Side by Side Chinese and English Grammar

Description

Learn and review Chinese grammar at a glance Of all the obstacles you face while learning a new language, grammar is one of the toughest. But now there's a way to learn the subtleties of grammar without all the headaches. Side by Side Chinese & English Grammar is the perfect tool to help you understand the similarities and differences between English and Chinese grammar. By learning Chinese grammar through comparisons to your native English language, you are able to build on what you already know. You will be better able to understand and remember Chinese grammar while writing, speaking, and being tested on Chinese usage. This innovative grammar guide includes: Clear and comprehensive introductions to the parts of speech, explaining their functions and answering common questions about them Quick Check sections that summarize main ideas Appendices that identify possible grammar trouble spots, such as measure words and individual classifiers Numerous verb charts with side-by-side Chinese and English translations for easy understanding of each tense's meaning An exercise section with answer key to test and review your knowledge Side by Side Chinese & English Grammar gives you a firm grasp of the structure of both languages and sets the stage for true language mastery. Contents Preface v Introduction vii 1 Introducing languages A short history of English 2 A short history of Chinese 3 2 Parts of speech Introducing the parts of speech 6 3 Nouns Introducing nouns 10 Introducing subjects and objects 14 Introducing determiners 16 4 Pronouns Introducing pronouns 20 Personal pronouns 22 Possessive pronouns | Pronominal possessive forms 24 Reflexive/reciprocal pronouns | Reflexive/reciprocal forms 26 Disjunctive pronouns 28 Relative pronouns | Relative clauses 30 How to analyze relative clauses 32 Demonstrative pronouns 36 Interrogative pronouns 38 5 Adjectives Introducing adjectives 42 Descriptive adjectives 44 Comparison of adjectives 46 Proper adjectives 48 Limiting adjectives 48 Demonstrative adjectives 50 Possessive adjectives | Adjectival possessive forms 52 Interrogative adjectives 54 Indefinite adjectives 56 Other limiting adjectives 56 Other adjectival forms 58 iv Contents 6 Adverbs Introducing adverbs 62 7 Conjunctions Introducing conjunctions 68 8 Interjections Introducing interjections 72 9 Prepositions Introducing prepositions 76 10 Verbs Introducing verbs 80 Introducing questions 84 Introducing verbals | Verbal equivalents 86 Present infinitives 86 Past infinitives 86 Gerunds 88 Participles 88 Indicative mood 90 Present tense | Present-time actions and states 90 Past tense | Past actions and states 94 Future tense | Future actions and states 98 Conditional tense | Conditional sentences 102 Perfect (compound) tenses 104 Present perfect tense | Completion by the present time 104 Present perfect progressive tense | Continuation from past to present 108 Past perfect tense | Completion in the past 110 Past perfect progressive tense | Continuation from past to past 112 Future perfect tense | Completion in the future 116 Future perfect progressive tense | Continuation from past to future 118 Perfect conditional tense | Perfect conditional sentences 120 Perfect conditional progressive tense 120 Passive voice 122 Imperative mood 124 Subjunctive mood 126 Exercises 129 Appendices A Measure words 145 B Common individual classifiers 147 Answer key 149