Difference between revisions of "Adverb"

Latest revision as of 07:59, 17 May 2016

Also known as: 副词 (fùcí).

Adverbs are words that modify verbs and adjectives. In Chinese, word order of adverbs is much stricter than in English. Chinese adverbs normally come before the main verb of a sentence, but in some cases come right at the beginning of a sentence.

Characteristics

Since adverbs are primarily words that modify adjectives and verbs (but never nouns!). They can't stand by themselves. This means that they don't usually serve as single-word answers to questions by themselves, with a few exceptions to this rule, such as "不," "没有," "也许," and "可能." Furthermore, many Chinese adverbs cannot come before the subject of a sentence. This is very important because in English they can, but this is much less common in Chinese.

Adverbs can occasionally act as conjunctions (like in the case of 就), but they still follow the rules of adverbs. Adverbs can sometimes come at the very beginning of a sentence, but in these cases they still modify the verb. Finally, in Chinese adverbs cannot be reduplicated (although reduplicated adjectives can be converted into adverbs with 地, e.g. 急急匆匆地).

Subcategories

Grammar Patterns for Adverbs

A1 Adverbs

Grammar Point (English)	Pattern	Examples
Negation of "you" with "mei"	没 + 有	我没有钱。
Standard negation with "bu"	不 + Verb / Adj.	他们不是坏孩子。
The "all" adverb "dou"	都 + Verb / Adj.	我们都住在上海。
The "also" adverb "ye"	也 + Verb / Adj.	昨天很冷，今天也很冷。

A2 Adverbs

Grammar Point (English)	Pattern	Examples
Approximations with "chabuduo"	Subj. + 差不多	我们的中文水平差不多。
Emphasizing quantity with "dou"	大家 / 很多人 + 都⋯⋯	很多地方都有 wifi。
Expressing "all along" with "yizhi"	Subj. + 一直 + Predicate	我一直在现在的公司工作。
Expressing "already" with "yijing"	已经⋯⋯了	他已经走了。
Expressing "always" with "zongshi"	总是 + Verb	他总是迟到。
Expressing "and also" with "hai"	还 + Verb	她有一个弟弟，还有一个妹妹。
Expressing "just" with "gang"	Subj. + 刚 + Verb	他刚走。
Expressing "only" with "zhi"	只 + Verb	我只有一个妹妹。
Expressing "then" with "jiu"	就 + Verb Phrase	我们现在有时间，就去吧。
Expressing actions in progress with "zai"	(正) 在 + Verb	我们正在吃饭。
Negative commands with "bie"	别 + Verb	别走。
Simultaneous tasks with "yibian"	一边 + Verb 1 (，) 一边 + Verb 2	不要一边说话，一边吃东西。

B1 Adverbs

Grammar Point (English)	Pattern	Examples
Coincidence with "zhenghao"	Subj. + 正好 + Verb Phrase	他正好问了我想问的问题。
Continuation with "hai"	Subj. + 还 + Verb Phrase / Adj.	你还在看书？
Emphasis with "jiushi"	就是 + Verb	我父母就是不让我一个人去。
Emphasizing negation with "you"	又 + 不 / 没 + Verb	又没下雨，带伞干吗？
Expressing "about to" with "jiuyao"	还有 + Time Period + 就要 + Verb Phrase + 了	还有五天就要放假了。
Expressing "again" in the future with "zai"	再 + Verb	我下次再来。
Expressing "again" in the past with "you"	又 + Verb + 了	你又迟到了。
Expressing "all along" with "yuanlai"	Subj. + 原来 + Predicate	原来昨天那个人是你啊。
Expressing "all at once" with "yixiazi"	Subj. + 一下子 + Verb + 了	天气一下子变冷了。
Expressing "almost" using "chadian"	Subj. + 差点 + Predicate	我今天差点儿迟到了。
Expressing "already" with "dou"	都 + Time + 了	都九点了，快点起床！
Expressing "always" with "conglai"	从来 + 都 (是) + Predicate	我从来都是一个人，已经习惯了。
Expressing "as a result" with "jieguo"	Reason / Condition ，结果 + Result	他没好好复习，结果没通过考试。
Expressing "each other" with "huxiang"	互相 + Verb Phrase	互相帮助
Expressing "enough" with "gou"	Subj. + 够 + Predicate (+ 了)	我们买了很多菜，够吃了。
Expressing "finally" with "zhongyu"	Subj. + 终于 + Predicate + 了	你终于到了。
Expressing "had better" with "haishi"	还是 + Verb	我们还是先吃饭吧。
Expressing "had better" with "zuihao"	Subj. + 最好 + Predicate	你最好先休息一下。
Expressing "in this way" with "zheyang"	Condition ，这样 + Result / Purpose	这样做不对。
Expressing "one by one" with "yi"	一 + Measure Word + 一 + Measure Word	宝宝一天一天在长大。
Expressing "small quantity" with "jiu"	就 + Subject + Predicate	这件事就我一个人知道。
Expressing duration of inaction	Duration + 没 + Verb + 了	他已经一个星期没洗澡了。
Expressing earliness with "jiu"	Subj. + Time + 就 + Verb + 了	我昨晚八点半就睡觉了。
Expressing lateness with "cai"	Subj. + Time + 才 + Verb	他二十五岁才上大学。
Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"	先⋯⋯ ，再⋯⋯	先洗手，再吃饭。
Using "always" as a complaint with "laoshi"	Subj. + 老 (是 ) + Verb	你怎么老是加班？
Using "cai" for small numbers	才 + Number + Measure Word + Noun	这个班才两个学生。
Using "ye" and "dou" together	也都 + Verb / Adj.	他们也都是法国人。

