Compound Sentence Patterns (2)

Compound Sentence Patterns （2）

并列复句 Compound Sentences With Coordinating Relation

一会儿……，一会儿……

“一会儿……，一会儿……” indicates doing two things or showing two states respectively within a short period of time and alternating between them. The subject of each clause could be the same or different.

e.g.

Subject + 一会儿 + Predicate1， 一会儿 + Predicate 2

小宝宝一会儿哭，一会儿笑。(Xiǎo bǎobɑo yíhuìr kū yíhuìr xiào.) The baby cries for a while, then smiles for a while.

老师一会儿看手表，一会儿看窗外，可能在等人。(Lǎoshī yīhuǐr kàn shǒubiǎo, yīhuǐr kàn chuāngwài, kěnéng zài děng rén.) The teacher looks at his watch for a while, then looks out the window for a while, maybe waiting for someone.

这个月的天气一会儿冷，一会儿热，很不舒服。(Zhège yuè de tiānqì yīhuǐr lěng, yīhuǐr rè, hěn bù shūfu.) The weather this month is cold for a while and hot for a while, making it very uncomfortable.

 

一会儿 + Subject 1 + Predicate 1，一会儿 + Subject 2 + Predicate 2

一会儿老师说，一会儿学生说，课堂气氛非常热闹。(Yī huìr lǎoshī shuō, yī huìr xuéshēng shuō, kètáng qìfēn fēicháng rènào.) For a while the teacher said, for a while the students said, the classroom atmosphere was very lively.

一方面……，（另）一方面……

As a coordinate sentence structure, “一方面……，（另）一方面……” indicates that two sides of one thing exist at the same time. But it cannot be used to indicate that two actions occur simultaneously.

e.g.

Subject + 一方面 + Predicate1， （另）一方面 + Predicate 2

他来中国，一方面想学习中文，(另)一方面想在中国找工作。(Tā lái Zhōngguó, yī fāngmiàn xiǎng xuéxí Zhōngwén, (lìng) yī fāngmiàn xiǎng zài Zhōngguó zhǎo gōngzuò.) He came to China, on the one hand, he wanted to learn Chinese, on the other hand, he wanted to find a job in China.

我考HSK，一方面想了解自己的中文水平，（另）一方面想申请中国的大学。(Wǒ kǎo HSK, yī fāngmiàn xiǎng liǎojiě de Zhōngwén shuǐpíng, (lìng) yī fāngmiàn xiǎng shēnqǐng Zhōngguó de dàxué.) I take the HSK test, on the one hand, I want to know my Chinese level, on the other hand, I want to apply to a Chinese university.

老师一方面要看到学生的优点，另一方面也要指出他们的缺点。(Lǎoshī yī fāngmiàn yào kàn dào xuéshēng de yōudiǎn, lìng yī fāngmiàn yě yào zhǐchū tāmen de quēdiǎn.) On the one hand, the teacher must see the strengths of the students, and on the other hand, they must also point out their shortcomings.

 

一方面，Subject 1 + Predicate 1; 另一方面，Subject 2 + Predicate 2

一方面，经济要发展；另一方面，环境也要保护。(Yī fāngmiàn, jīngjì yào fāzhǎn; lìng yī fāngmiàn, huánjìng yě yào bǎohù.) On the one hand, the economy must develop; on the other hand, the environment must also be protected.

这次比赛，一方面，学生们要好好准备；另一方面，老师也要鼓励他们。(Zhè cì bǐsài, yī fāngmiàn, xuéshēngmen yào hǎohǎo zhǔnbèi; lìng yī fāngmiàn, lǎoshī yě yào gǔlì tāmen.) In this competition, on the one hand, students should prepare well; on the other hand, teachers should encourage them.

又……，又……

As a coordinate sentence structure, “又……，又……” indicates that two actions or two states exist at the same time, or two qualities exist in the same person or thing. “又” is often used after the subject.

e.g.

Subject + 又 + Predicate1， 又 + Predicate 2

她的房间又干净又安静。(Tā de fánɡjiān yòu ɡānjìnɡ yòu ānjìnɡ.) Her room is clean and quiet.

家庭聚会上大家又跳舞，又唱歌，开心极了。(Jiātíng jùhuì shàng dàjiā yòu tiàowǔ, yòu chànggē, kāixīn jíle.) At the family party, everyone danced and sang, so happy.

 

Subject 1 + 又 + Predicate 1; Subject 2 + 又 + Predicate 2

这件衣服样子又好看，价格又便宜。(Zhè jiàn yīfu yàngzi yòu hǎokàn, jiàgé yòu piányi.) This dress looks good, and the price is low.

承接复句 Continuation of complex sentences

首先……，然后……

“首先……，然后……” indicates the order or sequence of actions or events. It’s used to enumerate items.

The subject can be put before or after “首先”, the subject of the latter clause is often omitted.

e.g.

