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Coordination Compound Sentences refer to those formed by two or over clauses together to state several things or aspects of a thing where each clause is of the same importance without a sensible difference.
To overturn an opinion and state the opposite. The part after “而是” is the thing desirable or stressed by the speaker. A or B can be a noun or a phrase.
(Subject) + 不是 + A + 而是 + B
e.g.
不是她而是我打扫了办公室。(Búshì tā érshì wǒ dásǎole bànɡōnɡshì.) It’s not her but me who cleaned the office.
我们不是不想去而是没时间去。(Wǒmen búshì bù xiǎnɡ qù érshì méi shíjiān qù.) It’s not that we don’t want to go, it’s that we don’t have time to go.
那个人不是我哥哥而是我弟弟。(Nà ɡè rén búshì wǒ ɡēɡe érshì wǒ dìdi.) That person isn’t my elder brother but my younger brother.
To indicate the coexistence of the two aspects of something or someone.
Subject + 既 + A + 又 / 也 + B
既 + A + 又 + B
A and B here are often adjectives or short phrases which are usually in the same form like both are monosyllabic words or disyllabic words.
e.g.
这里的东西既便宜又好吃。(Zhèlǐ de dōnɡxi jì piányi yòu hǎochī.) Things here are cheap and delicious.
他这个人既积极又努力。(Tā zhèɡe rén jì jījí yòu nǔlì.) He is active and diligent.
他们既不想去爬山，又不想去游泳。(Tāmen jì bù xiǎnɡ qù pá shān, yòu bù xiǎnɡ qù yóuyǒnɡ.) They neither want to go to climb nor go to swim.
既 + A + 也 + B
A and B here are often verbs or verbal phrases which are usually disyllabic words.
e.g.
他既会说中文，也会说英文。(Tā jì huì shuō Zhōnɡwén, yě huì shuō Yīnɡwén.) He can speak Chinese as well as English.
他们既没开车，也没做地铁。(Tāmen jì méi kāi chē, yě méi zuò dìtiě.) They neither drive the car nor take the metro.
这件事既和你有关，也和我有关。(Zhè jiàn shì jì hé nǐ yǒuɡuān, yě hé wǒ yǒuɡuān.) It’s have something to do with you and me.
Succession Compound Sentences refer to those formed by two or over clauses together to state things that happened successively.
To indicate the order when doing something and often used in written Chinese. The subject is often shown before or after “首先”.
(Subject 1) + 首先 + (Subject 1) + A，其次 + (Subject 2) + B
e.g.
我们首先应该进行线下调查，其次应该进行线上调查。(Wǒmen shǒuxiān yīnɡɡāi jìnxínɡ xiànxià diàochá, qícì yīnɡɡāi jìnxínɡ xiànshànɡ diàochá.) We should do the offline survey first and then do the online survey.
要想成功首先要靠自己努力，其次再靠好的时机。(Yào xiǎnɡ chénɡɡōnɡ shǒuxiān yào kào zìjǐ nǔlì, qícì zài kào hǎode shíjī.) If you want to succeed, you should try your best at first and then rely on a good timing.
你们都要接受批评，因为首先小华不应该在这里抽烟，其次你不应该不提醒他。(Nǐmen dōu yào jiēshòu pīpínɡ, yīnwèi shǒuxiān Xiǎohuá bù yīnɡɡāi zài zhèlǐ chou yān, qícì nǐ bù yīnɡɡāi bù tíxǐnɡ tā.) You all will be criticized since firstly Xiao Hua shouldn’t smoke here and then you should remind him but you not.
To indicate a result based on the previous situation.
……，于是 + Result
e.g.
这里不能走，于是他们换了另一条路。(Zhèlǐ bù nénɡ zǒu, yúshì tāmen huànle lìnɡ yì tiáo lù.) It’s not allowed to pass, so they have chosen another road.
他很生气，于是就直接离开了。(Tā hěn shēnɡqì, yúshì jiù zhíjiē líkāi le.) He was so angry that he left directly.
他搬不动这些东西，于是他找了几个朋友来帮忙。(Tā bān bú dònɡ zhè xiē dōnɡxi, yúshì tā zhǎole jǐ ɡè pénɡyou lái bānɡmánɡ.) He couldn’t move these things, thus he found several friends to help him.
Progressive Compound Sentences refer to those formed by two or over clauses together and the latter one expresses a further meaning compared to the previous one. The sequence among them can’t be changed randomly.
The part following 甚至 indicates a further and prominent thing compared with the previous part.
……, 甚至 + ……
e.g.
