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

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
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.
 
  
== 从来 with 不 ==
+
Although it can also work in the positive, 从来 (cónglái) is usually used 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 usage, 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech.
 +
 
 +
== "To Never Do" with 从来 (cónglái) + (bù) ==
 +
 
 +
When you follow 从来 (cónglái) with 不 (bù), 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."
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
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."
+
The structure is:
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 从来 + 不 + Verb Phrase
+
Subj. + 从来 + 不 + [Verb Phrase]
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
Keep in mind that 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*她 <em>从来 不</em> 喝 酒。<span class="trans">She never drinks.</span>
+
* 她 <em>从来 不</em> 喝酒。 <span class="pinyin"><em>cónglái bù</em> hējiǔ.</span><span class="trans">She never drinks.</span>
*我 <em>从来 不</em> 一 个 人 在 家。<span class="trans">I have never been home alone.</span>
+
*我 女朋友 <em>不</em> 给 我 打 电话。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">来 has been omitted here.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ nǚpéngyou <em>cóng bù</em> gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">My girlfriend never calls me.</span>
*<em>从来 不</em> 关心 别人。<span class="trans">He never cares about others.</span>
+
*这 个 人 很 奇怪,他 <em>从来 不</em> 笑。<span class="pinyin">Zhège rén hěn qíguài, tā <em>cónglái bù</em> xiào.</span><span class="trans">This person is very strange. He never laughs.</span>
*我 <em>从来 不</em> 吃 鱼。<span class="trans">I never eat fish.</span>
+
*你 父母 <em>从来 不</em> 打 你 吗?<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">"hit" can mean "spank"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ fùmǔ <em>cónglái bù</em> dǎ nǐ ma?</span><span class="trans">Your parents never hit you?</span>
*<em>从来 不</em> 说 英文。<span class="trans">I never speak English.</span>
+
*<em>不</em> 关心 别人。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">来 has been omitted here.</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>cóng bù</em> guānxīn biérén.</span><span class="trans">He never cares about other people.</span>
*我 爸爸  <em>从来 不</em> 生气。<span class="trans">My dad never angry.</span>
 
*你 父母 <em>从来 不</em> 打 你 吗?<span class="trans">Do your parents never hit you?</span>
 
*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。<span class="trans">She is very strange, she never laughs.</span>
 
*这 个 地方  <em>从来 不</em> 下雪。<span class="trans">It never snows at this place.</span>
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
Keep in mind that 从来 may be shortened to just 从 in casual speech.
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
 
Subject + 从不 + Verb Phrase
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
<div class="liju">
+
== "To Have Never Done" with 从来 (cónglái) + 没有 (méiyǒu) ==
  
*她 <em>从不</em> 喝 酒。<span class="trans">She never drinks.</span>
+
Use 从来 (cónglái) with 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) (and 过 (guo) 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 (méiyǒu) is appropriate过 (guo) also makes sense, because you're making a statement about your life experience.
*我 <em>从不</em> 一 个 人 在 家。<span class="trans">I have never been home alone.</span>
 
*他 <em>从不</em> 关心 别人。<span class="trans">He never cares about others.</span>
 
*我 <em>从不</em> 吃 鱼。<span class="trans">I never eat fish.</span>
 
*我 <em>从不</em> 说 英文。<span class="trans">I never speak English.</span>
 
*我 爸爸 <em>从不</em> 生气。<span class="trans">My dad never angry.</span>
 
*你 父母 <em>从不</em> 打 你 吗?<span class="trans">Do your parents never hit you?</span>
 
*我 的 女朋友 <em>从不</em> 给 我 打电话。<span class="trans">My girlfriend never gives me a call.</span>
 
*她 很 奇怪,她 <em>从不</em> 笑。<span class="trans">She is very strange, she never laughs.</span>
 
*这 个 地方  <em>从不</em> 下雪。<span class="trans">It never snows at this place.</span>
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
== 从来 with 没 ==
 
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
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.
+
The structure is:
 