同学们首先读了一遍课文，然后回答了老师的问题。(Tóngxuémen shǒuxiān dúle yībiàn kèwén, ránhòu huídá le lǎoshī de wèntí.)

首先我们要了解汉字的重要性，然后学习练习汉字的方法。(Shǒuxiān wǒmen yào liǎojiě hànzì de zhòngyào xìng, ránhòu xuéxí liànxí hànzì de fāngfǎ.)

做一顿饭，首先要准备食物，然后再开始做。(Zuò yī dùn fàn, shǒuxiān yào zhǔnbèi shíwù, ránhòu zài kāishǐ zuò.) To make a meal, you must first prepare the food, and then start to make it.

递进复句 Progressive Complex Sentence

不仅/不光/不但……，(还/而且……)

This pattern is similar to “not only…but also…”. It indicates further explanations, and the second clause is usually further in meaning than the first. The degree and depth increase by degrees.

The subjects of two clauses can be the same or different. If the subjects are the same, the subject of the latter clause is often omitted.

e.g.

我不仅去过中国，还去过日本和韩国。(Wǒ bùjǐn qùguò Zhōngguó, hái qùguò Rìběn hé Hánguó.) I have not only been to China but also Japan and South Korea.

不光我会说中文，我的家人也会说中文。(Bùguāng wǒ huì shuō Zhōngwén, wǒ de jiārén yě huì shuō Zhōngwén.) Not only I can speak Chinese, but my family can also speak Chinese.

我的老师不但会教汉语，而且会做中国菜。(Wǒ de lǎoshī bùdàn huì jiāo Hànyǔ, érqiě huì zuò Zhōngguó cài.) My teacher can not only teach Chinese but also cook Chinese food.

越……越……

“越A越B” indicates that B varies according to A in degree.

e.g.

我越想越觉得这件事很奇怪。(Wǒ yuè xiǎng yuè juédé zhè jiàn shì hěn qíguài.) The more I think about it, the more I find it strange.

这里是图书馆，你声音越大，越让大家尴尬。(Zhèlǐ shì túshū guǎn, nǐ shēngyīn yuè dà, yuè ràng dàjiā gāngà.) This is the library. The louder you are, the more embarrassing you are.

 

选择复句 The Complex Sentences of Selection

不是……，就是……

“不是……，就是……” indicates that making a choice between two options, and the answer is unsure, “either A or B”. And there must be one of them that makes sense, no third option.

e.g.

他刚离开健身房，不是去学校，就是回家了。(Tā gāng líkāi jiànshēnfáng, bùshì qù xuéxiào, jiùshì huí jiā le.) He just left the gym and either went to school or went home.

这个问题的答案不是A，就是B。(Zhège wèntí de dá’àn bùshì A, jiùshì B.) The answer to this question is either A or B.

大四的学生不是准备考研究生，就是在找工作。(Dà sì de xuéshēng bùshì zhǔnbèi kǎo yánjiūshēng, jiùshì zài zhǎo gōngzuò.) The seniors are either preparing to take the postgraduate exam or looking for a job.

转折复句 The Concessive Complex Sentences

……X是X，就是/不过……

“……X是X，就是/不过……” is a concessive complex sentence. It indicates the former clause and the latter clause contain contrary meanings. The first clause expresses approval or agreement, but the second clause is what the speaker really means. It often emphasizes some features or status.

If the subjects are the same, the subject of the latter clause is often omitted.

e.g.

这个包好看是好看，就是太贵了。(Zhège bāo hǎokàn shì hǎokàn, jiùshì tài guìle.) This bag is good-looking, but it’s too expensive.

开车方便是方便，不过不环保。(Kāichē fāngbiàn shì fāngbiàn, bùguò bu huánbǎo.) Driving is convenient, but not environmentally friendly.

这套房子大是大，不过位置不好。(Zhè tào fángzi dà shì dà, búguò wèizhì bù hǎo.) This apartment is big, but it’s in a bad location.

假设复句 Hypothetical Complex Sentence

如果/要是……，就……

“如果/要是……就……” is a kind of hypothetical complex sentence. The former clause proposes a hypothesis, the latter clause concludes the result or consequence of it.

e.g.

如果你每天都锻炼身体，你就会很健康。 (Rúɡuǒ nǐ měitiān dōu duànliàn shēntǐ, nǐ jiù huì hěn jiànkānɡ.) If you exercise every day, you will be healthy.

要是不开心，我就会找朋友聊天。(Yàoshi bù kāixīn, wǒ jiù huì zhǎo péngyǒu liáotiān.) If I am not happy, I will talk to friends.

要是没有你的帮助，我就不能完成今天的工作。(Yàoshi méiyǒu nǐ de bāngzhù, wǒ jiù bùnéng wánchéng jīntiān de gōngzuò.) Without your help, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing today.

