪 nǎ, 几 jǐ, 哪儿 nǎr) is used, word order stays EXACTLY the same as a statement — just swap in the question word | 那个女孩子 (nà ge nǚháizi) 是李友 (shì Lǐ Yǒu). → 那个女孩子是谁 (shì shéi)? = Who is that girl? | ❌ Do NOT move question word to front like English

[L2] 的 (de) — possession particle

Between possessor and thing possessed — like "'s" in English | 我的 (wǒ de) 书 (shū) = my book | 老师的 (lǎoshī de) 名字 (míngzi) = teacher's name | ⚠️ 的 is often DROPPED after pronouns with close family: 我妈妈 (wǒ māma) ✓ / 你弟弟 (nǐ dìdi) ✓ / 我们家 (wǒmen jiā) ✓ | But REQUIRED with non-family: 他的医生 (tā de yīshēng) = his doctor | 我的照片 (wǒ de zhàopiàn) = my photo

[L2] Measure words (一) — why they exist and basic pattern

Chinese nouns cannot directly follow numerals — a measure word goes between | Number + Measure Word + Noun | 一个 (yí ge) 人 (rén) = one person | 一个老师 (yí ge lǎoshī) = one teacher | 这个 (zhège) 孩子 (háizi) = this child | 个 (ge/gè) is the most common and can substitute for many others

[L2] 有 (yǒu) for POSSESSION

Subject + 有 (yǒu) + object = "has/have" | 我有 (Wǒ yǒu) 一个妹妹 (yí ge mèimei). = I have a younger sister. | 王先生有 (Wáng xiānsheng yǒu) 弟弟 (dìdi) 吗? = Does Mr. Wang have a younger brother? | ⚠️ ALWAYS negated with 没 (méi), NEVER 不: 我没有 (wǒ méiyǒu) 哥哥 (gēge). ❌ 我不有

[L2] 有 (yǒu) for EXISTENCE

Location + 有 (yǒu) + thing = "there is/are" | 我家有 (wǒjiā yǒu) 五口人 (wǔ kǒu rén). = There are five people in my family. | 小高家有 (Xiǎo Gāo jiā yǒu) 两个大学生 (liǎng ge dàxuéshēng). = There are two college students in Little Gao's family.

[L2] 都 (dōu) — both, all

Placed BEFORE the verb, AFTER the subject | 王朋、李友和高文中都是 (dōu shì) 学生. = Wang Peng, Li You, and Gao Wenzhong are all students. | "Not all": 不 before 都 → 他们不都是 (tāmen bù dōu shì) 中国人. = Not all of them are Chinese. | "None": 都 before 没有 → 他们都没有 (tāmen dōu méiyǒu) 弟弟. = Neither of them has a younger brother.

[L2] 二 (èr) vs 两 (liǎng) — both mean "two"

两 (liǎng) used BEFORE measure words: 两个人 (liǎng ge rén) ✓ ❌ 二个人 | 二 (èr) used in counting: 一、二、三、四 | 二 always in last two digits of compound numbers: 二十二 (èrshí'èr) = 22 / 一百二十五 (yībǎi èrshíwǔ) = 125 | 两百 (liǎngbǎi) OR 二百 (èrbǎi) = 200 (both OK)

[L2] 谁 (shéi) and question pronouns

谁 (shéi) = who/whom | Word order STAYS THE SAME — replace the person with 谁 in the same spot | 那个女孩子是李友 (Lǐ Yǒu). → 那个女孩子是谁 (shéi)? = Who is that girl? | 谁是李友? = Who is Li You? (谁 is the subject here)

[L3] Date word order

Always largest → smallest unit | 年 (nián) year → 月 (yuè) month → 号/日 (hào/rì) day → 星期X (xīngqī X) day of week | 二〇一九年 (èr líng yī jiǔ nián) 七月 (qīyuè) 二十六号 (èrshíliù hào) 星期五 (xīngqīwǔ) = Friday, July 26, 2019

[L3] Days of the week

星期 (xīngqī) + 1-6 for Mon-Sat, + 日 (rì) or 天 (tiān) for Sunday | 星期几 (xīngqī jǐ)? = What day of the week? | 星期一 (xīngqīyī) Mon / 星期二 (xīngqī'èr) Tue / 星期三 (xīngqīsān) Wed / 星期四 (xīngqīsì) Thu / 星期五 (xīngqīwǔ) Fri / 星期六 (xīngqīliù) Sat / 星期日/天 (xīngqīrì/tiān) Sun | 周末 (zhōumò) = weekend

