Difference between revisions of "Expressing "never" with "conglai""

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*我 <em>从来 不</em> 喜欢 一 个 人 在 家。<span class="trans">I have never liked being home alone.</span>
 
*我 <em>从来 不</em> 喜欢 一 个 人 在 家。<span class="trans">I have never liked being home alone.</span>
 
*他 <em>从 不</em> 关心 别人,只 关心 自己。<span class="trans">He never cares about others, he only cares about himself</span>
 
*他 <em>从 不</em> 关心 别人,只 关心 自己。<span class="trans">He never cares about others, he only cares about himself</span>
*我<em>从来不</em>吃鱼。
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*我<em>从来不</em>吃鱼。<span class="trans">I never eat fish.</span>
*和 家人 在 一起 的 时候,我 <em>从来不</em> 说 英文。
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*和 家人 在 一起 的 时候,我 <em>从来不</em> 说 英文。<span class="trans">When the family is together, I never speak english.</span>
*我 爸爸  <em>从来不</em> 夸 我。
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*我 爸爸  <em>从来不</em> 夸 我。<span class="trans">My dad never praise me.</span>
*美国 的 父母 <em>从来不</em> 打 孩子 吗?
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*美国 的 父母 <em>从来不</em> 打 孩子 吗?<span class="trans">Does American parents never hit their kids?</span>
*我 的 女朋友 <em>从来不</em> 给 我 打电话。
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*我 的 女朋友 <em>从来不</em> 给 我 打电话。<span class="trans">My girlfriend never gives me a call.</span>
*她 很 奇怪,她 <em>从来不</em> 笑。
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*她 很 奇怪,她 <em>从来不</em> 笑。<span class="trans">She is very weird, she never laugh.</span>
*这 个 地方  <em>从来不</em> 下雪。
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*这 个 地方  <em>从来不</em> 下雪。<span class="trans">It never snows at this place.</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 08:42, 6 November 2013

Although it can also work in the positive, 从来 (cónglái) is usually learned when you want to express that you never do something (as a habit, or as a rule), or that you have never done something (it's not a part of your life experience). In either of these two usages, 从来 may be shortened to just 从 in casual speech.

Structure with 不

When you follow 从来 with 不, you are expressing that you never do something (as a habit, or as a rule). It's often used as a way to refuse something, as in "I never drink."

Keep in mind that 从来 may be shortened to just 从 in casual speech.


Subject + 从来 不 + Verb Phrase

Examples

  • 她 对 酒 过敏,所以 从来 不 喝酒。She is allergic to alcohol, she does not drink.
  • 从来 不 喜欢 一 个 人 在 家。I have never liked being home alone.
  • 从 不 关心 别人,只 关心 自己。He never cares about others, he only cares about himself
  • 从来不吃鱼。I never eat fish.
  • 和 家人 在 一起 的 时候,我 从来不 说 英文。When the family is together, I never speak english.
  • 我 爸爸 从来不 夸 我。My dad never praise me.
  • 美国 的 父母 从来不 打 孩子 吗?Does American parents never hit their kids?
  • 我 的 女朋友 从来不 给 我 打电话。My girlfriend never gives me a call.
  • 她 很 奇怪,她 从来不 笑。She is very weird, she never laugh.
  • 这 个 地方 从来不 下雪。It never snows at this place.

Structure with 没

Use 从来 with 没 or 没有 (and 过 after the verb) to indicate that you have never done something (it's not a part of your life experience). You're talking about the past now, because you're talking about what you haven't done before, so 没有 is appropriate. 过 also makes sense, because you're making a statement about your life experience.

Keep in mind that 从来 may be shortened to just 从 in casual speech.

Subject + 从来 没(有) + Verb + 过

Note that you can have an object or other information after the verb, but the 过 needs to come immediately after the verb.

Examples

  • 从来 没 要 这样 做。I never thought of doing it this way.
  • 从来 没有 中国 菜。I have never made Chinese food.
  • 他 酒量 很 好,从 没 喝醉 His capacity for liquor is pretty good, He has never been drunk.
  • 从来 没 吃 臭 豆腐。
  • 从来 没 去 美国。
  • 她 离婚 以后 从来 没有 笑
  • 从来 没有 听说 这么 奇怪 的 事。
  • 有的 孩子 从来 没 用 电脑。
  • 分手 以后, 我 从来 没有 联系 他。
  • 从来 没 吃 这么 好吃 的 pizza。

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites