13 Unit 3

13.1 Introduction

13.1.1 Topics covered in this unit

  1. Members of a family.

  2. The plural ending -men.

  3. The question word - “how many.”

  4. The adverb dōu “all.”

  5. Several ways to express “and.”

13.1.2 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 3D-1 tape.

13.2 References

13.2.1 Reference List

1. A: Nǐmen yǒu háizi ma? 你們有孩子嗎? Do you have children?
B: Yǒu, wǒmen yǒu. 有,我們有。 Yes, we have.
2. B: Liú xiānsheng yǒu Měiguó péngyou ma? 劉先生有美國朋友嗎? Does Mr Liú have any American friends?
A: Tā meíyǒu Měiguó péngyou. 他沒有美國朋友。 He doesn’t have any American friends.
A: Tā yǒu Yīngguó péngyou. 他有英國朋友。 He has English friends. (or an English friend)
3. A: Nǐmen yǒu jǐge háizi? 你們有幾個孩子? How many children do you have?
B: Wǒmen yǒu sānge háizi. 我們有三個孩子。 We have three children.
4. A: Nǐmen yǒu jǐge nánháizi, jǐge nǚháizi? 你們有幾個男孩子,幾個女孩子? How many boys and how many girls do you have?
B: Wǒmen yǒu liǎngge nánháizi, yīge nǚháizi. 我們有兩個男孩子,一個女孩子。 We have two boys and one girl.
5. B: Shì nánháizi, shi nǚháizi? 是男孩子,是女孩子? Are they boys or girls?
A: Tāmen dōu shi nǚháizi. 他們都是女孩子。 All of them are girls.
6. B: Hú xiānsheng, tàitai ne? Tāmen yǒu jǐge háizi? 胡先生,太太呢?他們有幾個孩子? How about Mr. and Mrs. ? How many children do they have?
A: Tāmen yǒu liǎngge háizi. 他們有兩個孩子。 They have two children.
B: Shì nánháizi, shi nǚháizi? 是男孩子,是女孩子? Are they boys or girls?
A: Dōu shi nǚháizi. 都是女孩子。 Both of them are girls.
7. A: Nǐmen háizi dōu zài zhèli ma? 你們孩子都在這裏嗎? Are all your children here?
B: Bù, liǎngge zài zhèli, yíge hái zài Měiguó. 不,兩個在這裏,一個還在美國。 No. Two are here, and one is still in America.
8. A: Nǐ jiāli yǒu shénme rén? 你家裏有什麼人? What people are (there) in your family?
B: Yǒu wǒ tàitai gēn sānge háizi. 有我太太跟三個孩子。 There’s my wife and three children.
9. B: Nǐ jiāli yǒu shénme rén? 你家裏有什麼人? What people are (there) in your family?
A: Jiù (yǒu) wǒ fùqin, mǔqin. 就(有)我父親,母親。 Just my father and mother.

13.2.2 Vocabulary

zhǐ only
dìdi 弟弟 younger brother
gēge 哥哥 older brother
jiějie 姐姐 older sister
mèimei 妹妹 younger sister
xiōngdì 兄弟 brothers
jiěmèi 姐妹 sisters
xiōngdì jiěmèi 兄弟姐妹 brothers and sisters
fùmǔ 父母 parents
zǔfù 祖父 paternal grandfather
zǔmǔ 祖母 paternal grandmother
wàizǔfù 外祖父 maternal grandfather
wàizǔmǔ 外祖母 maternal grandmother
bàba 爸爸 papa, dad, father
māma 媽媽 momma, mom, mother
dōu all, both
fùqin 父親 father
gēn and, with, and (in addition to)
hái still, yet
háizi 孩子 children, child
jǐ- 幾- how many
jiāli 家裏 family
jǐge 幾個 how many
jiù only, just
liǎng- two
méi not, not to have
méiyou 沒有 not to have, there is not
-men plural suffix
mǔqin 母親 mother
nán- 男- male
nánháizi 男孩子 boy
nǐmen 你們 you (plural)
nǚ- 女- female
nǚháizi 女孩子 girl
tāmen 他們 they, them
wǒmen 我們 we, us
yǒu to have, there is
zhǐ only
yíng le 贏了 I(’ve) won

13.2.3 Reference Notes

13.2.3.1 Notes on №1
1. A: Nǐmen yǒu háizi ma? 你們有孩子嗎? Do you have children?
B: Yǒu, wǒmen yǒu. 有,我們有。 Yes, we have.

The plural pronouns are formed by adding -men to the singular pronouns

singular plural
I wǒmen we
you nǐmen you
he/she tāmen they

(You have already seen these pronoun forms used as possessives: “my,” “our,” etc. Later you will find that they are also used as objects: “me,” “us,” etc.)

Háizi: Chinese nouns have the same form for singular and plural.

Háizi may be either “child” or “children.”1Usually the context will make clear whether a noun should be translated as singular or as plural, but not always. Chinese does not require that the matter be pinned down to the same extent that English does.

Wǒmen yǒu háizi is a perfectly good sentence, even though the only accurate translation is the clumsy “We have one or more children.” We would prefer to have enough information to translate it either as “We have a child” or as “We have children.”

At times this ambiguity is an advantage. When you ask Nǐmen yǒu háizi ma? you do not, after all, know whether you are referring to one child or to more than one child. To cover both bets in the same way in English, we have to say “Do you have any children?”

