Difference between revisions of "Expressing the only two possibilities"

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To describe a situation as being one of only two possibilities, you can use this structure:
 
To describe a situation as being one of only two possibilities, you can use this structure:
  
 +
== Structure ==
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
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This is like saying "if it's not A, then it's B" in English. A and B can be verbs, adjectives or nouns.
 
This is like saying "if it's not A, then it's B" in English. A and B can be verbs, adjectives or nouns.
  
Some examples:
+
== Examples ==
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
 
* 他 整天 <em>不 是</em> 打游戏 <em>就 是</em> 睡觉。
 
* 他 整天 <em>不 是</em> 打游戏 <em>就 是</em> 睡觉。
 
* 他们 <em>约会</em> 不是 去 咖啡馆 <em>就是</em> 去 电影院。
 
* 他们 <em>约会</em> 不是 去 咖啡馆 <em>就是</em> 去 电影院。
 +
* 我 买 的 衣服 <em>不是</em> 大 <em>就是</em> 小,都 不 能 穿。
 
* 她 穿 的 衣服 <em>不是</em> LV <em>就是</em> Gucci!
 
* 她 穿 的 衣服 <em>不是</em> LV <em>就是</em> Gucci!
  

Revision as of 09:50, 10 October 2012

To describe a situation as being one of only two possibilities, you can use this structure:

Structure

不是 + A, 就是 + B

This is like saying "if it's not A, then it's B" in English. A and B can be verbs, adjectives or nouns.

Examples

  • 他 整天 不 是 打游戏 就 是 睡觉。
  • 他们 约会 不是 去 咖啡馆 就是 去 电影院。
  • 我 买 的 衣服 不是就是 小,都 不 能 穿。
  • 她 穿 的 衣服 不是 LV 就是 Gucci!

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5