ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B2.old/Grammar-wiki-B2-118.txt

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If something keeps happening and won't stop happening, we say that it is "continuous" or "incessant." In Chinese, the words are "不断" (bùduàn) and "不停" (bùtíng). Instead of usually being adjectives, these two words are usually adverbs (but they can sometimes be adjectives too!). However, they are used in different ways and different places, so this article will help you distinguish when and where to use them.

==不断==

"不断" is usually placed before the verb it modifies, and it often requires [[Turning adjectives into adverbs|the particle "地"]] to show that it is an adverb. 

<div class="jiegou">

Subj. + 不断 + 地 + Verb

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===Examples===

<div class="liju">
*客户 <em>不断地</em> 改变 主意，怎么 办？<span class="trans">The client won't stop changing his ideas. What should I do?</span>
*过去 的 两 年 里，我们 <em>不断地</em> 在 努力，也 <em>不断地</em> 在 进步。<span class="trans">For two years, we continuously pushed ourselves and continuously improved.</span>
*他们 之间 的 矛盾 一直 <em>不断</em>，关系 <em>不断</em> 恶化。<span class="trans">The argument between them is ongoing. The relationship is consistently worsening.</span>
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==不停==

"不停" is a little more versatile and can be placed both before the verb as an adverb, or after the verb as something that is somewhat like a complement. Either way, it means the same thing.

<div class="jiegou">

Subj. + 不停 + 地 + Verb

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===Examples===

<div class="liju">
*我今天很困，<em>不停地</em>打哈欠。<span class="trans">I'm so tired today. I can't stop yawning.</span>
*感冒了，喉咙痛，还<em>不停地</em>留鼻水。<span class="trans">I got a cold. My throat hurts and my nose keeps running.</span>
*吃饭的时候他一句话也不说，<em>不停地</em>吃。<span class="trans">When he's eating, he doesn't say anything. He doesn't stop eating.</span>
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When "不停" comes after the verb, it behaves somewhat strangely and takes "个" before it in order to become grammatical, like so:

<div class="jiegou">

Subj. + Verb + 个 + 不停 

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===Examples===

<div class="liju">
*孩子 <strong>哭</strong> <em>个不停</em>，是 不 是 发烧 了？<span class="trans">The child is crying constantly. Does he have a fever?</span>
*今天 电话 <strong>响</strong><em>个不停</em>，烦 死 了。<span class="trans">The phone is ringing incessantly today, it's so annoying.</span>
*一天到晚 老婆 <strong>唠叨</strong> <em>个不停</em>，你 受 得 了 吗？<span class="trans">In the evening, the wife doesn't stop chatting. Can you stand it?</span>
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==Sources and Further Reading==

[[Category:grammar comparison]]
{{Basic Grammar|不断|B2|不断 vs 不停|她 <em>不断</em> 地 找 我，每次 都 说 个 <em>不停</em>。|grammar point|ASGIKHUH}}
{{Rel char|不停}}
{{Similar|"All along" with "yizhi"}}   
{{Similar|"Always" as a complaint with "laoshi"}}   
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
{{Used for|Expressing duration}}
{{Comparison|Adverbs}}