[L3] 号 (hào) vs 日 (rì) for dates

Both mean "day of the month" | 号 (hào) used in SPOKEN Chinese | 日 (rì) used in WRITTEN Chinese | 二月五号 (èryuè wǔ hào) = spoken "February 5" | 二月五日 (èryuè wǔ rì) = written "February 5"

[L3] Years — how to say them

Read each digit ONE AT A TIME | 一七八六年 (yī qī bā liù nián) = 1786 | 二〇三九年 (èr líng sān jiǔ nián) = 2039 | ❌ Do NOT read as "one thousand seven hundred..."

[L3] Telling time — o'clock

X点 (diǎn)（钟 zhōng）= X o'clock | 两点 (liǎng diǎn) = 2:00 | 十一点 (shíyī diǎn) = 11:00 | 钟 (zhōng) optional and usually dropped | ❌ Must say 两点 NOT 二点 for 2:00

[L3] Telling time — minutes

X点X分 (diǎn X fēn) | Single-digit minutes need 零 (líng): 两点零五分 (liǎng diǎn líng wǔ fēn) = 2:05 | 分 (fēn) drops if minutes = 2 syllables: 八点十 (bā diǎn shí) ✓ | 分 STAYS if minutes = 1 syllable: 一点十分 (yī diǎn shí fēn) ✓ ❌ 一点十

[L3] Telling time — 刻 (kè) quarter hour

一刻 (yí kè) = :15 / 三刻 (sān kè) = :45 | 两点一刻 (liǎng diǎn yí kè) = 2:15 | 十一点三刻 (shíyī diǎn sān kè) = 11:45 | ❌ 两刻 is NOT used (can't say "two quarters")

[L3] Telling time — 半 (bàn) half hour

X点半 (diǎn bàn) = X:30 | 两点半 (liǎng diǎn bàn) = 2:30 | 十二点半 (shí'èr diǎn bàn) = 12:30

[L3] Telling time — evening

晚上 (wǎnshang) + time | 晚上七点（钟）(wǎnshang qī diǎn) = 7:00 p.m. | 晚上八点零五（分）(wǎnshang bā diǎn líng wǔ fēn) = 8:05 p.m. | 晚上九点一刻 (wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn yí kè) = 9:15 p.m. | 晚上十点半 (wǎnshang shí diǎn bàn) = 10:30 p.m.

[L3] 的 (de) omission with close relationships

When pronoun + close personal relationship term → 的 can be DROPPED | 我妈妈 (wǒ māma) ✓ my mom | 你弟弟 (nǐ dìdi) ✓ your younger brother | 我们家 (wǒmen jiā) ✓ our family | But REQUIRED for non-close relationships: 他的医生 (tā de yīshēng) his doctor | 我的照片 (wǒ de zhàopiàn) my photo

[L3] Pivot sentence: 我请你吃饭 (wǒ qǐng nǐ chī fàn)

请 (qǐng) = to treat/invite | 你 (nǐ) is BOTH the object of 请 AND the subject of 吃 (chī) — a "pivot" | 明天李先生请你吃中国菜 (Míngtiān Lǐ xiānsheng qǐng nǐ chī Zhōngguó cài). = Mr. Li is treating you to Chinese food tomorrow. | 今天晚上我请你和你妹妹吃美国菜，怎么样 (zěnmeyàng)?

[L3] Alternative questions: 还是 (háishi) — or

(是)...还是... = "...or...?" for alternative questions (choose one) | 你哥哥是老师还是学生 (nǐ gēge shì lǎoshī háishi xuésheng)? = Is your older brother a teacher or a student? | First 是 can drop when there's another verb: 他（是）喜欢吃中国菜还是喜欢吃美国菜? | ⚠️ 还是 (háishi) = or in QUESTIONS / 或者 (huòzhě) = or in STATEMENTS — not interchangeable

[L3] A-not-A questions (I)

Repeat verb/adjective with 不 (bù) in between | 你今天忙不忙 (máng bu máng)? = Are you busy today? | 你妈妈喜欢不喜欢 (xǐhuan bu xǐhuan) 吃中国菜? | 请问，王律师今天有没有 (yǒu méiyǒu) 事儿 (shìr)? = Excuse me, does Lawyer Wang have anything on today? | ⚠️ 有 (yǒu) uses 没 (méi) in A-not-A, not 不

