B1 Grammar [Part 2]

Question 1

后来 (hòulái)

Answer 1

“afterwards/later”
后来 can only be used with two events that have already occurred

他 说 他 会 来 ，后来 又 说 不 来 了 。
Tā shuō tā huì lái, hòulái yòu shuō bù lái le.
He say he will come, afterwards/later also say not come (PAST).

[He said he would come, but later he said that he’s not coming.]

Question 2

什么的 (shénme de)

Answer 2

“and so on”
You can end a non-exhaustive list with shenmede.

我 奶奶 不 吃 肉 ，只 吃 蔬菜 、豆腐 什么的 。
Wǒ nǎinai bù chī ròu, zhǐ chī shūcài, dòufu shénme de.
My grandma not eat meat, only eat vegetables, tofu and so on.

Question 3

之类的 (zhī lèi de)

Answer 3

“and so on/and (stuff) like that”

(像) ⋯⋯ 之类的 + [Category]

你 喜欢《星球大战》之类的 电影 吗 ？
Nǐ xǐhuan “Xīngqiú Dà Zhàn” zhī lèi de diànyǐng ma?
You like Star Wars and stuff like that films?

Question 4

要不 (yàobù)

Answer 4

“how about…”

大家 都 有点 累 了，要不 休息 一会儿 吧 。
Dàjiā dōu yǒudiǎn lèi le, yàobù xiūxi yīhuìr ba.
Everyone all a little tired, how about rest a bit?

When 要不 (yàobù) is used to mean “otherwise,” it’s a shortened form of 要不然 (yàobùrán), which literally means “if that’s not the case.”

你 先 吃 吧 ，要 不然 饭 就 凉 了 。
Nǐ xiān chī ba, yàobùrán fàn jiù liáng le
You first eat, otherwise eat just cold.

Question 5

另外 (lìngwài)

Answer 5

used to express “in addition” or “besides,” and is often followed by 还 (hái) or 也 (yě).

As a conjunction, 另外 can link two sentences.

这个 课文 太 难 了 ，我 不 想 学 。另外 ，我 也 没 准备 。
Zhège kèwén tài nán le, wǒ bù xiǎng xué. Lìngwài, wǒ yě méi zhǔnbèi.
This lesson too difficult, wo not want study. Besides, I also not prepared.

Question 6

还有 (háiyǒu)

Answer 6

“in addition/and also”
can also be used as a conjunction

你 需要 吃 药 。还有 ，要 多 休息 。
Nǐ xūyào chī yào. Háiyǒu, yào duō xiūxi.
You need eat medicine. Also, must much rest.

Question 7

再说 (zàishuō)

Answer 7

In addition/furthermore…

Question 8

来 (lái)

Answer 8

The word 来 (lái) can be used to connect two verb phrases, relating the actions to each other. It can be translated as “in order to” or “so that,” and it can help in explaining reasoning.

Connecting two verb phrases is very straightforward. All you need to do is place 来 in between them. This has the meaning of doing the first verb to achieve the second verb and is often used with words expressing a way or a method, e.g. 通过 (tōngguò) or 用 (yòng).

通过 / 用 + Method + 来 + [Verb Phrase]

用 这 种 方法 来 赚钱 ，真 丢人 。
Yòng zhè zhǒng fāngfǎ lái zhuànqián, zhēn diūrén.

Use this type method IN ORDER TO make money, truly shameful.

Question 9

关于 (guānyú)

Answer 9

“about/as for”

As an adverb/adverbial clause, it can only be placed at the beginning of the sentence.

关于 中国 历史，我 知道 的 不 多。
Guānyú Zhōngguó lìshǐ, wǒ zhīdào de bù duō.
As for Chinese history, I know not much.

As an attributive modifier, 关于 (guānyú) is placed before the noun phrase (rather than after, as in English), and you should always add a 的.

他 写 过 很 多 关于 男女 平等 的 文章 。
Tā xiě guo hěn duō guānyú nánnǚ píngděng de wénzhāng.
He wrote many about gender equality articles.

Question 10

直到 (zhídào)

Answer 10

“until”

But it takes the meaning of “by” or “not until”.

直到 十二 点 半 ，我 才 做 完 作业 。
Zhídào shí’èr diǎn bàn, wǒ cái zuò wán zuòyè.
until 12:30 am, I finished my homework.

