18 Unit 8

18.1 Introduction

18.1.1 Topics covered in this unit

  1. More on duration phrases.

  2. The marker le for new situations in negative sentences.

  3. Military titles and branches of service.

  4. The marker ne.

  5. Process verbs.

18.1.2 Material you will need

  1. The C-l and P-1 tapes, the Reference List and Reference Notes.

  2. The C-2 and P-2 tapes, the Workbook.

  3. The 8D-1 tape.

18.2 References

18.2.1 Reference List

1. A: Nǐ jīntiān hái yǒu kè ma? 你今天還有課嗎? Do you have any more classes today?
B: Měiyou kè le. 沒有課了。 I don’t have any more classes.
2. A: Nǐ cóngqián niàn Yīngwén niànle duó jiǔ? 你從前念英文唸了多久? How long did you study English?
B: Wǒ niàn Yīngwén niànle liùnián. 我念英文唸了六年。 I studied English for six years.
3. A: Nǐ xiànzài niàn shénme ne? 你現在念什麼呢? What are you studying now?
B: Wǒ niàn Fàwén ne. 我念法文 I’m studying French.
4. A: Nǐ niàn Fàwén niànle duó jiǔ le? 你念法文唸了多久了? How long have you studying French?
B: Wǒ niànle yìnián le. 我念了一年了。 I’ve have been studying it for one year.
5. A: Nǐ huì xiě Zhōngguo zì ma? 你會寫中國字嗎? Can you write Chinese characters?
B: Huì yìdiǎn. 會一點。 I can a little.
6. A: Qùnián wǒ hái bú huì xiě. 去年我還不會寫。 Last year, I couldn’t write them.
B: Xiànzài wǒ huì xiě yìdiǎn le. 現在我會寫一點了。 Now, I can write a little.
7. A: Nǐ fùqin shi jǖnrén ma? 你父親是軍人嗎? Is your father a military man?
B: Shì, tā shi hǎijǖn jǖnguān. 是,他是海軍軍官。 Yes, he is a naval officer.
8. A: Wǒ jīntiān bù lái le. 我今天不來了。 I’m not coming today.
B: Wǒ bìng le. 我病了。 I’m sick.
9. A: Jīntiān hǎo le méiyou? 今天好了沒有? Are you better today? (Are you recovered?)
B: Jīntiān hǎo le. 今天好了。 Today I’m better.

18.2.2 Vocabulary

kōngjǖn 空軍 Air Force
lùjǖn 陸軍 army
shìbīng 事兵 enlisted man
zuò shì 做事 to work
Déwén 德文 German language
bìng to become ill
Déwén 德文 German language
Fàwén 法文 French language
hǎijǖn 海軍 navy
jǖnguān 軍官 military officer
jǖnrén 軍人 military person
class
xiě to write
character

18.2.3 Reference Notes

18.2.3.1 Notes on №1
1. A: Nǐ jīntiān hái yǒu kè ma? 你今天還有課嗎? Do you have any more classes today?
B: Měiyou kè le. 沒有課了。 I don’t have any more classes.

Hái, “additionally,” “also”: You have already learned the word hái used as an adverb meaning “still.” In this exchange you learn a second way to use hái.

Nǐ hái xiǎng zǒu ma? Do you still want to leave?
Nǐ hái yào xüé shénme? What else do you want to study?

Méi you...le: You will remember that in the negative of a completed action, méi or méiyou replaces the completion marker le—is never used together with it.

lái le. He came.
méi(you) lái. He did not come.

In the sentence Méiyou kè le, le is a new-situation marker, and méiyou is simply the negative of the full verb yǒu. (Remember that the verb yǒu is always made negative with méi, never with .)

yǒu kè le. Now he has class. [Due to a change in the schedule, he now has class at this time.]
méi- yǒu kè le. He doesn’t have any more classes.

Bù...le/méiyou...le: When the marker le for new situations is used with a negative verb, there are two possible meanings:

  1. one is that something that was supposed to happen is now not going to happen.

  2. the other is that something that was happening is not happening anymore.

Thus the following sentence is ambiguous:

Tā bù lái le.

He is not coining now. [Either he was expected to come but changed his mind, or he used to come at this time but now has stopped.]

In the context of a conversation, the meaning of the sentence would become clear.