[L3] 还 (hái) — also, as well, in addition

Placed BEFORE the verb; adds more to an already-mentioned group or situation | 白英爱请高文中和王朋，还请 (hái qǐng) 李友。= Bai Ying'ai invited Gao and Wang, and also Li You. | 王朋喜欢吃中国菜，还喜欢 (hái xǐhuan) 吃美国菜。= ...and also American food. | ⚠️ 还 ≠ 也 (yě): 也 introduces a NEW subject doing the same thing / 还 adds to the SAME subject's actions

[L4] Word order: Subject + Adverbial + Verb + Object

Time, place, and manner adverbials go BETWEEN the subject and verb — NEVER at end | 白医生 (Bái yīshēng) 星期六、星期天 (xīngqīliù, xīngqītiān) 工作 (gōngzuò). = Dr. Bai works Saturdays and Sundays. | 王朋 (Wáng Péng) 常常 (chángcháng) 听 (tīng) 音乐 (yīnyuè). = Wang Peng often listens to music. | ❌ 王朋听音乐常常。

[L4] A-not-A questions (II) — when is it BLOCKED?

If an adverbial like 都 (dōu) or 常常 (chángcháng) appears BEFORE the verb → A-not-A is blocked, must use 吗 (ma) instead | ✓ 你常常去吗 (nǐ chángcháng qù ma)? | ❌ 你常常去不去? | If two verbs in a row → A-not-A applies to FIRST verb only: 你明天去不去 (qù bu qù) 看电影?

[L4] 那（么）(nà/nàme) — then, in that case

Conjunction used by speaker B to respond to speaker A and link ideas | A: 今天晚上没事儿 (méi shìr). B: 那么 (nàme) 我们去看电影，怎么样? = In that case, let's go see a movie, how about that? | A: 我今天很忙. B: 那 (nà) 明天呢? = Then how about tomorrow?

[L4] 去 (qù) + action verb

When an action involves a CHANGE OF LOCATION → 去 (qù) + verb phrase | 我们明天去看 (qù kàn) 电影. = We'll go see a movie tomorrow. | 周末我去跳舞 (qù tiào wǔ)，你去不去? = I'll go dancing this weekend. Are you going? | 晚上我不去跳舞 (bú qù tiào wǔ). = I won't go dancing tonight.

[L4] 好吗 (hǎo ma) / 好不好 (hǎo bu hǎo) — seeking agreement

Add after a suggestion to ask "OK?" or "All right?" | 我们去看电影，好吗 (hǎo ma)? = We'll go see a movie, OK? | 好不好 (hǎo bu hǎo) = A-not-A form of the same question | Both mean the same thing

[L4] 想 (xiǎng) — want to, would like to

Modal verb — must be followed by a VERB or CLAUSE | 你想听 (xiǎng tīng) 音乐吗? = Would you like to listen to music? | 白老师想打球 (xiǎng dǎ qiú)，可是王老师不想打 (bù xiǎng dǎ). | A-not-A: 你想不想 (xiǎng bu xiǎng) 看中国电影?

[L4] CONTRAST: 想 (xiǎng) vs 喜欢 (xǐhuan) vs 觉得 (juéde)

想 (xiǎng) = desire to do something RIGHT NOW / "would like to" | 喜欢 (xǐhuan) = ongoing fondness / "to like" in general | 觉得 (juéde) = to feel / to think (expressing an opinion or comment) | ❌ These are NOT interchangeable | 我想吃中国菜 (I'd like to eat Chinese food right now) vs 我喜欢吃中国菜 (I like Chinese food in general) vs 我觉得中国菜很好 (I think Chinese food is good)

[L4] Detachable verb-object compounds

睡觉 (shuì jiào) / 唱歌 (chàng gē) / 跳舞 (tiào wǔ) look like single words but are verb + object — can be SPLIT when a modifier is added between them | 睡觉 → 睡一个好觉 (shuì yí ge hǎo jiào) = have a good sleep | 唱歌 → 唱英文歌 (chàng Yīngwén gē) = sing an English song | 跳舞 → 跳中国舞 (tiào Zhōngguó wǔ) = do a Chinese dance | ❌ Cannot add an object after them: 睡觉 already has an object