 
Keep in mind that 从来 may be shortened to just 从 in casual speech.
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 从来 + 没(有) + Verb + 过
+
Subj. + 从来 + 没(有) + Verb + 过
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Note that you can have an object or other information after the verb, but the 过 needs to come immediately after the verb.
+
Again, 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech. Note that you can have an object or other information after the verb, but the 过 (guo) needs to come immediately after the verb.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
 
<div class="liju">
 
* 我 <em>从来 没(有)</em> 去<em> 过</em> 美国。<span class="trans">I have never went to America.</span>
 
* 我 <em>从来 没(有)</em> 想 <em>过</em> 这 个 问题。<span class="trans">I never thought of this problem.</span>
 
* 我 <em>从来 没(有)</em> 做 <em>过</em> 中国 菜。<span class="trans">I have never made Chinese food.</span>
 
* 他 <em>从来 没(有)</em> 喝 <em>过</em> 可乐。<span class="trans">He has never been drunk cola.</span>
 
* 我 <em>从来 没(有)</em> 吃 <em>过</em> 臭 豆腐。<span class="trans">I have never eaten stinky Tofu.</span>
 
* 她 <em>从来 没(有)</em> 哭 <em>过</em>。<span class="trans">She never cried.</span>
 
* 我 <em>从来 没(有)</em> 听说 <em>过</em> 这 个 地方。<span class="trans">I have never before heard about this place.</span>
 
* 有的 孩子 <em>从来 没(有)</em> 用 <em>过</em> 电脑。<span class="trans">Some kids have never used a computer.</span>
 
* 分手 以后, 我 <em>从来 没(有)</em> 见 <em>过</em> 他。<span class="trans">After breaking up, I never saw him again.</span>
 
* 我  <em>从来 没(有)</em> 学 <em>过</em> 这 个 词。<span class="trans">I have never before studied this word.</span>
 
</div>
 
 
Also, Keep in mind that 从来 may be shortened to just 从 in casual speech. So the pattern is:
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
Subject + 从没 + Verb + 过
 
 
</div>
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>从没</em> <em> 过</em> 美国。<span class="trans">I have never went to America.</span>
+
* <em>从来 没有</em> <em>过</em> 这 个 问题 吗?<span class="pinyin"><em>cónglái méiyǒu</em> xiǎng <em>guo</em> zhège wèntí ma? </span><span class="trans">Have you never thought about this question? </span>
* 我 <em>从没</em> <em></em> 这 个 问题。<span class="trans">I never thought of this problem.</span>
+
* <em>从来 没</em> <em>过</em> 她 妈妈。<span class="pinyin"><em>cónglái méi</em> jiàn <em>guo</em> tā māma.</span><span class="trans">She has never met her mother.</span>
* <em>从没</em> <em>过</em> 中国 菜。<span class="trans">I have never made Chinese food.</span>
+
* 我 <em>从没</em> <em>过</em> 这 个 词。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">来 has been omitted here.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>cóngméi</em> xué <em>guo</em> zhège cí.</span><span class="trans">I have never before studied this word.</span>
* 他 <em>从没</em> <em></em> 可乐。<span class="trans">He has never been drunk cola.</span>
+
* 你们 <em>从来 没有</em> 听说 <em>过</em> 这 个 地方 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>cónglái méiyǒu</em> tīngshuō <em>guo</em> zhège dìfang ma? </span><span class="trans">Have you never heard about this place before? </span>
* 我 <em>从没</em> <em>过</em> 臭 豆腐。<span class="trans">I have never eaten stinky Tofu.</span>
+
* 很 多 中国人 <em>从来 没</em> <em> 过</em> 国。<span class="pinyin">Hěn duō Zhōngguó rén <em>cónglái méi</em> chū <em> guo</em> guó.</span><span class="trans">A lot of Chinese people have never been abroad.</span>
* 她 <em>从没</em> <em></em><span class="trans">She never cried.</span>
 