Question 11

给 (gěi)

Answer 11

“for/give”
给 + Recipient + [Verb Phrase]

给 客人 倒茶 。
Gěi kèrén dàochá.
For guests pour tea.

The meaning of 给 is very similar to 为 (wèi) in Chinese, but 给 is more informal than 为

Question 12

为 (wèi)

Answer 12

“for”
为 + Party + Verb / Adj.

我们 都 为 你 高兴 。
Wǒmen dōu wèi nǐ gāoxìng.
We all for you (are) happy.

谁 为 我 考虑 过 ？
Shéi wèi wǒ kǎolǜ guo?
Who for me before did consider?/Who considered me before?/Who ever considered me?

Question 13

为了 (wèile)

Answer 13

“in order to/for the purpose of/for”
Comes BEFORE what it is for.

为了 钱 ，他 什么 都 愿意 做 。
Wèile qián, tā shénme dōu yuànyì zuò.
For money, he anything all willing to do./He is willing to do anything for money.

Question 14

是因为

Answer 14

“(is) because of…”

Question 15

是 为了

Answer 15

“in order to/for/is because of”

我 这么 做 是 为了 帮 你 。
Wǒ zhème zuò shì wèile bāng nǐ.
I in this way do IN ORDER TO help you./I did this to help you.

Question 16

不到 (bùdào)

Answer 16

The word 到 (dào) means “arrive,” but it can also mean “to reach” or “to get to”. 不到 (bùdào) means “to not reach (the amount of)/to be less than.”

不到 + Number + [Measure Word] + Noun

我 女儿 不到 三 岁 。
Wǒ nǚ’ér bùdào sān suì.
My daughter less than/not reach the amount of three years old.

不到 + Time/duration + 就
[就 is needed when 不到 discusses a time or duration]

他们 认识 不到 两 个 月 就 结婚 了 。
Tāmen rènshi bùdào liǎng gè yuè jiù jiéhūn le.
They know less than 2 months just got married.

Question 17

向 (xiàng)/往 (wǎng)

Answer 17

“towards”
both come BEFORE the direction or place.

向 前 看 。
Xiàng qián kàn.
Towards front look./Look forward.

向 also means “from”. In Chinese, they don’t say ““learn from somene”, they say “learn towards somene”.

向 雷锋 同志 学习 ！
Xiàng Léi Fēng tóngzhì xuéxí!
From Lei Feng Comrade learn!/Learn from Comrade Lei Feng.

我 不 喜欢 向 朋友 借钱 。
Wǒ bù xǐhuan xiàng péngyou jiè qián.
I not like from friends borrow money./I don’t like to borrow money from friends.

往下 (wǎng xià) + VERB = keep doing VERB

往 下 说 。
Wǎng xià shuō.
keep talking.

Question 18

CAUSATIVE VERBS
让 (ràng)
叫 (jiào)
请 (qǐng)
使 (shǐ)

Answer 18

Subj. + [Causative Verb] + Person + Predicate
让 (ràng) - make/let/allow
叫 (jiào) - call/instruct (sm) to do
请 (qǐng) - request (of sm)/please
使 (shǐ) - make (sm do smth)

Question 19

好像 (hǎoxiàng)

Answer 19

“seems/seems like”

他 好像 是 英国 人 。
Tā hǎoxiàng shì Yīngguó rén.
He seems be British person./He seems to be British

你 好像 不 是 本地 人 。
Nǐ hǎoxiàng bù shì běndìrén.
You seem not be local./You don’t seem to be a local.

好像 不 行 。
Hǎoxiàng bù xíng.
Seems like not work./It seems like it didn’t work.

Question 20

以为 (yǐwéi)

Answer 20

“to think that/thought that”
Subj + 以为 + incorrect info

我 以为 他 是 德国 人 。
Wǒ yǐwéi tā shì Déguó rén.
I thought that he is German. (but I was wrong).

Question 21

(这 / 那 +) 要看 / 得看 + [Unclear Situation]

Answer 21

(This/That +) depends on (whether or not) + unclear situation

这 得 看 你 的 时间 。
Zhè děi kàn nǐ de shíjiān.
This depends on you available.

那 要 看 他 愿 不 愿意 。
Nà yào kàn tā yuàn bu yuànyì.
That depends on he willing or not.