[L5] 一下 (yí xià) vs （一）点儿 (yì diǎnr) — softening requests

Both soften the tone of a command or request | 一下 (yí xià) modifies the VERB — do it briefly/once | 你看一下 (kàn yí xià)。= Take a look. / 你进来一下 (jìn lái yí xià)。= Come in for a minute. | （一）点儿 (yì diǎnr) modifies the OBJECT — a little bit of something | 你喝一点儿茶 (hē yì diǎnr chá) 吧。= Have some tea. / 你想吃点儿什么 (chī diǎnr shénme)? | ❌ Don't mix them up: 看一下 ≠ 看点儿

[L5] Adjectives as predicates — using 很 (hěn)

Adjective as predicate does NOT use 是 (shì) | Usually preceded by 很 (hěn) as an affirmative marker (not always "very" — often just a filler) | 我今天很高兴 (hěn gāoxìng)。= I'm happy today. | 他妹妹很漂亮 (hěn piàoliang)。= His younger sister is very pretty. | ❌ 我今天是高兴 — WRONG | In questions: DROP 很 → 你弟弟高 (gāo) 吗? = Is your younger brother tall? → 他很高 (hěn gāo). | Negation: 不 → 我家不大 (bú dà)，很小 (hěn xiǎo).

[L5] Bare adjective (no 很) — what it implies

A bare adjective predicate without 很 or another modifier implies COMPARISON or CONTRAST | 姐姐忙 (jiějie máng) 还是妹妹忙 (mèimei máng)? 妹妹忙 (mèimei máng). = Who's busier, the older or younger sister? The younger sister [is busier].

[L5] 在 (zài) as a VERB — to be located

在 = "to be at/in" — 在 is the MAIN predicate | 我的书在哪儿 (wǒ de shū zài nǎr)? = Where is my book? → 在那儿 (zài nàr). = It's over there. | Test: is 在 the only verb? → It's a verb

[L5] 在 (zài) as a PREPOSITION — at, in, on

在 + location goes BEFORE another verb | 你在哪儿工作 (nǐ zài nǎr gōngzuò)? = Where do you work? → 我在这儿工作 (Wǒ zài zhèr gōngzuò). = I work here. | Test: is there another verb AFTER the location? → 在 is a preposition

[L5] 吧 (ba) — sentence-final suggestion particle

Softens commands and suggestions, makes them more polite | 我们跳舞吧 (tiào wǔ ba)。= Let's dance. | 请进来吧 (jìn lái ba)。= Come in, please. | 你喝咖啡吧 (hē kāfēi ba)。= Why don't you have some coffee?

[L5] 了 (le) — the completion/occurrence particle

了 signals: 1) completion or occurrence of an action, OR 2) emergence of a new situation | ⚠️ 了 is NOT a past tense marker — can refer to FUTURE too | Past: 今天妈妈喝了 (hē le) 三杯水 (sān bēi shuǐ). = Mom drank three glasses of water. | Future: 明天我吃了 (chī le) 晚饭去看电影. = Tomorrow after I eat dinner I'll go see a movie. | Usually appears right after the verb | Object after 了 usually needs a number+measure word: 我喝了一瓶 (hē le yì píng) 可乐 (kělè). | In questions: 你去打球了吗 (qù dǎ qiú le ma)?

[L5] Negating a past action — 没有 (méiyǒu) not 不 (bù)

To negate a completed action, use 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) — NOT 不 | 昨天我没有听 (méiyǒu tīng) 音乐. = I didn't listen to music yesterday. | ❌ 昨天我不听音乐了 — WRONG | Two ways to ask "did you do X?": 你吃饭了吗 (chī fàn le ma)? OR 你吃饭了没有 (le méiyǒu)? | Negative answer: 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) — drop 了

[L5] 才 (cái) — not until, only then

Marks an action that happened LATER than the speaker expected (subjective, not objective) | 我请他六点吃晚饭，他六点半才来 (liù diǎn bàn cái lái). = I invited him for 6pm; he didn't arrive until 6:30. | 小高常常晚上十二点才回家 (cái huí jiā). = Little Gao often doesn't get home until midnight. | ⚠️ 才 NEVER takes 了, even for past events | ❌ 他六点半才来了 — WRONG