Here are more examples with the “anymore” meaning:

Tā bú niàn shū le. He is not going to study anymore.[He will no longer attend college.]
Tā bú shi wǒ de péngyou le. He is not my friend anymore.
Méi you le. There is no more.

18.2.3.2 Notes on №2
2. A: Nǐ cóngqián niàn Yīngwén niànle duó jiǔ? 你從前念英文唸了多久? How long did you study English?
B: Wǒ niàn Yīngwén niànle liǔnián. 我念英文唸了六年。 I studied English for six years.

More on duration: In Unit 6 of this module, you learned to express duration in a sentence with no object (Wǒ zài Xiāngǎng zhùle liùge yüè le. ). In this unit, you learn one way to express the duration of an activity which involves using both a verb and an object (e.g. “studying economics”). In such cases, the verb appears twice in the sentence: first when the object is stated, and again when the duration is stated.

Tā niàn jīngjixüé, niànle yìnián. He studied economics for one year.
Tā xüé Zhōngguo huà, xüéle sānge yüè le.

He has been studying Chinese for three months.

Notice that aspect markers do not occur after the first verb in each sentence, but only after the second verb and at the end of the second sentence.

18.2.3.3 Notes on №3
3. A: Nǐ xiànzài niàn shénme ne? 你現在念什麼呢? What are you studying now?
B: Wǒ niàn Fàwén ne. 我念法文 I’m studying French.

Ne is an aspect marker used to emphasize the fact that something is in progress. With action verbs, ne indicates that the action is going on.

With state verbs, ne shows that the state exists. With some process verbs, ne indicates that the process is going on. Ne may not be used with certain process verbs. (See also notes on No. 8, about verbs.)

18.2.3.4 Notes on №4–5
4. A: Nǐ niàn Fàwén niànle duó jiǔ le? 你念法文唸了多久了? How long have you studying French?
B: Wǒ niànle yìnián le. 我念了一年了。 I’ve have been studying it for one year.
5. A: Nǐ huì xiě Zhōngguo zì ma? 你會寫中國字嗎? Can you write Chinese characters?
B: Huì yìdiǎn. 會一點。 I can a little.

Xiě Zhōngguo zì: The verb xiě, “to write” can occur with specific objects, such as Zhōngguo zì, as well as with the general object . The combination xiě zì can mean either “to write characters” or simply “to write.”

Tā xiǎng xüé Zhōngguo zì. He wants to learn to write Chinese characters.
Xiǎo dìdi sìsuì le, yǐjīng huì xiě zì le. Little younger brother is four years old and already can write.

In the reply Huì yìdiǎn, huì is used as a main verb—not as an auxiliary verb, as in the question.

As a main verb, huì means “to have the skill of,” “to have the knowledge of,” “to know.”

Wǒ huì Yīngwén. I know English.

18.2.3.5 Notes on №6
6. A: Qùnián wǒ hái bú huì xiě. 去年我還不會寫。 Last year, I couldn’t write them.
B: Xiànzài wǒ huì xiě yìdiǎn le. 現在我會寫一點了。 Now, I can write a little.

Qùnián wǒ hái bú huì xiě.: Notice that here it is the auxiliary verb huì, not the verb xiě, that is made negative. Auxiliary verbs such as huì and xiǎng are STATE verbs and so are made negative with the prefix , regardless of whether the context is past, present, or future.

Xiànzài wǒ huì xiě yìdiǎn le.: The marker used is le for new situations. It is always placed at the end of a sentence.

The time word xiànzài comes at the beginning of the sentence here. Most time words of more than one syllable may come either before or after the subject, but in either case before the verb.

18.2.3.6 Notes on №7–8
7. A: Nǐ fùqin shi jǖnrén ma? 你父親是軍人嗎? Is your father a military man?
B: Shì, tā shi hǎijǖn jǖnguān. 是,他是海軍軍官。 Yes, he is a naval officer.
8. A: Wǒ jīntiān bù lái le. 我今天不來了。 I’m not coming today.
B: Wǒ bìng le. 我病了。 I’m sick.

The verb bìng, “to get sick,” “to become ill,” is a process verb; that is the activity described includes some changes in the situation. Process verbs tell of an action which has caused a change from one state to another, as from whole to broken (“to break”) and from frozen to melted (“to melt”). Bìng is typical of process verbs: not only is an action described (coming down with an illness) but also a resulting state (being ill). Because of this typical combination, process verbs are sometimes thought of as combining the semantic characteristics of action and state verbs.