13.2.3.2 Notes on №2
2. B: Liú xiānsheng yǒu Měiguó péngyou ma? 劉先生有美國朋友嗎? Does Mr Liú have any American friends?
B: Tā meíyǒu Měiguó péngyou. 他沒有美國朋友。 He doesn’t have any American friends.
A: Tā yǒu Yīngguó péngyou. 他有英國朋友。 He has English friends. (or an English friend)

Méi you: All the verbs discussed so far form the negative with , with the single exception of yǒu, “to have,” which has the irregular negative form méiyou.

13.2.3.3 Notes on №3–4
3. A: Nǐmen yǒu jǐge háizi? 你們有幾個孩子? How many children do you have?
B: Wǒmen yǒu sānge háizi. 我們有三個孩子。 We have three children.
4. A: Nǐmen yǒu jǐge nánháizi, jǐge nǚháizi? 你們有幾個男孩子,幾個女孩子? How many boys and how many girls do you have?
B: Wǒmen yǒu liǎngge nánháizi, yíge nǚháizi. 我們有兩個男孩子,一個女孩子。 We have two boys and one girl.

In Peking speech, jǐ-, “how many,” is usually used only when the number expected in an answer is about 10 or less. In many other parts of China, speakers use jǐ- no matter how large a number is expected in the answer.

Counters: In Chinese, a noun cannot be counted or specified (i.e., used with něi- “which,” nèi-, “that,” zhèi-, “this”) without the addition of a bound word, a counter, to indicate the sort of thing being specified or counted. English has a few such counters, as “head” in “how many head of cattle” and “loaves” in “seven loaves of bread.”

The counter used in a particular instance depends on the noun being specified or counted. Many nouns have special counters. You have already learned the polite counter for persons, -wèi. Other special counters refer in some way to the kind of thing the noun represents. The word for “hotel,” for instance, has a special counter -jiā, “house,” used for counting or specifying business establishments.

The general counter -ge is used with nouns that do not have special counters. For example, there is no special counter for the word pùbù, “waterfall,” so you would say yíge pùbù, “one waterfall.” You have already found the general counter -ge in specifying expressions such as něige háizi, “which child,” and zhèige fàndiàn, “this hotel.”

You may find that, in colloquial speech, nouns that have special counters are sometimes used with -ge anyway, but this tendency is looked down upon by many speakers.

Here are the numbers 1 through 10 with the counter -ge:

yíge liǎngge sānge sìge wǔge liùge qíge báge jiǔge shíge

The number 2 has a special form before a counter: liǎng-. Notice that the words for 1, 2, and 8 have Rising tones before -ge, because -ge is basically a Falling-tone syllable. (See also Unit 5, notes on No. 9 and No. 10.)

Nán- nǚ-: The “bound words nán- “male,” and nǚ-, “female,” are often used in compounds; for example, nánpéngyou, “boyfriend,” and nǚtóngzhì “(woman) Comrade.”

And: In Chinese, a word for “and” is not needed between parallel phrases like liǎngge nánháizi, yíge nǚháizi “two boys, (and) one girl.” A pause is usual between the two phrases, but even the pause is sometimes omitted.

13.2.3.4 Notes on №5–7
5. B: Shì nánháizi, shi nǚháizi? 是男孩子,是女孩子? Are they boys or girls?
A: Tāmen dōu shi nǚháizi. 他們都是女孩子。 All of them are girls.
6. B: Hú xiānsheng, tàitai ne? tāmen yǒu jǐge háizi? 胡先生,太太呢?他們有幾個孩子? How about Mr. and Mrs. ? How many children do they have?
A: Tāmen yǒu liǎngge háizi. 他們有兩個孩子。 They have two children.
B: Shì nánháizi, shi nǚháizi? 是男孩子,是女孩子? Are they boys or girls?
A: Dōu shi nǚháizi. 都是女孩子。 Both of them are girls.
7. A: Nǐmen háizi dōu zài zhèli ma? 你們孩子都在這裏嗎? Are all your children here?
B: Bù, liǎngge zài zhèli, yíge hái zài Měiguó. 不,兩個在這裏,一個還在美國。 No. Two are here, and one is still in America.

Shi nánháizi, shi nǚháizi? In Chinese, an “or” question (i.e., a question asking which of two alternatives is true) may be asked simply by stating the two alternatives with a pause between. In this kind of question, the verb must appear in each alternative. (You will learn other ways of making “or” questions in later modules.)

Dōu may usually be translated in a sentence as “all (of),” or, if it refers to only two things, as “both (of).” Literally, dōu means “in all cases,” “uniformly,” “entirely,” “completely.” Since it is an adverb), it must be placed after the subject of a sentence and before the verb (like the adverb , “also”.)

13.2.3.5 Notes on №8–9
8. A: Nǐ jiāli yǒu shénme rén? 你家裏有什麼人? What people are (there) in your family?
B: Yǒu wǒ tàitai gēn sānge háizi. 有我太太跟三個孩子。 There’s my wife and three children.
9. B: Nǐ jiāli yǒu shénme rén? 你家裏有什麼人? What people are (there) in your family?
A: Jiù yǒu wǒ fùqin, mǔqin. 就有我父親,母親。 Just my father and mother.

Literally, the phrase nǐ jiāli means “in your home” (jiā, “home”; -li, “in”). In this sentence it is extended to mean “the people in your home, “that is, “your family.”

Nǐ jiāli - yǒu - shénme rén? Phrase by phrase, this question is: “In your family - there are - what people?,’ The word “family” can be taken to mean either all your relatives or only those living in your household.

By itself, the verb yǒu means “to “be,” “to exist.” You have now seen it translated two ways:

  1. as “have,” with a personal subject: Wǒmen yǒu sānge háizi. “We have three children.”

