Tasks

Review Lesson 21
Learn the grammar: verbal constructions as attributives, reduplication of verbs and alternative questions
Reading comprehension

Step 1

Review the new words and text of Lesson 21.
Answer the following questions based on the text:

Step 2

Learn the grammar: Verbal constructions as attributives.

Read the following examples. Notice that the underlined phrases are verbal constructions. They tell us something about the the noun following 'DE'. So these verbal constructions are used as attributes.

Note:

1. You must put the verbal construction before the noun it modifies.

2. Don't forget to add 'DE' in between.

Try to combine the following sentences into one.

Step 3 Reduplication of verbs

In Chinese some verbs can be reduplicate to indicate that the duration of the action is short, or it can soften the tone of the sentence making in more or less informal. It functions in a similar wayt as in English: have a look, have a try, etc.

For practice, see exercise 4 on page 223.

Step 4

Learn the grammar: Alternative questions. This is an easy construction. Just repeat the verb and insert bu4 or me2i in between. You have already learned this construction before. What's new here is that the descriptive adjectives can also use this pattern.

Examples:

Try to translate the following sentences into Chinese using alternative questions:

1. Is he happy today?

2. Are you busy now?

3. Is your car new?

4. Is this character correct?

5. Are your friends many? (Do you have many friends?)

Step 5

Reading exercises: Read the text on page215. Find out the facts about Wang laoshi and his family:

Step 6

Do your homework 3.