为了这件事，他花了很多精力，甚至是他的生命。(Wèile zhè jiàn shì, tā huāle hěn duō jīnɡlì, shènzhì shì tāde shēnɡmìnɡ.) He spent a lot of energy on it, even his life.
不要说他，甚至是我们也做不出这样的东西。(Búyào shuō tā, shènzhì shì women yě zuò bù chū zhèyànɡde dōnɡxi.) Don’t mention him even us, we still can’t make such thing.
他们经常加班，昨天甚至加班到晚上11点。(Tāmen jīnɡchánɡ jiābān, zuótiān shènzhì jiā bān dào wǎnshɑnɡ shíyī diǎn.) They often work overtime, and yesterday they have even worked till 11 pm.)
Selective Compound Sentences indicates that there is a trade-off between two possible situations or choices.
To provide two options which are often verbal phrases.
(Subject 1) + 或者 + Phrase 1，或者 + (Subject 2) + Phrase 2
或者 + (Subject 1) + Phrase 1，或者 + (Subject 2) + Phrase 2
e.g.
我们或者在家吃晚饭，或者出去吃晚饭。(Wǒmen huòzhě zài jiā chī wǎnfàn, huòzhě chūqu chī wǎnfàn.) We either eat at home or go out to eat.
你或者现在给我，或者明天给我。(Nǐ huòzhě xiànzài ɡěi wǒ, huòzhě mínɡtiān ɡěi wǒ.) You either give me now or give me tomorrow.
或者他出去，或者我出去。(Huòzhě tā chūqu, huòzhě wǒ chūqu.) Either he goes out, or I’ll go out.
It shows the second part conflicts with the first part in meaning and generally, the second part is the key information.
The part after “然而” is the key information the speaker wants to express and this pattern is often used in written Chinese. There is often a transition between the former part and the latter part.
……, 然而 + ……
e.g.
我们想这样做，然而经理不允许。(Wǒmen xiǎnɡ zhèyànɡ zuò, rán’ér jīnɡlǐ bù yúnxǔ.) We want to do it like this, but the manager didn’t allow us.
他让我下班等他，然而他早就回家了。(Tā rànɡ wǒ xià bān děnɡ tā, rán’ér tā zǎojiù huí jiā le.) He let me wait for him when being off work, but he has already gone home.
公司里有很多人，然而没有人会修复印机。(Gōnɡsīlǐ yǒu hěn duō rén, rán’ér méiyǒu rén huì xiū fùyìn jī.) There are many people in the company but no one can repair the copy machine.
The first clause provides a hypothesis or indicates something occurred and then the second clause comes up with a corresponding result.
The first part is the condition the subject is supposed to do, and the second part brings up the corresponding result if the previous condition can’t be reached. It can also be used with “除非” to mean “unless A, otherwise B”.
(除非) + Condition，否则 + Result
e.g.
除非你是会员，否则你看不了全集。(Chúfēi nǐ shì huìyuán, fǒuzé nǐ kàn bù liǎo quán jí.) Unless you are the member, otherwise you can’t watch all episodes.
除非你告诉我到底发生了什么，否则我不会帮你。(Chúfēi nǐ ɡàosu wǒ dàodǐ fāshēnɡle shénme, fǒuzé wǒ bú huì bānɡ nǐ.) Unless you tell me what exactly happened, otherwise I won’t help you.
快把房间打扫干净，否则妈妈回来肯定要骂你。(Kuài bǎ fánɡjiān dásǎo ɡānjìnɡ, fǒuzé māmɑ huílái kěndìnɡ yào mà nǐ.) Clean the room quickly, otherwise Mum will scold you when she is back.
The part after “假如” is a hypothesis, and the second part is the corresponding result.
假如 + Hypothesis， Subject 2 + (就) + Result
e.g.
假如你有一百万，你会用来旅游吗？(Jiǎrú nǐ yǒu yì bǎi wàn, nǐ huì yònɡ lái lǚyóu mɑ?) If you have one million yuan, will you use it for travelling?
假如明天放假，我就去爬山。(Jiǎrú mínɡtiān fànɡ jià, wǒ jiù qù pá shān.) If it’s off tomorrow, I’ll go climbing the mountain.
假如我是小华，我就接受那笔钱。(Jiǎrú wǒ shì Xiǎo Huá, wǒ jiù jiēshòu nà bǐ qián.) If I was Xiao Hua, I’ll accept that money.
“万一” usually leads to an unlikely possible hypothesis, and then the second part is what the subject should do if that happened.
万一 + Unlikely Possibility，(就) + Action
e.g.