  2. as “there is/are,” in the so-called impersonal construction: Nǐ jiāli yǒu shénme rén? “What people are (there) in your family?”

In exchange 8, the verb yǒu in the answer is translated as “there’s.” Some English speakers may find this translation too colloquial. The answer can also be translated Just by listing the family members, with no verb in the English, as was done in exchange 9. Chinese almost always keeps the verb in the answer to a question, while English tends to leave it out.

How to say “and”: Chinese has several words for “and.” Gēn is the word for “and” when joining nouns or noun phrases. is the word for “and” when Joining verbs, verb phrases, or whole sentences:

Wǒ bú xìng Lǐ, yě bú xìng Lǔ. Wǒ xìng Lǚ.

I’m not surnamed and I’m not surnamed . I’m surnamed .

Example 13.2.3.5.1 Example:

Chinese tends to use a word for “and” when the noun phrases being Joined are not parallel and not to use one when the phrases are parallel:

Not parallel
Yǒu

wǒ tàitai

Possessor noun

gēn

sānge háizi.

number noun

There’s my wife and 3 children.
Parallel
Yǒu

liǎngge nánháizi

number noun

,

yíge nǚháizi.

number noun

There are 2 boys and one girl.

While “and” is often omitted in Chinese, it may be added for emphasis between nouns and between noun phrases just as in English.

Jiù, “only,” “just,” is an adverb (like and dōu. The use of jiù to mean “only” is probably mostly confined to the Peking dialect.2 Speakers from other parts of the country will not necessarily use jiù to mean “only” or understand it as such. A more widely used and understood word for “only” is zhǐ. Thus the answer in exchange 9 could also be: Zhǐ yǒu wǒ fùqin, mǔqin.

13.2.3.6 Notes on additional vocabulary

Chinese is much more precise than English in its terms for family members. There is not just one word for “brother,” or “sister” but words for “older brother,” “younger brother,” “older sister,” and “younger sister.”

older younger
brother gēge dìdi brothers xiōngdì
sister jiějie mèimei sisters jiěmèi

When referring to both older and younger sisters, the term jiěmèi is used. When referring to both older and younger brothers, the term xiōngdì is used. When referring to sisters and brothers, the phrase xiōngdì jiěmèi is used.

Chinese also distinguishes between grandparents on the father’s side of the family and grandparents on the mother’s side:

father’s side mother’s side
grandfather zǔfù wàizǔfù
grandmother zǔmǔ wàizǔmǔ

The syllable wài- in wàizǔfù and wàizǔmǔ literally means “outer” or “outside.”

13.3 Drills

13.3.1 Response Drill

Table 13.3.1.1 Give affirmative answers, using yǒu.
Statement Answer
1.

他/她有美國朋友嗎?

Tā yǒu Měiguó pényou ma?

Does he/she have any American friends?

有,他/她有美國朋友。

Yǒu, tā yǒu Měiguó péngyou.

Yes, he/she has some American friends.

2.

他/她有中國朋友嗎?

Tā yǒu Zhōngguo péngyou ma?

Does he/she have any Chinese friends?

有,他/她有中國朋友。

Yǒu, tā yǒu Zhōngguo péngyou.

Yes, he/she has some Chinese friends.

3.

他/她有德國朋友嗎?

Tā yǒu Déguó péngyou ma?

Does he/she have any German friends?

有,他/她有德國朋友。

Yǒu, tā yǒu Déguó péngyou.

Yes, he/she has some German friends.

4.

他/她有日本朋友嗎?

Tā yǒu Rìběn péngyou ma?

Does he/she have any Japanese friends?

有,他/她有日本朋友。

Yǒu, tā yǒu Rìběn péngyou.

Yes, he/she has some Japanese friends.

5.

他/她有加拿大朋友嗎?

Tā yǒu Jiānádà péngyou ma?

Does he/she have any Canadian friends?

有,他/她有加拿大朋友。

Yǒu, tā yǒu Jiānádà pényou.

Yes, he/she has some Canadian friends.

6.

他/她有俄國朋友嗎?

Tā yǒu Èguó péngyou ma?

Does he/she have any Russian friends?

有,他/她有俄國朋友。

Yǒu, tā yǒu Èguó péngyou.

Yes, he/she has some Russian friends.

7.

他/她有英國朋友嗎?

Tā yǒu Yīngguó péngyou ma?

Does he/she have any English friends?

有,他/她有英國朋友。

Yǒu, tā yǒu Yīngguó péngyou.

Yes, he/she has some English friends.

13.3.2 Response drill

Table 13.3.2.1 Give affirmatives answers using yǒu.
Statement Answer
1.

他/她有哥哥嗎?

Tā yǒu gēge ma?

Does he/she have an older brother?

有,他/她有哥哥。

Yǒu, tā yǒu gēge.

Yes, he/she has an older brother.

2.

他/她有姐姐嗎?

Tā yǒu jiějie ma?

Does he/she have an older sister?

有,他/她有姐姐。

Yǒu, tā yǒu jiějie.

Yes, he/she has an older sister.

3.

他/她有弟弟嗎?

Tā yǒu dìdi ma?

Does he/she have a younger brother?

有,他/她有弟弟。

Yǒu, tā yǒu dìdi.

Yes, he/she has a younger brother.

4.

他/她有妹妹嗎?

Tā yǒu mèimei ma?

Does he/she have a younger sister?

有,他/她有妹妹。

Yǒu, tā yǒu mèimei.

Yes, he/she has a younger sister.

5.