One of the main purposes of talking about verbs in terms of action, state, and process is to draw attention to the fact that the Chinese way of expressing something may not correspond to the English.

For instance,

“I am sick” in Chinese is Wǒ bìng le. (“I have gotten sick”). For “I am not sick,” you say Wǒ méi bìng. (“I didn’t get sick”).

Process verbs are always made negative with méi regardless of whether you are referring to past, present, or future.

Nǐ bìng le méiyou? Are you sick?
Méiyou. Wǒ méi bing. No. I’m not sick.

(State verbs are always made negative with .)

Another reason for putting verbs into categories according to the type of meaning is to discover how verbs behave in sentences. Knowing whether a verb is in the action, state, or process category, you will know what aspect markers and negatives may be used with that verb. In the following charts, an X mark means that this combination of verb and aspect occurs in the language.

Aspect Markers
Completion le Combined le New-situation le
Verbs Action X X X
State X
Process X X X

Examples:1

Action Tā zuótiān gōngzuò le. He worked yesterday. (completion le)
Tā yǐjīng lái le. He has already come. (combined le)
Gēge xiànzài niàn dàxüé le. Older brother goes to college now. (new-situation le)a
State Tā xiànzài huì xiě zì le. He can write now. (new-situation le)
Process Tā zuótiān bìng le. He got sick yesterday. (completion le)
Tā xiànzài bìng le. He is sick.(combined le)
Tā bìngle yíge yüé le. He has been sick for one month now. (new-situation le) and completion le)
a

In affirmative sentences containing action verbs, the marker le for new situations is used to describe a change in a general habit.

Verbs
Action State Process
Negation X X
méi(you)—negation of completion le X X
hái méi—negation of combined le X X

Examples:

Action Tā bú niàn shū. He doesn’t (isn’t going to) study
Tā méi niàn shū. He didn’t study.
Tā hái méi niàn shū. He hasn’t studied yet,
State Tā qǜnián bù xiǎng niàn shū. Last year, she didn’t want to study.
Process Tā jīntiān méi bìng. He is not sick today.
Tā hái méi hǎo. He hasn’t yet recovered.

Notice that only action verbs use the whole range of negatives to mark the negative of future or present action, completed action, or new situations. State verbs use the negative prefix even when referring to past states. Process verbs use the negative prefix méi even when referring to something in the present.

If you find a verb occurring with a negative or an aspect marker you had not expected, you might discuss with your teacher how the verb behaves in terms of these charts. You might discover that what you thought was a state verb is actually a process verb, or vice versa.

18.2.3.7 Notes on №9
9. A: Jīntiān hǎo le méiyou? 今天好了沒有? Are you better today? (Are you recovered?)
B: Jīntiān hǎo le. 今天好了。 Today I’m better.

Jīntiān hǎo le.: Hǎo is one of many state verbs which can become process verbs. When such a verb becomes a process verb, it takes on a different meaning. While the state verb hǎo means “to be good” or “to be well,” the process verb hǎo means “to get better,” “to recover.” Compare these sentences:

Tā hǎo. He’s in good health.
Tā zuótiān bìng le. Tā jīntiān yǐjīng hǎo le. Yesterday he became sick. Today he is already recovered.

The difference between the state verb hǎo and the process verb hǎo is even more evident in negative sentences. State verbs, as you remember, are made negative only with . Process verbs are made negative only with méi or hái méi.

Tā bù hǎo.

He’s not good. [He’s not a good person.]

Tā hái méi hǎo.

He hasn’t yet recovered. [He is still sick.]

It can be difficult to remember that bìng and hǎo, sometimes translated as “to be sick” and “to be better,” are actually process verbs in Chinese, not state verbs.

The English sentence “I am better (recovered)” translates as Wǒ hǎo le. (“I have become well”) and would be incorrect without the le.

Jīntiān hǎo le méiyou? Questions may be formed from statements containing completion le or combined le by adding méiyou at the end of the statements.

You will learn more about forming questions in the first unit of the next module.

Tā láile méiyou? Did he come?
Nǐ hǎole méiyou?

Are you recovered (from your illness)?

18.3 Drills

18.3.1  Response drill

Table 18.3.1.1 
Question Answer
1.

他/她今天還有課嗎?

Tā jīntiān hái yǒu kè ma?

Does he have any more class today?

