{{Grammar Box}} If you are trying to describe a daily routine, a habit, or just something that consistently happens, you can use the word 总是 (zǒngshì). 总是 (zǒngshì) means "always," and like other [[adverb]]s, comes before the verb in a sentence. == 总是 (zǒngshì) with Verbs== 总是 (zǒngshì) is an adverb that is often translated to English as "always." It is placed before the verb that it modifies. === Structure ===
Subj. + 总是 + Verb
=== Examples ===
*他 总是 迟到。Tā zǒngshì chídào.He is always late. *我 总是 忘记 这 个 词。Wǒ zǒngshì wàngjì zhège cí.I always forget this word. *他 总是 一个人 吃饭。Tā zǒngshì yīgèrén chīfàn.He always eats alone. *你 男朋友 总是 说 脏话。Nǐ nánpéngyou zǒngshì shuō zānghuà.Your boyfriend always uses foul language. *我 的 学生 总是 问 我 很多 有意思 的 问题。Wǒ de xuéshēng zǒngshì wèn wǒ hěn duō yǒu yìsi de wèntí.My students always ask me lots of interesting questions.
== 总是 (zǒngshì) with Adjectives== === Structure === When 总是 (zǒngshì) is used together with an adjective, you will need to add a modifier in the middle, such as 很 (hěn), 特别 (tèbié), [[Adjectives with "name" and "zheme"|这么 (zhème), 那么 (nàme),]] etc.
总是 + Adv. + Adj.
=== Examples ===
* 他 总是 很 累。Tā zǒngshì hěn lèi.He is always tired. * 你 为什么 总是 很 忙？Nǐ wèishénme zǒngshì hěn máng?Why are you always very busy? * 你 家 总是 很 干净。Nǐ jiā zǒngshì hěn gānjìng.Your house is always very clean. * 孩子们 总是 非常 开心。Háizi men zǒngshì fēicháng kāixīn.The children are always very happy. * 我 的 学生 总是 特别 努力。Wǒ de xuéshēng zǒngshì tèbié nǔlì.My students are always very hard-working.
==See also== *[["Always" as a complaint with "laoshi"]] *[["Always" with "conglai"]] == Sources and further reading == * [[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]] (p. 271) [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy] * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (p. 18) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy] * [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (p. 79) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy] [[Category:A2 grammar points]] {{Basic Grammar|总是|A2|总是 + Verb|他 总是 迟到。|grammar point|ASGXJPJS}} {{Rel char|老是}} {{Rel char|总}} {{Rel char|老}} {{Similar|"All along" with "yizhi"}} {{Similar|"Always" as a complaint with "laoshi"}} {{Similar|"Always" with "conglai"}} {{Similar|"Since the Beginning" with "yixiang"}} {{Used for|Expressing frequency}} {{POS|Adverbs}} {{Translation|always}}