他/她們有孩子嗎?

Tāmen yǒu háizi ma?

Does he/she have children?

有,他/她們有孩子。

Yǒu, tāmen yǒu háizi.

Yes, he/she has children.

6.

他/她們有男孩子嗎?

Tāmen yǒu nánháizi ma?

Does he/she have boys?

有,他/她們有男孩子。

Yǒu, tāmen yǒu nánháizi.

Yes, he/she has boys.

7.

他/她們有女孩子嗎?

Tāmen yǒu nǚháizi ma?

Does he/she have girls?

有,他/她們有女孩子?

Yǒu, tāmen yǒu nǚháizi.

Yes, he/she has girls.

13.3.3 Response drill

Table 13.3.3.1 Give negative answers using méiyou.
Statement Answer
1.

張先生有姐姐嗎?

Zhāng xiānsheng yǒu jiějie ma?

Does Mr. Zhāng have an older sister?

沒有,張先生沒有姐姐。

Méiyou, Zhāng xiānsheng méiyou jiějie.

No, Mr. Zhāng doesn’t have an older sister.

2.

王先生有路女子嗎?

Wáng xiānsheng yǒu nǚháizi ma?

Does Mr. Wáng have a daughter?

沒有,王先生沒有女孩子。

Méiyou, Wáng xiānsheng méiyou nǚháizi.

No, Mr. Wáng doesn’t have a daughter.

3.

林先生有妹妹嗎?

Lín xiānsheng yǒu mèimei ma?

Does Mr. Lín have a younger sister?

沒有,林先生沒有妹妹。

Méiyou, Lín xiānsheng méiyou mèimei.

No, Mr. Lín doesn’t have a younger sister.

4.

馬太太有哥哥嗎?

Mā tàitai yǒu gēge ma?

Does Mrs. have an older brother?

沒有,馬太太沒有哥哥。

Méiyou, Mā tàitai méiyou gēge.

No, Mrs. doesn’t have an older brother.

5.

黃小姐有弟弟嗎?

Huáng xiǎojiě yǒu dìdi ma?

Does Miss Huáng have a younger brother?

沒有,黃小姐沒有弟弟。

Méiyou, Huáng xiǎojiě méiyou dìdi.

No, Miss Huáng doesn’t have a younger brother.

6.

馬先生,馬太太有孩子嗎?

Mǎ xiānsheng, Mǎ tàitai yǒu háizi ma?

Do Mr. , Mrs. have children?

沒有,馬先生,馬太太沒有孩子。

Méiyou, Mǎ xiānsheng, Mǎ tàitai méiyou háizi.

No, Mr. , Mrs. don’t have children.

7.

楊太太有男孩子嗎?

Yáng tàitai yǒu nánháizi ma?

Does Mrs. Yáng have boys?

沒有,楊太太沒有男孩子。

Méiyou, Yáng tàitai méiyou nánháizi.

No, Mrs. Yáng doesn’t have boys.

13.3.4 Response drill

Table 13.3.4.1 Give a negative or affirmative response to each question according to the cue.
Question Cue Answer
1.

你有弟弟嗎?

Nǐ yǒu dìdi ma?

Do you have a younger brother?

yǒu

yes

有,我有弟弟。

Yǒu, wǒ yǒu dìdi.

Yes, I have a younger brother.

2.

你有弟弟嗎?

Nǐ yǒu dìdi ma?

Do you have an younger brother?

沒有

méiyou

no

沒有,我沒有弟弟。

Méi you, wǒ méiyou dìdi.

No, I don’t have an younger brother.

3.

他/她有妹妹嗎?

Tā yǒu mèimei ma?

Does he/she have a younger sister?

沒有

méiyou

no

沒有, 他/她沒有妹妹。

Méi you, tā méiyou mèimei.

No, he/she doesn’t have a younger sister.

4.

王同志有哥哥嗎?

Wáng tóngzhì yǒu gēge ma?

Does Comrade Wáng have an older brother?

yǒu

yes

有, 王同志有哥哥。

Yǒu, Wáng tóngzhì yǒu gēge.

Yes, Comrade Wáng has an older brother.

5.

他們有孩子嗎?

Tāmen yǒu háizi ma?

Do you have children?

yǒu

yes

有他們有孩子。

Yǒu, tāmen yǒu háizi.

Yes, we have children.

6.

郭同志有英國朋友嗎?

Guō tóngzhì yǒu Yīngguó péngyou ma?

Does Comrade Guō have an English friend?

沒有

méiyou

no

沒有,郭同志沒有英國朋友。

Méi you, Guō tóngzhì méiyou Yīngguó péngyou.

No, Comrade Guō doesn’t have an English friend.

7.

陳先生有法國朋友嗎?

Chén xiānsheng yǒu Fàguó péngyou ma?

Does Mr. Chén have a French friend?

yǒu

yes

有,陳先生有法國朋友。

Yǒu, Chén xiānsheng yǒu Fàguó péngyou.

Yes, Mr. Chén has a French friend.

13.3.5 Transformation drill

Table 13.3.5.1 Change each ma question to a question.
Statement Answer
1.

他們有孩子嗎?

Tāmen yǒu háizi ma?

Do they have any children?

他們有幾個孩子?

Tāmen yǒu jǐge háizi?

How many children do they have?

2.

王先生有姐姐嗎?

Wáng xiānsheng yǒu jiějie ma?

Does Mr. Wáng have an older sister?

王先生有幾個姐姐?

Wáng xiānsheng yǒu jǐge jiějie?

How many older sisters does have Mr Wáng?

