Grammar
第十二課：她們是很好的朋友
- Noun Modifiers:
Nouns can be used to modify other nouns. Noun sequences have a set order where modifying nouns are followed by the main noun as when using 漢語 to modify 報 in 漢語報. The following are additional examples of nouns modifying other nouns:
女朋友漢語老師中國留學生美國地圖外語學院學生宿舍 - Adjectival Predicates as Modifiers:
We have used adjectival predicates to modify nouns like 好朋友. When a single-syllable adjectival predicate is used to modify a noun the adjectival predicate is followed by the noun, but when an intensifier like 很 is also incorporated into the the noun phrase 的 must be inserted between the modifier and the main noun like 很好的朋友. The following are additional examples:
很好的學生很忙的大夫很貴的中國書很老的車很好的畫報 - The Frequency Adverb 常:
The adverb 常 [cháng] is used to indicate often, or always. In English the placement of often in a sentence is very flexible, however, in Chinese 常 is always placed between the subject and verb. Sometimes you will hear people use 常常, which does not change the meaning of the statement. The negative for both is 不常.
Subject + 常 + Verb他們常喝茶。 : They often drink tea.
我的好朋友常去宿舍。 : My good friend often goes to the dorm.
他們常用漢語詞典。 : They don't often use a Chinese dictionary.
老師常常看中國報。 : The teacher often reads the Chinese newspaper.
- The Verb 去:
The transitive verb 去 [qù] is used to indicate direction of movement away from the speaker. It requires destination as an object.
去 + Object (destination)他去外語學院。 : He is going to the Foreign Language Institute
我們現在去宿舍。 : We are going to the dormitory now.
他朋友不去中國。 : His friend is not going to China.
謝先生去哪兒？ : Where is Mr. Xie going?
- The Verb 認識:
The transitive verb 認識 [rènshi] is used to convey recognition, or familiarity with someone or something.
認識 + Object (person)他們認識王老師。 : They know Mr. Wang.
我認識她爸爸，媽媽。 : I know her father and mother.
中國留學生都認識我們的漢語老師。 : The Chinese foreign students all know our Chinese language teacher.
他弟弟也認識我的女朋友。 : His younger brother also knows my girlfriend.
- More About 也:
We used 也 in previous lessons to say things like "我也很忙。" We can also use 也 as a conjunction joining two verb phrases. One of the characters in the text "學習英語也學習法語"--notice that there is a verb phrase on either side of 也.
Verb-Object + 也 + Verb-Object他是我們的老師也是我們的朋友。 : He is our teacher and (he is) our friend.
學生現在看漢語書也用詞典。 : The students are now reading a Chinese book and using a dictionary.
他們認識我的爸爸也認識我的哥哥。 : They know my father and know my older brother.
他的女朋友學習漢語也學習什麼？ : His girlfriend studies Chinese and what else?
- Multiple Uses for 看:
In previous lessons we learned that 看 be used to get someone's attention, "Look here!". 看 can also mean to read as in 看書, 看畫報, or 看詞典. Additionally, 看 can be used as visit like in 看朋友, or 看大夫.