Difference between revisions of "Expressing "unless" with "chufei""

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除非 (chúfēi) can be used as a conjunction, and means "unless". 否则 (fǒuzé) or 不然 (bùrán) often appear in the following phrase, to form a construction meaning "''unless'' X, ''otherwise'' Y":
 
除非 (chúfēi) can be used as a conjunction, and means "unless". 否则 (fǒuzé) or 不然 (bùrán) often appear in the following phrase, to form a construction meaning "''unless'' X, ''otherwise'' Y":
  
==Structure 1==
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==Full construction==
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===Structure===
  
 
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==Examples==
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===Examples===
  
 
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==Structure 2==
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==Basic construction==
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===Structure 2===
  
 
The sentences above can also be expressed in a "Y , 除非 X" pattern.  The meanings of the sentences below are the same as above, the difference being that the sentences below place more emphasis on the part after 除非.
 
The sentences above can also be expressed in a "Y , 除非 X" pattern.  The meanings of the sentences below are the same as above, the difference being that the sentences below place more emphasis on the part after 除非.
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==Examples==
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===Examples===
  
 
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==Structure 3==
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==Used with 才==
  
 
除非 is also used in the patterns below.  The meaning expressed is the same as the sentences above, but below the "Y" part expresses what '''won't''' happen ''unless'' the 除非 condition is met.
 
除非 is also used in the patterns below.  The meaning expressed is the same as the sentences above, but below the "Y" part expresses what '''won't''' happen ''unless'' the 除非 condition is met.
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===Structure===
  
 
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</div>
 
</div>
  
==Examples==
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===Examples===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">

Revision as of 03:33, 18 October 2012

除非 (chúfēi) can be used as a conjunction, and means "unless". 否则 (fǒuzé) or 不然 (bùrán) often appear in the following phrase, to form a construction meaning "unless X, otherwise Y":

Full construction

Structure

除非 X ,否则/不然 Y

Examples

  • 除非 你 表现 很 好,否则 老板 不 给 你 加薪。
  • 除非 理由 很 充分,否则 公司 不 允许 员工 请假。
  • 除非 希腊 债务 问题 得以 解决,不然 欧洲 的 经济 无法 恢复 正常。
  • 除非 能 申请 到 银行 贷款,否则 我们 就 会 破产。

Basic construction

Structure 2

The sentences above can also be expressed in a "Y , 除非 X" pattern. The meanings of the sentences below are the same as above, the difference being that the sentences below place more emphasis on the part after 除非.

Y,除非 X

Examples

  • 老板 不 给 你 加薪,除非 你 表现 很 好。
  • 公司 不 允许 员工 请假,除非 理由 很 充分。
  • 欧洲 的 经济 无法 恢复 正常,除非 希腊 债务 问题 得以 解决。
  • 我们 会 破产,除非 能 申请 到 银行 贷款。

Used with 才

除非 is also used in the patterns below. The meaning expressed is the same as the sentences above, but below the "Y" part expresses what won't happen unless the 除非 condition is met.

Structure

除非 X,才 Y

Examples

  • 除非 理由 很 充分,公司 才 允许 员工 请假。
  • 除非 你 表现 很 好,老板 才 给 你 加薪。
  • 除非 希腊 债务 问题 得以 解决,欧洲 的 经济 才 恢复 正常。
  • 除非 能 申请 到 银行 贷款,我们 才 不 会 破产。

See also

Sources and Further Reading