3.

他們有男孩子嗎?

Tāmen yǒu nánháizi ma?

Do they have any boys?

他們有幾個男孩子?

Tāmen yǒu jǐge nánháizi?

How many boys do they have?

4.

你們有女孩子嗎?

Nǐmen yǒu nǚháizi ma?

Do you have daughters?

你們有幾個女孩子?

Nǐmen yǒu jǐge nǚháizi?

How many daughters do you have?

5.

方小姐有哥哥嗎?

Fāng xiǎojiě yǒu gēge ma?

Does Miss Fāng have an older brother?

方小姐有幾個哥哥?

Fāng xiǎojiě yǒu jǐge gēge?

How many older brothers does Miss Fāng have?

6.

趙太太有弟弟嗎?

Zhào tàitai yǒu dìdi ma?

Does Mrs. Zhào have a younger brother?

趙太太有幾個弟弟?

Zhào tàitai yǒu jǐge dìdi?

How many younger brothers does Mrs. Zhào have?

7.

他/她有中國朋友嗎?

Tā yǒu Zhōngguo péngyou ma?

Does he/she have a Chinese friend?

他/她有幾個中國朋友?

Tā yǒu jǐge Zhōngguo péngyou?

How many Chinese friends does he/she have?

13.3.6 Response drill

Table 13.3.6.1 Respond to the questions according to the cue.
Question Cue Answer
1.

張同志有幾個孩子?

Zhāng tóngzhì yǒu jǐge háizi?

How many children does Comrade Zhāng have?

2

張同志有兩個孩子。

Zhāng tóngzhì yǒu liǎngge háizi.

Comrade Zhāng has 2 children.

2.

趙同志有幾個女孩子?

Zhào tóngzhì yǒu jǐge nǚháizi?

How many daughters does Comrade Zhào have?

1

趙同志有一個女孩子。

Zhào tóngzhì yǒu yíge nǚháizi.

Comrade Zhào has 1 daughter.

3.

陳同志有幾個男孩子?

Chén tóngzhì yǒu jǐge nánháizi?

How many boys does Comrade Chén have?

3

陳同志有三個男孩子。

Chén tóngzhì yǒu sānge nánháizi.

Comrade Chén has 3 boys.

4.

江同志有幾個美國朋友?

Jiāng tóngzhì yǒu jǐge Měiguó péngyou.

How many American friends does Comrade Jiāng have?

5

江同志有五個美國朋友。

Jiāng tōngzhì yǒu wǔge Měiguó péngyou.

Comrade Jiāng has 5 American friends.

5.

方同志有幾個妹妹?

Fāng tóngzhì yǒu jǐge mèimei?

How many younger sisters does Comrade Fāng have?

1

方同志有一個妹妹。

Fāng tóngzhì yǒu yíge mèimei.

Comrade Fāng has 1 younger sister.

6.

王先生有幾個中國朋友?

Wáng xiānsheng yǒu jǐge Zhōngguo péngyou?

How many Chinese friends does Mr. Wáng have?

2

王先生有兩個中國朋友。

Wáng xiānsheng yǒu liǎngge Zhōngguo péngyou.

Mr. Wáng has 2 Chinese friends.

7.

他/她有幾個哥哥?

Tā yǒu jǐge gēge?

How many older brothers does he/she have?

3

他/她有三個哥哥。

Tā yǒu sānge gēge.

He/she has 3 older brothers.

13.3.7 Expansion drill

Table 13.3.7.1 Add the cues to the questions.
Question Cue Answer
1.

他/她有幾個男孩子?

Tā yǒu jǐge nánháizi?

How many sons does he/she have?

女孩子

nǚháizi

daughter

他有幾個男孩子,幾個女孩子?

Tā yǒu jǐge nánháizi, jǐge nǚháizi?

How many sons and how many daughters does he/she have?

2.

黃先生有幾個美國朋友?

Huáng xiānsheng yǒu jǐge Měiguó péngyou?

How many American friends does Mr. Huáng have?

法國朋友

Fàguó péngyou

French friend

黃先生有幾個美國朋友,幾個法國朋友?

Huáng xiānsheng yǒu jǐge Měiguó péngyou, jǐge Fàguó péngyou?

How many American friends and how many French friends does Mr. Huáng have?

3.

李太太有幾個哥哥?

Lǐ tàitai yǒu jǐge gēge?

How many older brothers does Mrs. have?

弟弟

dìdi

younger brother

李太太有幾個哥哥,幾個弟弟?

Lǐ tàitai yǒu jige gēge, jǐge dìdi?

How many older brothers and how many younger brothers does Mrs. have?

4.

孫小姐有幾個姐姐?

Sūn xiǎojiě yǒu jǐge jiějie?

How many older sisters does Miss Sūn have?

妹妹

mèimei

younger sister

孫小姐有幾個姐姐,幾個妹妹?

Sūn xiǎojiě yǒu jǐge jiějie, jǐge mèimei?

How many older sisters and how many younger sisters does Miss Sūn have?

5.

他們有幾個英國朋友?

Tāmen yǒu jǐge Yīngguó péngyou?

How many English friends do they have?

德國朋友

Déguó péngyou

German friend

他們有幾個英國朋友,幾個德國朋友?

Tāmen yǒu jǐge Yīngguó péngyou, jǐge Déguó péngyou?

How many English and German friends do they have?

6.

宋先生有幾個男孩子?

Sòng xiānsheng yǒu jǐge nánháizi?

How many sons does Mr. Sòng have?

女孩子

nǚháizi

daughter

宋先生有幾個男孩子,幾個女孩子?