B2 Adverbs

Grammar Point (English)	Pattern	Examples
Advanced uses of "dou"	Subj. + 都 + Predicate	我都能闻见面包的香味。
Advanced uses of "hai"	Subj. + 还 + Predicate + 呢	还好朋友呢，天天说我坏话。
Advanced uses of "zong"	总 + Verb Phrase	咱们总得想个办法啊。总不能让他一个人去吧？
Assessing situations with "kanlai"	看来 + Judgment to the Situation；在 + Person + 看来	看来他不来了，都这么晚了。
Declaring the only option with "zhihao"	只好 + Verb Phrase	上个周末下雨了，我们只好待在家。
Emphatic adverb "ke"	可 + Adj. (+ 了)	这件事情对他造成的影响可大了。
Expressing "after all" with "bijing"	毕竟	别怪他了，毕竟他还小。
Expressing "almost" using "chadian mei"	Subj. + 差点没 + Verb	路这么滑，我差点没摔倒。
Expressing "anyway" with "fanzheng"	反正	随便你信不信，反正我不信。
Expressing "as much as possible" with "jinliang"	尽量 + Verb	我会尽量想办法帮你的。
Expressing "even" with "shenzhi"	甚至	他们贡献出所有的精力，甚至最宝贵的生命。
Expressing "feel free" with "jinguan"	尽管 + Verb	有什么事，尽管找我。
Expressing "have to" with "budebu"	Subj. + 不得不 + Verb	老板很讨厌应酬，但是她不得不去。
Expressing "in the end" with "daodi"	到底	事情到底是办成了。
Expressing "in the end" with "jiujing"	究竟	你究竟喜不喜欢我？
Expressing "just" do it with "gancui"	Subj. + 干脆 + Verb Phrase	家里什么都没有，干脆出去吃吧。
Expressing "nearly" with "jihu"	Subj. + 几乎 + Verb	他的头发几乎全白了。
Expressing "never again" with "zai ye bu"	Subj. + 再也 + 不 + Verb Phrase + 了	我再也不想跟你说话了。
Expressing "once" with "cengjing"	Subj. + 曾经 + Verb + 过 (+ Obj.)	他说他曾经做过很多傻事。
Expressing "originally" with "benlai"	本来⋯⋯	搬家本来就很麻烦。
Expressing "over and over again" with "zaisan"	再三 + Verb	妈妈再三叮嘱我，要注意安全。
Expressing "simply" with "jianzhi"	简直⋯⋯	她简直要哭出来了。
Expressing "since the beginning" with "yixiang"	一向 + Verb	他做事情一向踏实。
Expressing "to make certain" with "qianwan"	千万 + Verb/Verb Phrase	千万别泄露出去。
Expressing "while you're at it" with "shunbian"	Subj. ＋Verb Phrase 1，顺便 + Verb Phrase 2	你出去的时候顺便帮我买杯咖啡。
Expressing a last chance with "zaibu... jiu..."	再不…… 就……	再不抢就没了。
Expressing concern with "kongpa"	恐怕 + Subj. ⋯⋯	恐怕今天做不完。
Expressing difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi"	好(不)容易	我好不容易才打通了银行的服务热线。
Expressing wasted efforts with "bai"	白 + Verb	白花了一百块钱，这件衣服不能穿。
Repeated actions in the past with "you"	Subj. + Verb + 了 + 又 + Verb	他找了又找，还是没找到他的钱包。
Rhetorical questions with "nandao"	难道⋯⋯？	这都是你引起的，难道你就不内疚？
The opposite of "chabuduo" is "cha hen duo"	Subj. + 差很多	中国文化和西方文化差很多。

