Difference between revisions of "Expressing "everything" with "shenme dou""

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* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 286-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]  
 
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 286-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]  
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 216-7) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 216-7) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
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*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册)]] (p. 314)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]

Revision as of 03:40, 8 July 2013

"什么...都/也" (shénme...dōu/yě) is a pattern often used to express "all" or "everything". This pattern also works with other question words, such as 哪儿 and 什么时候.

Structures

The structure is very clear, as many Chinese grammar points are.

什么 + Noun. + 都

什么 + Noun. + 也

什么 + 都/也

Examples

  • 以后 你 应该 什么 水果 吃。Later you should eat every fruit.
  • 什么 电影 喜欢 看。I like to watch all the movies. (implying that I like all the movies that come my way)
  • 今天 我 什么 工作 做了。Today I did all my work.
  • 什么 知道。I know everything.

Negative Structures

The negative structure simply adds a 不 or a 没 after the 都/也.

什么 + Noun. + 都/也 + 不

什么 + Noun. + 都/也 + 没

Examples

  • 以后 你 应该 什么 水果 不 吃。Later you should not eat every fruit.
  • 什么 电影 不 喜欢 看。I don't like to watch every movie. (implying I don't like movies in general)
  • 今天 我 什么 工作 没 做。Today I didn't do any work.
  • 什么 不 知道。I don't know anything.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books