他/她沒有課了。

Tā méiyou kè le.

He doesn’t have any more classes.

2.

他/她今天還來嗎?

Tā jīntiān hái lái ma?

Is he/she still coming today?

他/她不來了。

Tā bù lái le.

He/she is not coming.

3.

他/她現在還會説中國話嗎?

Tā xiànzài hái huì shuō Zhōngguo huà ma?

Does he/she still speak Chinese now?

他/她不會説中國話了。

Tā bú huì shuō Zhōngguò huà le.

He/she can’t speak Chinese anymore.

4.

他/她現在還有中國書嗎?

Tā xiànzài hái yǒu Zhōngguo shū ma?

Does he/she still have Chinese books now?

他/她沒有中國書了。

Tā méiyou Zhōngguo shū le.

He/she has no more Chinese books anymore.

5.

他/她還念歷史嗎?

Tā hái niàn lìshǐ ma?

Does he/she still study history?

他/她不念歷史了。

Tā bú niàn lìshǐ le.

He/she doesn’t study history anymore.

6.

他/她現在還在空軍工作嗎?

Tā xiànzài hái zài kōngjǖn gōngzuò ma?

Is he/she still working in the Air Force?

他/她不在空軍工作。

Tā bú zài kōngjǖn gōngzuò.

He/she does not work in the Air Force anymore.

7.

他/她現在還想走嗎?

Tā xiànzài hái xiǎng zǒu ma?

Does he/she still want to leave now?

他/她不想走了。

Tā bù xiǎng zǒu le.

He/she doesn’t want to go anymore.

18.3.2  Expansion drill

Table 18.3.2.1 
Question Answer
1.

他/她從前念歷史。

Tā cóngqián niàn lìshǐ.

He/she formerly studied history.

他/她從前念歷史,現在不念了。

Tā cóngqián niàn lìshǐ, xiànzài bú niàn le.

He/she formerly studied history, but now he/she doesn’t anymore.

2.

他/她從前唸書。

Tā cóngqián niàn shū.

He/she used to study.

他/她從前唸書,現在不念了。

Tā cóngqián niàn shū, xiànzài bú niàn le.

He/she used to study, now he/she doesn’t anymore.

3.

他/她從前在陸軍做事。

Tā cóngqián zài lùjǖn zuò shì.

He/she used to be in the Army.

他/她從前在陸軍做事,現在不在陸軍做事了。

Tā cóngqián zài lùjǖn zuò shì, xiànzài bú zài lùjǖn zuò shì le.

He/she used to be in the Army, but he/she doesn’t anymore.

4.

他/她從前不會。

Tā cóngqián bú huì.

He/she used to not.

他/她從前不會,現在會了。

Tā cóngqián bú huì, xiànzài huì le.

He/she used to not, but now he/she does.

5.

他/她從前不知道。

Tā cóngqián bù zhīdào.

He/she never knew before.

他/她從前不知道,現在知道了。

Tā cóngqián bù zhīdào, xiànzài zhīdào le.

He/she never knew before, but he/she knows now.

6.

他/她中文從前不很好。

Tā de Zhōngwén cóngqián bù hěn hǎo.

He/she wasn’t very good at Chinese.

他/她中文從前不很好,現在很好了。

Tā de Zhōngwén cóngqián bù hěn hǎo, xiànzài hěn hǎo le.

He/she wasn’t very good at Chinese, but he/she is now.

7.

他/她從前會説法國話。

Tā cóngqián huì shuō Fàguó huà.

He/she used to speak French.

他/她從前會説法國話,現在不會了。

Tā cóngqián huì shuō Fàguó huà, xiànzài bú huì le.

He/she used to speak French, now he/she doesn’t.

18.3.3  Transformation drill

Table 18.3.3.1 
Question Cue Answer
1.

他/她念過政治學。

Tā niànguo zhèngzhixüé.

He/she has studied political science.

多久

duó jiǔ

how long

他/她念政治學, 唸了多久?

Tā niàn zhèngzhixüé, niànle duó jiǔ?

How long did he/she study political science?

2.

他/她念過經濟學。

Tā niànguo jīngjixüé.

He/she has studied economics.

幾年

jǐnián

how many years

他/她念經濟學,唸了幾年?

Tā niàn jīngjixüé, niànle jǐnián?

How many years did he/she study economics?

3.

他/她念過中國文學。

Tā niànguo Zhōngguo wénxüé.