C1 Adverbs

Grammar Point (English)	Pattern	Examples
Advanced usages of the contrary "dao"	Subject + Verb + 得 + 倒 + Adjective	你说得倒容易，那你来！
Emphasizing with "henshi"	Subj. + 很是 + Adj.	这样做很是必要。
Expressing "a full" with "zuzu"	足足 + Verb	姚明身高足足有 2.26米。
Expressing "again and again" with "yizai"	Subj. + 一再 + Verb	我一再跟你说，出门在外要小心。
Expressing "all" with "fanshi"	凡是 + Noun 都 / 就 / 一律 + Predicate	凡是不听话的孩子都没有糖吃。
Expressing "always previously" with "xianglai"	Subject + 向来（都） + Verb/Verb Phrase	我向来努力，所以我每一次考试都获得满分。
Expressing "as expected" with "guoran"	果然 + Predicate	第一名果然是她！我就知道。
Expressing "as if" with "sihu"	Subj. + 似乎 ⋯⋯	你说得似乎很有道理。
Expressing "contrary to expectations" with "pianpian"	A ,Subject + 偏偏 + B	不叫他去，他偏偏要去。
Expressing "even so" with "zaibu... ye..."	再不…… 也……	再不也。
Expressing "no exception" with "yilu"	一律 + Predicate	明天的部门会议一律都要参加。
Expressing "nothing but" with "wufei"	无非 + 是 + Verb / Noun	我无非是想要一台电脑！
Expressing "when the time comes" with "dao shihou"	A, 到时候 + B	现在不好好准备考试，到时候又要后悔了。
Expressing "why" with "hebi"	Subj. + 何必 + Predicate	都是一家人，你们何必这么客气？
Expressing the unexpected with "jingran"	Subj. + 竟然 ⋯⋯	我们要出发的时候，他竟然说不去了。

Sources

外国人实用汉语语法(中英文对照) (pp. 105 - 116)
简明汉语语法学习手册 (Chinese Grammar Without Tears) (pp. 259 - 292)
实用汉语语法 (p. 55 - 56)
Practicing HSK Grammar (pp. 31 - 66)
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 89 - 96)
汉语常用格式330例

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{AKA|副词 (fùcí)}}
+Adverbs are words that modify verbs and adjectives. In Chinese, word order of adverbs is much stricter than in English. Chinese adverbs normally come before the main [[verb]] of a sentence, but in some cases come right at the beginning of a sentence.
+==Characteristics==
+Since adverbs are primarily words that modify adjectives and verbs (but never nouns!). They can't stand by themselves. This means that they don't usually serve as single-word answers to questions by themselves, with a few exceptions to this rule, such as "[[不]]," "[[没有]]," "[[也许]]," and "[[可能]]." Furthermore, many Chinese adverbs cannot come before the subject of a sentence. This is very important because in English they can, but  this is much less common in Chinese.
+Adverbs can occasionally act as conjunctions (like in the [[Events in quick succession with "yi... jiu"|case of 就]]), but they still follow the rules of adverbs. Adverbs can sometimes come at the very beginning of a sentence, but in these cases they still modify the verb. Finally, in Chinese adverbs cannot be reduplicated (although [[Reduplication of adjectives|reduplicated adjectives]] can be converted into [[Turning adjectives into adverbs|adverbs with 地]], e.g. 急急匆匆地).
+== Subcategories ==
 * [[Degree adverbs]]
 * [[Scope adverbs]]
@@ Line 5: / Line 17: @@
 * [[Negative adverbs]]
-== Potential content ==
+== Grammar Patterns for Adverbs ==
+{{POS Page|Adverbs}}
-* Can't be reduplicated (although reduplicated adjectives can be converted into adverbs with 地, e.g. 急急匆匆地).
-* Can't be used as answers to questions.
-* Can't modify nouns.
-* Can't precede subjects (in general).
-* Some adverbs can function as linking words (conjunctions). E.g. 就
-* Always appear before a verb or adjective.
-* Adverbs with logical function
-* 都
-* 也
-* 还
-* 只
-* Difference between:
-** 原来, 本来
-** 不必, 未必, 何必
-** 不免, 难免
-** 毕竟, 到底， 究竟
-** 就, 才
-** 差点儿, 几乎
-** 常常, 往往
-** 从来, 始终
-** 倒, 反而
-** 多亏, 幸亏
-** 分明, 明明
-** 赶紧, 赶快, 赶忙, 连忙
-** 刚, 刚刚, 刚才
-** 果然, 竟然, 居然
-** 好像, 似乎
-** 突然, 忽然
-** 千万, 万万, 万一
-** 太, 挺, 真
-** 特别, 尤其
-** 偷偷, 悄悄
-** 一点儿, 有点儿
-** 一直, 总是
-** 只好, 不得不
-* Some adverbs can be used as answers to questions, such as 不, 没有, 也许 and 可能 etc.
-* Nearly all adverbs occur as adverbials (in front of the verb) but a couple can occur as complements (after the noun), such as 极了 and 得很.
 == Sources ==
@@ Line 51: / Line 24: @@
 * [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B0041UGAJU&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B0041UGAJU 简明汉语语法学习手册 (Chinese Grammar Without Tears)] (pp. 259 - 292)
 * [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001DUFS3A&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001DUFS3A 实用汉语语法] (p. 55 - 56)
-* [http://www.amazon.cn/HSK%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95%E7%B2%BE%E8%AE%B2%E7%B2%BE%E7%BB%83-%E5%BC%A0%E5%A9%A7/dp/B001N6R7DI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311314660&sr=8-1 Practicing HSK Grammar] (pp. 31 - 66) '''''[needs Amazon code]'''''
+* [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001N6R7DI&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001N6R7DI Practicing HSK Grammar] (pp. 31 - 66)
 * [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide] (pp. 89 - 96)
+* [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B002ZNK7JE&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B002ZNK7JE 汉语常用格式330例]
 [[Category:Parts of speech]]