Sòng xiānsheng yǒu jǐge nānháizi, jǐge nǚháizi?

How many sons and how many daughters does Mr. Sòng have?

7.

他/她有幾個哥哥?

Tā yǒu jǐge gēge?

How many older brothers does he/she have?

姐姐

jiějie

older sister

他/她有幾個哥哥,幾個姐姐?

Tā yǒu jǐge gēge, jǐge jiějie?

How many older brothers sand how many older sisters does he/she have?

13.3.8 Response drill

Table 13.3.8.1 Use 1) jiù + the number and 2) méiyou to answer each question.
Question Cue Answer
1.

他/她有幾個男孩子,幾個女孩子?

Tā yǒu jǐge nánháizi, jǐge nǚháizi?

How many sons and how many daughters does he/she have?

2

他/她就有兩個男孩子,沒有女孩子。

Tā jiù yǒu liǎngge nánháizi, méiyou nǚháizi.

He/she has only two sons, no daughters.

2.

李先生有幾個哥哥,幾個姐姐?

Lǐ xiānsheng yǒu jǐge gēge, jǐge jiějie?

How many older brothers and how many older sisters does Mr. have?

1

他/她就有一個哥哥,沒有姐姐。

Tā jiù yǒu yíge gēge, méiyou jiějie.

He/she has only one older brother and no older sister.

3.

張小姐有幾個姐姐,幾個妹妹?

Zhāng xiǎojiě yǒu jǐge jiějie, jǐge mèimei?

How many older sisters and how many younger sisters does Miss Zhāng have?

2

他/她就有兩個姐姐,沒有妹妹。

Tā jiù yǒu liǎngge jiějie, méiyou mèimei.

He/she has only two older sisters nad no younger sister.

4.

周太太有幾個哥哥,幾個弟弟?

Zhōu tàitai yǒu jǐge gēge, jǐge dìdi?

How many older brothers and how many younger brothers does Mrs. Zhōu have?

1

他/她就有一個哥哥,沒有弟弟。

Tā jiù yǒu yíge gēge, méiyou dìdi.

He/she has only one older brother, no younger brother.

5.

胡先生有幾個弟弟,幾個妹妹?

Hú xiānsheng yǒu jǐge dìdi, jǐge mèimei?

How many younger brothers and how many younger sisters does Mr. have?

2

他就有兩個弟弟,沒有妹妹。

Tā jiù yǒu liǎngge dìdi, méiyou mèimei.

He has only two younger brothers and no younger sister.

6.

他/她有幾個法國朋友,幾個德國朋友?

Tā yǒu jǐge Fàguó péngyou, jǐge Déguó péngyou?

How many French friends and how many German friends does he/she have?

2

他/她就有兩個法國朋友,沒有德國朋友。

Tā jiù yǒu liǎngge Fàguó péngyou, méiyou Déguó péngyou.

He/she has only two French friends and no German friend.

7.

他們有幾個男孩子,幾個女孩子?

Tāmen yǒu jǐge nánháizi, jǐge nǚháizi?

How many sons and how many daughters do they have?

1

他們就有一個男孩子,沒有女孩子。

Tāmen jiù yǒu yíge nánháizi, méiyou nǚháizi.

They have only one son and no daughter.

13.3.9 Response drill

Table 13.3.9.1 Respond according to the cue.
Question Cue Answer
1.

他/她有幾個男孩子,幾個女孩子?

Tā yǒu jǐge nánháizi, jǐge nǚháizi?

How many sons and how many daughters does he/she have?

2, 3

他/她有兩個男孩子, 三個女孩子。

Tā yǒu liǎngge nánháizi, sānge nǚháizi.

He/she has 2 sons and 3 daughters.

2.

周同志有幾個哥哥, 幾個弟弟?

Zhōu tóngzhì yǒu jǐge gēge, jǐge dìdi?

How many older brothers and how many younger brothers does Comrade Zhōu have ?

1, 2

周同志有一個哥哥,兩個弟弟。

Zhōu tóngzhì yǒu yíge gēge, liǎngge dìdi.

Comrade Zhōu has one older brother and two younger brothers.

3.

張同志有幾個姐姐,幾個妹妹?

Zhāng tóngzhi yǒu jǐge jiějie, jǐge mèimei?

How many older sisters and how many younger sisters does Comrade Zhāng have.

3, 1

張同志有三個姐姐,一個妹妹。

Zhāng tóngzhì yǒu sānge jiějie, yíge mèimei.

Comrade Zhāng has 3 older sisters and one younger sister.

4.

他們有幾個中國朋友,幾個日本朋友?

Tāmen yǒu jǐge Zhōngguo péngyou, jǐge Rìběn péngyou?

How many Chinese friends and how many Japanese friends do they have?

5, 1

他們有五個中國朋友,一個日本朋友。

Tāmen yǒu wǔge Zhōngguo péngyou, yíge Rìběn péngyou.

They have 5 Chinese friends and one Japanese friend.

5.

陳同志有幾個英國朋友, 幾個德國朋友?

Chén tóngzhì yǒu jǐge Yīngguó péngyou, jǐge Déguó péngyou?

How many English friends and how many German friends does Comrade Chén have?

3, 2

陳同志有三個英國朋友,兩個德國朋友。

Chén tóngzhì yǒu sānge Yīngguó péngyou, liǎngge Déguó péngyou.

Comrade Chén has 3 English friends and 3 German friends.

6.

劉同志有幾個男孩子, 幾個女孩子?