He/she has studied literature.

多久

duó jiǔ

how long

他/她念中國文學,唸了多久?

Tā niàn Zhōngguo wénxüé, niànle duó jiǔ?

How long did he/she study literature?

4.

他/她學過日文?

Tā xüéguo Rìwén.

He/she has learned Japanese.

幾個月

jǐge yüè

how many months

他/她學日文,學了幾個月?

Tā xüé Rìwén, xüéle jǐge yüè?

How many months did he/she learn Japanese?

5.

他/她在空軍做過事。

Tā zài kōngjǖn zuòguo shì.

He/she has worked in the Air Force.

多久

duó jiǔ

how long

他/她在空軍做事,做了多久?

Tā zài kōngjǖn zuò shì, zuòle duó jiǔ?

How long did he/she work in the Air Force?

6.

他/她念過中國歷史。

Tā niànguo Zhōngguo lìshǐ.

He/she has studied Chinese history.

多久

duó jiǔ

how long

他/她念中國歷史,唸了多久?

Tā niàn Zhōngguo lìshǐ, niànle duó jiǔ?

How long did he/she study history?

7.

他/她念過英國文學。

Tā niànguo Yīngguó wénxüé.

He/she has studied English literature.

幾年

jǐnián

how many years

他/她念英國文學,唸了幾年?

Tā niàn Yīngguó wénxüé, niànle jǐniàn?

How many years did he/she study literature?

18.3.4  Transformation drill

Table 18.3.4.1 
Question Cue Answer
1.

他/她現在念歷史。

Tā xiànzài niàn lìshǐ.

He/she is studying history now.

多久

duó jiǔ

how long

他/她念歷史,唸了多久了?

Tā niàn lìshǐ, niànle duó jiǔ le?

How long has he been studying history?

2.

他/她現在學日文。

Tā xiànzài xüé Rìwén.

He/she is studying Japanese now.

幾個月

jǐge yüè

how many months

他/她學日文,學了幾個月?

Tā xüé Rìwén, xüéle jǐge yüè?

How many months has he been studying Japanese?

3.

他/她現在念英文。

Tā xiànzài niàn Yīngwén.

He/she is studying English now.

幾個月

jǐge yüè

how many months

他/她念了英文,唸了幾個月了?

Tā niànle Yīngwén, niànle jǐge yüè le?

How many months has he been studying English?

4.

他/她現在在海軍做事。

Tā xiànzài zài hǎijǖn zuò shì.

He/she is now working in the Navy.

幾年

jǐnián

how many years

他/她在海軍做事,作了幾年了?

Tā zài hǎijǖn zuò shì, zuòle jǐnián le?

How many years has he been working in the Navy?

5.

他/她現在學中國話。

Tā xiànzài xüé Zhōngguo huà.

He/she is learning Chinese now.

多久

duó jiǔ

how long

他/她中國話,學了多久了?

Tā xüé Zhōngguo huà, xüéle duó jiǔ le?

How long has he/she been learning Chinese?

6.

他/她現在在陸軍做事。

Tā xiànzài zài lùjǖn zuò shì.

He/she is working in the Army now.

幾年

jínián

how many years

他/她在陸軍做事,作了幾年了?

Tā zài lùjǖn zuò shì, zuòle jǐnián le?

How many years has he/she been working in the Army?

7.

他/她現在在銀行做事。

Ta xiànzài zài yínháng zuò shì.

He/she is working in a bank now.

幾年

jǐnián

how many years

他/她在銀行做事,作了幾年了?

Tā zài yínháng zuò shì, zuòle jǐnián le?

How many years has he/she been working in the bank?

18.3.5  Transformation drill

Table 18.3.5.1 
Question Cue Answer
1.

他/她現在還念歷史呢。

Tā xiànzài hái niàn lìshǐ ne.

He/she is still studying history.

多久

duó jiǔ

how long

他/她念歷史,還想念多久?

Tā niàn lìshǐ, hái xiǎng niàn duó jiǔ?

How much longer is he/she going to study history?

2.

他/她現在還念中國文學呢。

Tā xiànzài hái niàn Zhōngguo wènxüé ne.

He/she is still studying Chinese literature.

多久

duó jiǔ

how long

他/她念中國歷史,還想念多久?

Tā niàn Zhōngguo wènxüé, hái xiǎng niàn duó jiǔ?

