Understanding Conjunctions in Mandarin

Conjunctions are super important in Mandarin. They help link phrases and sentences together. This makes it easier to understand what we mean. Let’s explore some key points about conjunctions!

1. Understanding Actions in Verbs

• Completed actions (了): This shows that something is done.

  • Example: 我吃了饭。 (I ate.)

• Ongoing actions: This happens in the present or continuous form.

  • Example: 我正在吃饭。 (I am eating.)

2. Learning About Modal Verbs

• 能 (néng): This means "can" or "able to."

  • Example: 我能游泳。 (I can swim.)

• 会 (huì): This means "know how to" or skills that are learned.

  • Example: 我会打篮球。 (I can play basketball.)

• 要 (yào): This means "want" or when something is needed.

  • Example: 我要去上学。 (I want to go to school.)

3. How to Use Complement Structures

• Resultative complements: These describe what happens after an action.

  • Example: 他把书看完了。 (He finished reading the book.)

• Directional complements: These show where an action takes place.

  • Example: 他走进教室。 (He walked into the classroom.)

4. Different Sentence Structures

• Topic-comment structure: Start with the main topic, then give a comment.

  • Example: 这本书，我很喜欢。(This book, I really like.)

• Passive voice (被): Focus on the action, not who did it.

  • Example: 书被他看完了。(The book was finished by him.)

5. Using Conjunctions Correctly

• 如 (rú): Means "like" or "for example."

  • Example: 她喜欢运动，如游泳和跑步。(She likes sports, like swimming and running.)

• 虽然 (suīrán): Means "although."

  • Example: 虽然天气不好，但我们还是去爬山了。(Although the weather was bad, we still went hiking.)

• 但是 (dànshì): Means "but" or "however."

  • Example: 我想去旅行，但是没有时间。(I want to travel, but I don’t have time.)

By learning these parts, you’ll be able to make clearer and better sentences in Mandarin. This will help your communication a lot!