Grammar Notes

Question 1

S + V + O
S + time + zai + location + with whom (prepositional phrase) + V + O

Wo meitian xue Zhongwen xue wu ge xiaoshi.
(Question: Ni meitian xue Zhongwen xue ji ge xiaoshi?)

Answer 1

Basic sentence structure, the Object is always the last word.
Modifiers are always listed from broadest category to more detailed information.

Always duplicate the Verb if there is more than one Object, for example VO + time duration.

Prepositional phrases always come before the verb

Question 2

S + V + le + Time duration
S + VO + V + le + Time duration
Women chi huoguo chi le yi ge ban xiaoshi.

Wo meitian xue Zhongwen xue wu ge xiaoshi.
(Question: Ni meitian xue Zhongwen xue ji ge xiaoshi?)

Answer 2

Single le sentence structure
Shows completed action

We ate hotpot for an hour and a half.
I study Chinese for five hours every day.
(Question: How many hours a day do you study Chinese?)

Question 3

S + V + le + Time duration + le
S + VO + V + le + Time duration + le
Wo jintian xue Zhongwen xue le kuai liang ge xiaoshi le.
(Question: Ni jintian xue Zhongwen xue le ji ge xiaoshi le?)

Answer 3

Double “le” sentence structure
The first “le” shows completion, the second “le” shows continuation

Today I studied Chinese almost two hours.
(Question: How many hours did you study Chinese today?)

Question 4

S + shi + (modifiers) action verb + de

Answer 4

Shi __________de is used to inquire about past events (where, when, with whom and how)
Shi __________de must always have an action verb within the structure

Question 5

A sentence can have many modifiers, each modifier requires a “de”
When “le” is used, it goes after the main verb or at the end of the sentence.

Answer 5

The S will always be after the last “de”
The main verb will always be before “le”

Question 6

“de” is always used after two syllable adjectives, except when “hen duo” is used

Answer 6

“de” can be used before modifiers, possessive, descriptive as an adverb (= ly or of), or in the shi ____ de sentence structure

Question 7

“ye” always goes after the Subject

Answer 7

“ye” can only be used with actions, not nouns or adjectives

Question 8

“zenme qu” always refers to a means of transportation
Ni shi zenme qu de?

“zenme zou” always refers to asking for directions

Answer 8

how did you go

how do you get to

Question 9

Wo zui xihuan ____ shi ______

Answer 9

my favorite _____ is __________

Question 10

Ta zuotian bu zai nali.
Ta zuotian mei qu nali.

Answer 10

“mei” is only used with action verbs or nouns for the past tense, otherwise use “bu” to negate
“bu” is always used with adjectives, present, future or habitual actions

Question 11

“you yidian shi”

Answer 11

“I had matters to attend to” can be used when explaining why you couldn’t do something

Question 12

Tone patterns:

1(high) and 4 (falling) start high
2 (rising) and 3 (low) start low

Question 13

Use statement word order with question words to form questions

Answer 13

A question will always contain the correct word order and information, you just replace the question word with the response following the same order.

Question 14

zai + verb = again
zai + noun = location

Question 15

小姐 xiaojie
美奴 meinu
阿姨 ayi
女士 nvshi

Answer 15

Miss
beautiful girl
(older women)
(women 30 and up)