How much longer is he/she going to study Chinese literature?

3.

他/她現在還學日文呢。

Tā xiànzài hái xüé Rìwén ne.

He/she is still learning Japanese.

幾個月

jǐge yüè

how many months

他/她學日文,還想學幾個月?

Tā xüé Rìwén, hái xiǎng xüé jǐge yüè?

How much longer is he/she going to learn Japanese?

4.

他/她現在還在陸軍做事呢。

Tā xiànzài hái zài lùjǖn zuò shì ne.

He/she is still working for the Army.

多久

duó jiǔ

how long

他/她在陸軍做事,還想做多久?

Tā zài lùjǖn zuò shì, hái xiǎng zuò duó jiǔ?

5.

他/她現在還學中國話呢。

Tā xiànzài hái xüé Zhōngguo huà ne.

He/she is still learning Chinese.

多久

duó jiǔ

how long

他/她學中國話 他/她在陸軍做事,還想學多久?

Tā xüé Zhōngguo huà, hái xiǎng xüé duó jiǔ?

How long is he/she going to learn Chinese?

6.

他/她現在還念政治學呢。

Tā xianzài hái niàn zhèngzhixüé ne.

He/she is still studying political science.

多久

duó jiǔ

how long

他/她念政治學,還想念多久?

Tā niàn zhèngzhixüé, hái xiǎng niàn duó jiǔ?

How long is he/she going to study political science?

7.

他/她現在還唸經濟學呢。

Tā xiànzài hái niàn jīngjixüé ne.

He/she is still studying economics.

多久

duó jiǔ

how long

他/她念經濟學,還想年多久?

Tā niàn jīngjixüé, hái xiǎng niàn duó jiǔ?

How long is he/she going to study economics?

18.3.6  Transformation drill

Table 18.3.6.1 
Question Answer
1.

他/她現在念歷史。

Tā xiànzài niàn lìshǐ.

He is studying history now.

他/她念歷史,唸了多久了?

Tā niàn lìshǐ, niànle duó jiǔ le?

How long has he studied history?

2.

他/她念過歷史。

Tā niànguo lìshǐ.

He studied history.

他/她念歷史,唸了對久?

Tā niàn lìshǐ, niànle duó jiǔ?

How long did he study history?

3.

他/她現在還念歷史。

Tā xiànzài hái niàn lìshǐ.

He/she is still studying history.

他/她念歷史,還想念多久?

Tā niàn lìshǐ, hái xiǎng niàn duó jiǔ?

How long does he/she plan to study history?

4.

他/她現在念中國文學。

Tā xiànzài niàn Zhōngguo wènxüé.

He/she is now studying Chinese literature.

他/她念中國文學,唸了多久了?

Tā niàn Zhōngguo wènxüé, niànle duó jiǔ le?

How long has he/she been studying Chinese literature?

5.

他/她念過中國文學。

Tā niànguo Zhōngguo wènxüé.

He/she has studied Chinese literature.

他/她念中國文學,唸了多久?

Tā niàn Zhōngguo wènxüé, niànle duó jiǔ?

How long did he/she study Chinese literature?

6.

他/她現在還念日文。

Tā xiànzài hái niàn Rìwén.

He/she is still studying Japanese.

他/她念日文,還想念多久?

Tā niàn Rìwén, hái xiǎng niàn duó jiǔ?

How long does he/she plan to study Japanese?

7.

他/她念過日文。

Tā niànguo Rìwén.

He/she has studied Chinese.

他/她念日文,唸了多久?

Tā niàn Rìwén, niànle duó jiǔ?

How long has he/she been studying Japanese?

8.

他/她學過英文。

Tā xüéguo Yīngwén.

He/she has learned English.

他/她學英文,學了多久?

Tā xüé Yīngwén, xüéle duó jiǔ?

How long has he/she been learning English?

9.

他/她現在還學英文。

Tā xiànzài hái xüé Yīngwén.

He/she is still learning English.

他/她學英文,還想學多久?

Tā xüé Yīngwén, hái xiǎng xüé duó jiǔ?

How long does he/she plan to learn English.

10.

他/她現在在空軍做事。

Tā xiànzài zài kōngjǖn zuò shì.

He/she now works for the Air Force.

他/她在空軍做事,做了多久了?

Tā zài kōngjǖn zuò shì, zuòle duó jiǔ le?

how long has he/she been working for the Air Force?