Question 22

经过 (jīngguò)/通过 (tōngguò)

Answer 22

经过 (jīngguò)
“to pass by/go through/through”

我 每天 上班 都 经过 这里 。
Wǒ měi tiān shàngbān dōu jīngguò zhèlǐ
I everyday going to work all pass through here./I pass through here everyday when I go to work.

经过 自己 的 努力 ，她 考上 了 北京 大学 。
Jīngguò zìjǐ de nǔlì, tā kǎoshàng le Běijīng Dàxué.
Through her own hard work, she was accepted into Peking University.
———————————————————————
通过 (tōngguò)
“to go through/to pass”

从 我 家 到 那儿 要 通过 两 座 桥 。
Cóng wǒ jiā dào nàr yào tōngguò liǎng zuò qiáo.
From my house to there must go through 2 bridges.

As a preposition, 通过 expresses using a certain method to achieve a desired outcome. It emphasizes the manner or method of doing something, and it can be placed before or after the subject.

通过 + Agent / Method ，Subj. ⋯⋯

我们 是 通过 他 的 朋友 找到 他 的 。
Wǒmen shì tōngguò tā de péngyou zhǎodào tā de.
We is through his friends found him.

Question 23

算 (suàn)

Answer 23

“to consider/considered/comparatively speaking”

这 家 店 的 东西 算 便宜 的 。
Zhè jiā diàn de dōngxi suàn piányi de.
This shop’s things comparatively speaking/considered cheap.

NEGATED:
不 + 算 + Adj.

这 次 考试 不 算 难 。
Zhè cì kǎoshì bù suàn nán
This exam not considered difficult.

算是 = you could say (I guess)

他 算 是 天才 。
Tā suàn shì tiāncái.
He - you could say is - genius

Question 24

Subj. + 来 (Lai as holding verb)

Answer 24

Translates to basically “Do it”.

你 来 ！
Nǐ lái!
You do it!

让 他 自己 来 。
Ràng tā zìjǐ lái.
Let him do it himself.

Question 25

Subj. + 不用 + [Verb Phrase]

Answer 25

“don’t need to VERB”

不用 谢 。
Bùyòng xiè.
(you) don’t need to thank (me).

这还用说吗?
Isn’t that obvious?/Does that even need to be said?

Question 26

少 (shǎo)/多 (duō)

Answer 26

少 + Verb/多 + Verb
少 = less
多 = more/much/many

Question 27

给 (gěi) PLACEMENT

Answer 27

Subj. + Verb + 给 + Recipient + Obj.
OR
Obj. + Subj. + Verb + 给 + Recipient
OR
Subj. + 给 + Target + [Verb Phrase]

HOWEVER, no matter where 给 is placed, it always comes before the recipient.

Question 28

所有(的) (suǒyǒu(de))

Answer 28

“all of”

我 喜欢 所有 我 妈妈 做 的 菜 。
Wǒ xǐhuan suǒyǒu wǒ māma zuò de cài.
I like all of my mom food that cooks/I like all the food that my mom cooks.

你 买 了 她 所有 的 书 ？
Nǐ mǎi le tā suǒyǒu de shū?
You bought all of her books?

TO NEGATE:
不是所有(的) = not all of

不是 所有 的 美国 人 都 爱 喝 咖啡 。
Bù shì suǒyǒu de Měiguó rén dōu ài hē kāfēi.
Not all Americans all like drinking coffee.

Question 29

之一 (zhīyī)

Answer 29

Comes AFTER a noun phrase/noun clause and means “ONE OF”

她 是 我 最 好 的 朋友 之 一 。
Tā shì wǒ zuì hǎo de péngyou zhī yī.
She is one of my best friends.

Question 30

另外 (lìngwài) or 另 (lìng)

Answer 30

often used as a pronoun to denote “the other.” There is no need to add 的 after 另外, but it’s often followed by 一个.

另外 + Number + [Measure Word] + Noun

我 有 两 个 手机 ，一 个 是 小米 ，另 一 个 是 iPhone 。
Wǒ yǒu liǎng gè shǒujī, yī gè shì Xiǎomǐ, lìng yī gè shì iPhone.
I have two cell phones, one is a Xiaomi and THE OTHER is an iPhone.