Difference between revisions of "Giving alternatives"

Latest revision as of 07:47, 31 May 2013

The following structures that Chinese uses to give alternatives or provide options are organized according to our grammar points by level.

Grammar Point (English)	Pattern	Examples
Affirmative-negative question	Verb + 不 + Verb / Adj. + 不 + Adj.	去不去？好不好 ?
Offering choices with "haishi"	A + 还是 + B ?	你要喝茶还是咖啡 ?
Tag questions with "bu"	⋯⋯是不是 / 对不对 / 好不好 ?	你们明天来，好不好 ?

Grammar Point (English)	Pattern	Examples
Expressing "and also" with "hai"	还 + Verb	她有一个弟弟，还有一个妹妹。
Expressing "or" in statements	⋯⋯或者⋯⋯	我想去青岛或者南京。

Grammar Point (English)	Pattern	Examples
Comparing "haishi" and "huozhe"	还是 vs. 或者	我们明天见还是后天见？明天或者后天都可以。
Expressing "either... or..." with "yaome"	要么⋯⋯，要么⋯⋯	要么你去，要么他去。
Expressing "except" and "in addition" with "chule… yiwai"	除了 ⋯⋯ (+ 以外) ，Subj. + 都 / 也 / 还 ⋯⋯	除了他，我们都去过。
Expressing "how about" with "yaobu"	Reason / Situation，要不 + Suggestion + 吧	下雨了，要不明天再去吧。
Expressing "in addition" with "lingwai"	⋯⋯ ，另外，⋯⋯	希望你不要再迟到了。另外，你应该穿得正式一点。

Grammar Point (English)	Pattern	Examples
Expressing "both… and…" with "ji...you"	既⋯⋯也 / 又⋯⋯	他做事情既快又好。
Expressing "would rather" with "ningke"	宁可⋯⋯，也⋯⋯	他宁可输，也不放弃。
Expressing the only two possibilities	不是⋯⋯，就是⋯⋯	不是成功，就是失败。
Many types of "not only... but also..."	不但 / 不只 / 不仅⋯⋯，而且 / 还 / 也 ⋯⋯	他不仅喜欢吃中国菜，而且也会做几个中国菜！
Providing two options with double "huozhe"	或者⋯⋯，或者⋯⋯	只有一块蛋糕，或者你吃或者我吃。

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+The following structures that Chinese uses to give alternatives or provide options are organized according to our [[grammar points by level]].
+{{CF}}
 [[Category:Functions]]