18.3.7  Expansion drill

Table 18.3.7.1 
Question Answer
1.

他/她寫了嗎?

Tā xiě le ma?

Did he/she write?

他/她還沒寫。

Tā hái méi xiě.

He/she still hasn’t written.

2.

他/她來了嗎?

Tā lái le ma?

Did he/she come?

他/她還沒來。

Tā hái méi lái.

He/she still hasn’t come.

3.

他/她好了嗎?

Tā hǎo le ma?

Did he/she get better?

他/她還沒好。

Tā hái méi hǎo.

He/she still hasn’t got better.

4.

他/她懂了嗎?

Tā dǒng le ma?

Did he/she understand?

他/她還沒懂。

Tā hái méi dǒng.

He/she still hasn’t understood.

5.

他/她走了嗎?

Tā zǒu le ma?

Did he/she leave?

他/她還沒走。

Tā hái méi zǒu.

He/she still hasn’t left?

6.

他/她聽了嗎?

Tā tīng le ma?

Did he/she listen?

他/她還沒聽。

Tā hái méi tīng.

He/she still hasn’t listened?

7.

他/她學了嗎?

Tā xüé le ma?

Did he/she learn?

他/她還沒學。

Tā hái méi xüé.

He/she still hasn’t learned.

18.3.8  Response drill

Table 18.3.8.1 
Question Answer
1.

他/她從前不會寫中國字。現在呢?

Tā cóngqián bú huì xiě Zhōngguo zì. Xiànzài ne?

In the past he/she couldn’t write Chinese characters. And now?

他/她還不會寫中國字。

Tā hái bú huì xiě Zhōngguo zì.

He/she still can’t write Chinese characters.

2.

他/她從前不想學日文。現在呢?

Tā cóngqián bù xiǎng xüé Rìwén. Xiànzài ne?

In the past he/she didn’t want to learn Japanese. And now?

他/她還不想學日文。

Tā hái bù xiǎng xüé Rìwén.

He/she still doesn’t want to learn Japanese.

3.

他/她從前不念歷史。現在呢?

Tā cóngqián bú niàn lìshǐ. Xiànzài ne?

In the past he/she didn’t learn history. And now?

他/她還不念歷史。

Tā hái bú niàn lìshǐ.

He/she still doesn’t learn history.

4.

他/她從前不董法文。現在呢?

Tā cóngqián bù dǒng Fàwén. Xiànzài ne?

In the past he/she didn’t understand French. And now?

他/她還不董法文。

Tā hái bù dǒng Fàwén.

He/she still doesn’t understand French.

5.

他/她們沒有孩子。現在呢?

Tāmen cóngqián méiyou háizi. Xiànzài ne?

In the past they didn’t have children. And now?

他/她們還沒有孩子。

Tāmen hái méiyou háizi.

They still doesn’t have any children.

6.

他/她從前不會説德國話 。現在呢?

Tā cóngqián bú huì shuō Déguó huà. Xiànzài ne?

In the past he/she couldn’t speak German. And now?

他/她還不會説德國話 。

Tā hái bú huì shuō Déguó huà.

He/she still doesn’t speak German.

7.

他/她從前不想學英文。現在呢?

Tā cóngqián bù xiǎng xüé Yīngwén. Xiànzài ne?

In the past he/she didn’t want to learn English. And now?

他/她還不想學英文。

Tā hái bù xiǎng xüé Yīngwén.

He/she still doesn’t want to learn English.

18.3.9  Response drill

Table 18.3.9.1 
Question Cue Answer
1.

他/她從前不會寫中國字。

Tā cóngqián bú huì xiě Zhōngguo zì.

In the past, he/she couldn’t write Chinese characters.

now he/she can

他/她從前不會寫,現在會寫了。

Tā cóngqián bú huì xiě, xiànzài huì xiě le.

In the past, he/she couldn’t write, now he/she can.

2.

他/她從前會寫中國字。

Tā cóngqián huì xiě Zhōngguo zì.

In the past he/she could write Chinese characters

no longer

他/她從前會寫,現在不會寫了。

Tā cóngqián huì xiě, xiànzài bú huì xiě le.

In the past he/she could write, now he/she can’t.

3.

他/她從前不會寫中國字。

Tā cóngqián bú huì xiě Zhōngguo zì.