* <em>从没</em> 听说 <em>过</em> 这 个 地方。<span class="trans">I have never before heard about this place.</span>
 
* 有的 孩子 <em>从没</em> <em></em> 电脑。<span class="trans">Some kids have never used a computer.</span>
 
* 分手 以后, 我 <em>从没</em> <em>过</em> 他。<span class="trans">After breaking up, I never saw him again.</span>
 
* 我  <em>从没</em> <em></em> 这 个 词。<span class="trans">I have never before studied this word.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== See also ==
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== See Also ==
  
 
*[[Expressing experiences with "guo" ]]
 
*[[Expressing experiences with "guo" ]]
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===Books===
 
===Books===
 +
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4上|5}}
 
*[[BRIDGE (桥梁 实用汉语中级教程上)]] (p.40)  [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B003AKZFFC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B003AKZFFC&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-23 →buy]
 
*[[BRIDGE (桥梁 实用汉语中级教程上)]] (p.40)  [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B003AKZFFC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B003AKZFFC&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-23 →buy]
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (p. 59) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (p. 59) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]
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[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|从来|A2|从来不/从来没(有)|她 <em>从来 不</em> 喝 酒。我 <em>从来 没有</em> 去<em> 过</em> 美国。|grammar point|ASG8NM5E}}
+
{{HSK|HSK4}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|从来|A2|从来 + 不 / (有) + Verb|她 <em>从来 不</em> 喝酒。我 <em>从来 没有</em> 去<em> 过</em> 美国。|grammar point|ASG8NM5E}}
 
{{Rel char|从不}}
 
{{Rel char|从不}}
 
{{Rel char|从没}}
 
{{Rel char|从没}}

Latest revision as of 04:52, 9 March 2019

Although it can also work in the positive, 从来 (cónglái) is usually used 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 usage, 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech.

"To Never Do" with 从来 (cónglái) + 不 (bù)

When you follow 从来 (cónglái) with 不 (bù), 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."

Structure

The structure is:

Subj. + 从来 + 不 + [Verb Phrase]

Keep in mind that 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech.

Examples

  • 从来 不 喝酒。 cónglái bù hējiǔ.She never drinks.
  • 我 女朋友 从 不 给 我 打 电话。来 has been omitted here.Wǒ nǚpéngyou cóng bù gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.My girlfriend never calls me.
  • 这 个 人 很 奇怪,他 从来 不 笑。Zhège rén hěn qíguài, tā cónglái bù xiào.This person is very strange. He never laughs.
  • 你 父母 从来 不 打 你 吗?"hit" can mean "spank"Nǐ fùmǔ cónglái bù dǎ nǐ ma?Your parents never hit you?
  • 从 不 关心 别人。来 has been omitted here.cóng bù guānxīn biérén.He never cares about other people.

"To Have Never Done" with 从来 (cónglái) + 没有 (méiyǒu)

Use 从来 (cónglái) with 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) (and 过 (guo) 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 (méiyǒu) is appropriate. 过 (guo) also makes sense, because you're making a statement about your life experience.

Structure

The structure is:

Subj. + 从来 + 没(有) + Verb + 过

Again, 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech. Note that you can have an object or other information after the verb, but the 过 (guo) needs to come immediately after the verb.

Examples

  • 从来 没有 这 个 问题 吗?cónglái méiyǒu xiǎng guo zhège wèntí ma? Have you never thought about this question?
  • 从来 没 她 妈妈。cónglái méi jiàn guo tā māma.She has never met her mother.
  • 从没 这 个 词。来 has been omitted here.cóngméi xué guo zhège cí.I have never before studied this word.
  • 你们 从来 没有 听说 这 个 地方 吗?Nǐmen cónglái méiyǒu tīngshuō guo zhège dìfang ma? Have you never heard about this place before?
  • 很 多 中国人 从来 没 国。Hěn duō Zhōngguó rén cónglái méi chū guo guó.A lot of Chinese people have never been abroad.

See Also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites