Sentence Patterns:

Learning and recognizing these sentence patterns can go a long way towards helping you understand Chinese grammar:

1. 是, 的

This pattern is used when we are adding new information to something already known.

a. 你是从哪里来的？

We know this person isn’t from here, but we want to know where he’s from.

b. 为什么天空是蓝色的？

We know the sky is blue, but we want to know why.

2. 虽然, 可是

This pattern is different from English, as it often features a “but” in the second half.

a. 虽然他很胖, 可是他跑得很快.

b. 虽然她会煮饭, 可是她煮得很难吃.

3. 才, 就.

This pattern is used when the second event unexpectedly occurs soon after the first one.

a. 我才刚说到你, 你就来了.

b. 你昨天才买的手机, 怎么现在就坏了.

4. 先, 再.

This sentence pattern is used to describe steps that occur one after the other.

a. 先直走, 再右转.

b. 你要先买蛋, 再去买牛奶.

5. 每, 都.

This pattern describes an event that always occurs during the specified interval.

a. 他每一个早上都会去公园跑步.

b. 每一次跟他约看电影, 他都会迟到.

6. 把.

This pattern is used more often in Chinese than in English.

a. 我刚刚把垃圾拿去丢.

Here the pattern is more literal, and describes the action of taking the trash and throwing it away.

b. 你可以把他的电话号码给我吗？

Here the pattern is less literal and describes taking the number and giving it.

7. 一, 都.

This pattern describes not having anything, not even a little.

a. 我一点都不会说法文.

b. 他一个朋友都没有.

8. 的时候, 正在.

This pattern describes an event that is already occurring when another one takes place.

a. 朋友来的时候, 我正在吃饭.

b. 他下班的时候, 外面正在下雨.

9. 的话.

This pattern describes three ways to use “if.”

a. 如果我有空, 我会打电话给你.

b. 如果有空的话, 我会打电话给你.

c. 有空的话, 我会打电话给你.