Liú tóngzhì yǒu jǐge nánháizi, jǐge nǚháizi?

How many sons and how many daughters does Comrade Liú have?

2, 2

劉同志有兩個男孩子,兩個女孩子。

Liú tóngzhì yǒu liǎngge nánháizi, liǎngge nǚháizi.

Comrade Liú has 2 sons and 2 daughters.

7.

他/她有幾個姐姐,幾個哥哥?

Tā yǒu jǐge jiějie, jǐge gēge?

How many older sisters and how many older brothers does he/she have?

1, 3

他/她有一個姐姐, 三個哥哥。

Tā yǒu yíge jiějie, sānge gēge.

He/she has one older sister and 3 older brothers.

13.3.10 Response drill

Table 13.3.10.1 The speaker will ask you 2 questions for each exchange. Use the number cue to answer the first question. Answer the second question with Dōu and the first alternative.
Question Cue Answer
1.

請問, 他們有幾個孩子?

Qǐngwèn, tāmen yǒu jǐge háizi?

May I ask, how many children do you have?

2

2

2

他們有兩個孩子。

Tāmen yǒu liǎngge háizi.

They have 2 children.

2.

是男孩子,是女孩子?

Shi nánháizi, shi nǚháizi?

Are they boys or girls?

Dōu

all

都是男孩子。

Dōu shi nānháizi.

Both of them are boys.

3.

請問,他/她有幾個兄弟?

Qǐngwèn, tā yǒu jǐge xiōngdì?

May I ask, how many brothers does he/she have?

3

3

3

他/她有三個兄弟。

Tā yǒu sānge xiōngdì.

He/she has 3 brothers.

4.

是哥哥,是弟弟?

Shi gēge, shi dìdi?

Are they older or younger brothers?

Dōu

all

都是哥哥。

Dōu shi gēge.

All of them are older brothers.

5.

請問,他/她有幾個姐妹?

Qǐngwèn, tā yǒu jǐge jiěmèi?

May I ask, how many sisters does he/she have?

2

2

2

他/她有兩個姐妹。

Tā yǒu liǎngge jiěmèi.

He/she has 2 sisters.

6.

是姐姐,是妹妹?

Shi jiějie, shi mèimei?

Are they older or younger sisters?

Dōu

all

都是姐姐。

Dōu shi jiějie.

Both of them are older sisters.

7.

請問,他/她有幾個中國朋友?

Qǐngwèn, tā yǒu jǐge Zhōngguo péngyou?

May I ask, how many Chinese friends does he/she have?

4

4

4

他/她有四個中國朋友。

Tā yǒu sìge Zhōngguò péngyou.

He/she has 4 Chinese friends.

8.

是男朋友,是女朋友?

Shì nánpéngyou, shi nǚpéngyou?

Are they male or female friends?

Dōu

all

都是男朋友。

Dōu shi nánpéngyou.

All of them are male friends.

9.

請問,他/她有幾個美國朋友?

Qǐngwèn, tā yǒu jǐge Měiguó péngyou?

May I ask, how many American friends does he/she have?

2

2

2

他/她有兩個美國朋友。

Tā yǒu liǎngge Měiguó péngyou.

He/she has 2 American friends.

10.

是男朋友,是女朋友?

Shì nánpéngyou, shi nǚpéngyou?

Are they male or female friends?

Dōu

all

都是男朋友。

Dōu shi nánpéngyou.

Both of them are male friends.

11.

請問,他/她有幾個孩子。

Qǐngwèn, tā yǒu jǐge háizi?

May I ask, how many children does he/she have?

3

3

3

他/她有三個孩子。

Tā yǒu sānge háizi.

He/she has 3 children.

12.

是男孩子,是女孩子?

Shì nánháizi, shi nǚháizi?

Are they boys or girls?

Dōu

all

都是男孩子。

Dōu shi nánháizi.

All of them are boys.

13.

請問,他們有幾個孩子。

Qǐngwèn, tāmen yǒu jǐge háizi?

May I ask, how many children do they have?

5

5

5

他們有五個孩子。

Tāmen yǒu wǔge háizi.

They have 5 children.

14.

是男孩子,是女孩子?

Shì nánháizi, shi nǚháizi?

Are they boys or girls?

Dōu

all

都是男孩子。

Dōu shi nánháizi.

All of them are boys.

13.3.11 Substitution drill

Table 13.3.11.1 Substitute the cue.
Question Cue Answer
1.

請問,你們家裏有什麼人?

Qǐngwèn, nǐmen jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in your family?

他們

tāmen

they

請問,他們家裏有什麼人?

Qǐngwèn, tāmen jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in their family?

2.

請問,他們家裏有什麼人?

Qǐngwèn, tāmen jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in their family?

方先生

Fāng xiānsheng

Mr. Fāng

請問,方先生有什麼人?

Qǐngwèn, Fāng xiānsheng jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in Mr. Fāng family?

3.

請問,方先生家裏有什麼人?

Qǐngwen, Fāng xiānsheng jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in Mr. Fāng family?

張小姐

Zhāng xiǎojiě

Miss Zhāng

請問,張小姐家裏有什麼人?

Qǐngwèn, Zhāng xiǎojiě jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in Miss Zhāng family?

4.

請問,張小姐家裏有什麼人?

Qǐngwen, Zhāng xiǎojiě jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in Miss Zhāng family?

李明理

Lǐ Mínglǐ

Lǐ Mínglǐ

請問,李明理家裏有什麼人?

Qǐngwèn, Lǐ Mínglǐ jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in Lǐ Mínglǐ family?

5.