昨天如果天气好，我就去你家玩了。(Zuótiān rúguǒ tiānqì hǎo, wǒ jiù qù nǐ jiā wánle.) If the weather was fine yesterday, I would go to your house to play.

 

条件复句 The Conditional Complex Sentences

只有……，才……

“只有” indicates the only condition that could lead to the result of the second part after “才”. The condition is fully necessary, and no other condition can produce this result. It’s similar to “only if…”.

只有 + Subject 1 + ……， Subject 2 + 才 + ……

e.g.

只有多练习，才能学好中文。(Zhǐyǒu duō liànxí, cáinéng xuéhǎo Zhōngwén.) Only by practicing can you learn Chinese well.

只有老师才知道他住在哪儿。(Zhǐyǒu lǎoshī cái zhīdào tā zhù zài nǎr.) Only the teacher knows where he lives.

只有你去，才能解决这个问题。(Zhǐyǒu nǐ qù, cáinéng jiějué zhège wèntí.) Only you can solve this problem.

 

Note that if the subjects of two clauses are the same, there is often just one subject being used. And if the subject is in the second clause, it could only be put before “才.”

Subject + 只有 + ……，才 + ……

只有 + Subject + ……，才 + ……

只有 + ……， Subject + 才 + ……

e.g.

你只有写完作业，才能看电影。(Nǐ zhǐyǒu xiě wán zuòyèundefined cái néng kàn diànyǐng.)You can only watch the movie after you finish your homework.

只有公司不断创新，才能有好的业绩。(Zhǐyǒu gōngsi bùduàn chuàngxīnundefined cái néng yǒu hǎo de yèjì.)Only the company continues to innovate in order to have good performance.

只有多练习，你才能学好中文。(Zhǐyǒu duō liànxí, nǐ cáinéng xuéhǎo Zhōngwén.) Only by practicing can you learn Chinese well.

因果复句 The Complex Sentences of Cause and Effect

（由于）……，所以/因此……

It’s similar to “because…so…”. “由于……” indicates the reason and “所以/因此……” indicates the result. This pattern is more formal and often used in written Chinese.

“由于” needs to be put at the beginning of the sentence and could be omitted.

“由于” and “因此” are not often used together.

e.g.

他病了，因此没参加这次会议。(Tā bìngle, yīncǐ méi cānjiā zhè cì huìyì.) He was ill, so he did not attend the meeting.

由于人数限制，所以今天现场只有五十人。(Yóuyú rénshù xiànzhì, suǒyǐ jīntiān xiànchǎng zhǐyǒu wǔshí rén.) Due to the limit of the number of people, there are only fifty people at the scene today.

这个厉害的国家退出了，因此这次比赛会容易一些。(Zhège lìhài de guójiā tuìchūle, yīncǐ zhè cì bǐsài huì róngyì yīxiē.) This strong country dropped out, so this game will be easier.

由于我对汉语感兴趣，所以来到中国学习。(Yóuyú wǒ duì hànyǔ gǎn xìngqù, suǒyǐ lái dào Zhōngguó xuéxí.)  Since I am interested in Chinese, I came to China to study.

目的复句 The Target Complex Sentences

为了……，……

“为了……” indicates the aim or target, and the latter part states a fact or an action taken to achieve the purpose.

e.g.

为了了解中国文化，你也应该学习汉字。(Wèile liǎojiě Zhōngguó wénhuà, nǐ yě yīnggāi xuéxí Hànzì.) In order to understand Chinese culture, you should also learn Chinese characters.

为了和我的同事交流，我才开始学习中文。(Wèile hé wǒ de tóngshì jiāoliú, wǒ cái kāishǐ xuéxí Zhōngwén.) I started to learn Chinese in order to communicate with my colleagues.

为了身体健康，我每天都运动。(Wèile shēntǐ jiànkāng, wǒ měitiān dōu yùndòng.) For my health, I exercise every day.

紧缩复句 The Compact Complex Sentences

……了……（就）……

“A了……（就）B”, indicates the completion of one action is quickly followed by another action or a certain result.

Subject + Verb + 了 + Object（+ 就）+ Verb phrase

e.g.

我们下了课就去吃饭吧。(Wǒmen xiàle kè jiù qù chīfàn ba.) Let’s go to dinner after class.

我喝了酒就想睡觉。(Wǒ hēle jiǔ jiù xiǎng shuìjiào.) I want to sleep after drinking.

Note that the first verb is a separable verb, 了 should be put in between.

e.g.

晚上我洗了澡就打电话给你。(Wǎnshàng wǒ xǐle zǎo jiù dǎ diànhuà gěi nǐ.) I’ll call you in the evening right after taking a shower.

他们结了婚就准备买房子。 (Tāmen jiéle hūn jiù zhǔnbèi mǎi fángzi.) They are ready to buy a house after they get married.