In the past he/she couldn’t write Chinese characters.

still can’t

他/她從前不會寫,現在還不會寫。

Tā cóngqián bú huì xiě, xiànzài hái bú huì xiě.

In the past he/she couldn’t write, now he/she still can’t.

4.

他/她從前不董法文。

Tā cóngqián bù dǒng Fàwén.

In the past he/she didn’t understand French.

now he/she can

他/她從前不董,現在董了。

Tā cóngqián bù dǒng, xiànzài dǒng le.

In the past he/she didn’t understand, now he/she can.

5.

他/她從前董法文。

Tā cóngqián dǒng Fàwén.

In the past he/she did understand French.

no longer

他/她從前董,現在不董了。

Tā cóngqián dǒng, xiànzài bù dǒng le.

In the past he/she did understand, now he/she cannot anymore.

6.

他/她從前不董法文。

Tā cóngqián bù dǒng Fàwén.

In the past he/she didn’t understand French.

still can’t

他/她從前不董,現在還不董。

Tā cóngqián bù dǒng, xiànzài hái bù dǒng.

In the past he/she didn’t understand, now he/she still can’t.

7.

他/她從前不想學英文。

Tā cóngqián bù xiǎng xüé Yīngwén.

In the past he/she didn’t want to learn English.

now he/she does

他/她從前不想學,現在想學了。

Tā cóngqián bù xiǎng xüé, xiànzài xiǎng xüé le.

In the past he/she didn’t want to learn, now he/she wants to.

8.

他/她從前想學英文。

Tā cóngqián xiǎng xüé Yīngwén.

In the past he/she did want to learn English.

no longer

他/她從前想學,現在不想學了。

Tā cóngqián xiǎng xüé, xiànzài bù xiǎng xüé le.

In the past he/she did want to learn, now he/she doesn’t want to anymore.

9.

他/她從前不想學英文。

Tā cóngqián bù xiǎng xüé Yīngwén.

In the past he/she didn’t want to learn English.

still doesn’t

他/她從前不想學,現在還不想學。

Tā cóngqián bù xiǎng xüé, xiànzài hái bù xiǎng xüé.

In the past he/she didn’t want to learn, now he/she still doesn’t want to.

10.

他/她從前不念歷史。

Tā cóngqián bú niàn lìshǐ.

In the past he/she didn’t study history.

now he/she does

他/她從前不念,現在念了。

Tā cóngqián bú niàn, xiànzài niàn le.

In the past he/she didn’t study, now she does study.

11.

他/她從前念歷史。

Tā cóngqián niàn lìshǐ.

In the past he/she did study history.

no longer

他/她從前念,現在不念了。

Tā cóngqián niàn, xiànzài bú niàn le.

In the past he/she did study, now he/she doesn’t anymore.

12.

他/她從前不念歷史。

Tā cóngqián bú niàn lìshǐ.

In the past he/she didn’t study history.

still doesn’t

他/她從前不念,現在還不念。

Tā cóngqián bú niàn, xiànzài hái bú niàn.

In the past he/she didn’t study, now he/she still doesn’t.

18.3.10  Transformation drill

Table 18.3.10.1 
Question Answer
1.

我寫字了。

Wǒ xiě zì le.

I wrote.

我寫字了,他/她沒寫字。

Wǒ xiě zì le, tā méi xiě zì.

I wrote, he/she didn’t write.

2.

我懂了。

Wǒ dǒng le.

I understood.

我懂了,他/她沒董。

Wǒ dǒng le, tā méi dǒng.

I understood, he/she didn’t.

3.

我來了。

Wǒ lái le.

I came.

我來了,他/她沒來。

Wǒ lái le, tā méi lái.

I came, he/she didn’t.

4.

我走了。

Wǒ zǒu le.

I left.

我走了,他/她沒走。

Wǒ zǒu le, tā méi zǒu.

I left, he/she didn’t.

5.

我坐了。

Wǒ zuò le.

I sat.

我坐了,她沒坐。

Wǒ zuò le, tā méi zuò.

I sat, he/she didn’t.

6.

我聽了。

Wǒ tīng le.

I listened.

我聽了,他/她沒聽。

Wǒ tīng le, tā méi tīng.

I listened, he/she didn’t.

7.

我學了。

Wǒ xüé le.

I learned.

我學了,她沒學。

Wǒ xüé le, tā méi xüé.

I learned, he/she didn’t.