請問,李明理家裏有什麼人?

Qǐngwèn, Lǐ Mínglǐ jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in Lǐ Mínglǐ family?

你哥哥

nǐ gēge

your older brother

請問,你哥哥家裏有什麼人?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ gēge jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in your older brother’s family?

6.

請問,你哥哥家裏有什麼人?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ gēge jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in your older brother’s family?

你朋友

nǐ péngyou

your friend

請問,你朋友家裏有什麼人?

Qǐngwèn nǐ péngyou jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in your friend’s family?

7.

請問,你朋友家裏有什麼人?

Qǐngwèn, nǐ péngyou jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in your friend’s family?

你爸爸

nǐ bàba

your father

請問,你爸爸家裏有什麼人?

Qíngwèn, nǐ bàba jiāli yǒu shénme rén?

May I ask, what people are (there) in your father’s family?

13.3.12 Expansion drill

Table 13.3.12.1 Add the cue and gēn to each sentence.
Question Cue Answer
1.

他/她有一個孩子。

Tā yǒu yíge háizi.

He/she has one child.

太太

tàitai

wife

有他/她太太跟一個孩子。

Yǒu tā tàitai gēn yíge háizi.

There are his wife and one child.

2.

胡先生有一個妹妹。

Hú xiānsheng yǒu yíge mèimei.

Mr. has one younger sister.

母親

mǔqin

mother

有他母親跟一個妹妹。

Yǒu tā mǔqin gēn yíge mèimei.

There are his mother and one younger sister.

3.

李小姐有兩個弟弟。

Lǐ xiǎojiě yǒu liǎngge dìdi.

Miss has 2 younger brothers.

姐姐

jiějie

older sister

有她姐姐跟兩個弟弟。

Yǒu tā jiějie gēn liǎngge dìdi.

There are her older sister and two younger brothers.

4.

劉先生有一個女孩子。

Liú xiānsheng yǒu yíge nǚhaizi.

Mr. Liú has one daughter.

母親

mǔqin

mother

有他母親跟一個女孩子。

Yǒu tā mǔqin gēn yíge nǚháizi.

There are his mother and one daughter.

5.

林太太有三個男孩子。

Lín tàitai yǒu sānge nánháizi.

Mrs. Lín has 2 boys.

先生

xiānsheng

husband

有她先生跟三個男孩子。

Yǒu tā xiānsheng gēn sānge nánháizi.

There are her husband and 3 boys.

6.

他/她有一個姐姐。

Tā yǒu yíge jiějie.

He has one older sister.

父親

fùqin

father

有他/她父親跟一個姐姐。

Yǒu tā fùqin gēn yíge jiějie.

There are his/her older sister and his/her father.

7.

王先生有四個孩子。

Wāng xiānsheng yǒu sìge háizi.

Mr. Wāng has 4 children.

太太

tàitai

wife

有他太太跟四個孩子。

Yǒu tā tàitai gēn sìge háizi.

There are his wife and 4 children.

13.3.13 Response drill

Table 13.3.13.1 Answer to the question according to the cue.
Question Cue Answer
1.

他們孩子都在這裏嗎?

Tāmen háizi dōu zài zhèli ma?

Are all of their children here?

美國

Měiguó

America

不,一個在這裏,一個還在美國。

Bù, yíge zài zhèli, yíge hái zài Měiguó.

No, one is here, and one is still in America.

2.

他/她哥哥,姐姐都在這裏嗎?

Tā gēge, jiějie dōu zài zhèli ma?

Are his/her older brother and older sister both here?

加州

Jiāzhōu

California

不,一個在這裏,一個還在加州。

Bù, yíge zài zhèli, yíge hái zài Jiāzhōu.

No, one is here, and one is still in California.

3.

他/她美國朋友都在這裏嗎?

Tā Měiguó péngyou dōu zài zhèli ma?

Are his/her American friends all here?

臺中

Táizhōng

Tʽai-chung

不,一個在這裏 ,一個還在臺中。

Bù, yíge zài zhèli, yíge hái zài Táizhōng.

No, one is here, and one is still in Tʽai-chung.

4.

他/她弟弟,妹妹都在中國嗎?

Tā dìdi, mèimei dōu zài Zhōngguo ma?

Are his/her younger brother and younger sister both here?

德州

Dézhōu

Texas

不,一個在中國,一個還在德州。

Bù, yíge zài Zhōngguo, yíge hái zài Dézhōu.

No, one is is in China, one is still in Texas.

5.

王先生的孩子都在德州嗎?

Wáng ziānsheng de háizi dōu zài Dézhōu ma?

Are Mr. Wáng’s children all here?

加州

Jiāzhōu

California

不,一個在德州,一個還在加州。

Bù, yíge zài Dézhōu, yíge hái zài Jiāzhōu.

No, one is in Texas, and one is still in California.

6.

那兩位先生都在上海嗎?

Nèi liǎngwèi xiānsheng dōu zài Shànghǎi ma?

Are they both in Shànghǎi?

青島

Qīngdǎo

Qīngdǎo

不,一個在上海,一個還在青島。

Bù, yíge zài Shànghǎi, yíge hái zài Qīngdǎo.

No, one is in Shànghǎi, one is in Qīngdǎo.

7.

他們孩子都在香港嗎?

Tāmen háizi dōu zài Xiāngǎng ma?

Are their children all in Hong-Kong?

美國

Měiguó

America

不,一個在香港,一個還在美國。

Bù, yíge zài Xiāngǎng, yíge hái zài Měiguó.

No, one is in Hong Kong, one is still in America.