万一他们回来了，我们就跑。(Wànyī tāmen huílái le, women jiù pǎo.) In case they go back, we just run away.
万一这件事没成功，你也不要灰心。(Wànyī zhè jiàn shì méi chénɡɡōnɡ, nǐ yě bú yào huīxīn.) In case it’s not successful, you don’t need to lose your confidence.
万一你女朋友不喜欢，你可以来换。(Wànyī nǐ nǚ pénɡyou bù xǐhuɑn, nǐ kěyǐ lái huàn.) In case your girlfriend dislikes it, you can come and exchange it.
The first part provides a condition, and the second part indicates the possible result under the previous condition.
“不管” leads a condition while “都” or “也” are used in the second part to stress the result that won’t change even under the previous condition.
不管 + Condition，(Subject) + 都 / 也 + Result
e.g.
不管你说什么，我们都听你的。(Bùɡuǎn nǐ shuō shénme, wǒmen dōu tīnɡ nǐ de.) No matter what you say, we will always follow you.
不管怎么做，他都不会满意。(Bùɡuǎn zěnme zuò, tā dōu bú huì mǎnyì.) No matter what we do, he will never be satisfied.
不管你想不想去那里，你也得去。(Bùɡuǎn nǐ xiǎnɡ bu xiǎnɡ qù nàlǐ, nǐ yě děi qù.) Whether you want to go or not, you should go.
“无论……，都/也……” is the more or less the same with “不管……，都/也……” to emphasize the action or decision on the second part won’t change. “无论” is more formal than “不管”.
无论 + Condition, (Subject) + 都/也 + Result
e.g.
无论下雨还是刮风，他都坚持去跑步。(Wúlùn xià yǔ háishì ɡuāfēnɡ, tā dōu jiānchí qù pǎobù.) No matter it’s raining or blowing, he will insist on running.
无论什么时候，我都会陪着你。(Wúlùn shénme shíhou, wǒ dōu huì péizhe nǐ.) I’ll be with you anytime.
无论多么成功，他也会觉得自己做得不好。(Wúlùn duōme chénɡɡōnɡ, tā yě huì juéde zìjǐ zuòde bù hǎo.) No matter how successful he is, he will also think it’s not enough.
One clause is the cause while the other is the result of the reason.
This construction is often used to indicate a suggestion or inference deduced from the first fact led by “既然”.
(Subject) + 既然 + Cause, 就 + Suggestion / Inference
既然 + (Subject) + Cause, 就 + Suggestion / Inference
（Subject 1）+ 既然 + Cause, Subject 2 + 就 + Suggestion / Inference
既然 +（Subject 1）+ Cause, Subject 2 + 就 + Suggestion / Inference
e.g.
他们既然那么想要这个东西，就给他们吧！(Tāmen jìrán nàme xiǎnɡ yào zhèɡe dōnɡxi, jiù ɡěi tāmen bɑ!) Since they want it so much, then just give them!
既然你喜欢，就买吧！(Jìrán nǐ xǐhuɑn, jiù mǎi bɑ!) Since you like it, then just buy it!
你们既然已经分手了，你就不要再想他了。(Nǐmen jìrán yǐjīnɡ fēnshǒu le, nǐ jiù búyào zài xiǎnɡ tā le.) Since you were already broken, then you can stop thinking about him.
The result comes at first and then “可见” brings out the reason. It’s often used in written Chinese.
The result, 可见 + Reason
e.g.
让你等了三个小时，可见他根本不在乎你。(Rànɡ nǐ děnɡle sān ɡè xiǎoshí, kějiàn tā ɡēnběn bú zàihu nǐ.) Let you wait for three hours, it seems like he doesn’t care about you.
只有几个人通过了考试，可见这次的考试很难。(Zhíyǒu jǐ ɡè rén tōnɡɡuòle kǎoshì, kějiàn zhè cì de kǎoshì hěn nán.) Only a few people have passed the exam, it seems like this exam is too difficult.
妹妹一直拿着这个娃娃不放手，可见她是真的很喜欢它。(Mèimei yìzhí ná zhe zhèɡe wáwɑ bú fànɡshǒu, kějiàn tā shì zhēnde hěn xǐhuɑn tā.) The younger sister doesn’t want to put down the doll, it seems like she is really like it.
It provides a hypothesis at first and then on the second part indicates the result deducing from the preceding part.
“哪怕” leads a hypothesis while “也” or “还” indicates the corresponding result.
(Subject) + 哪怕 + Situation，(Subject) + 也 / 还 + Result
e.g.
哪怕很累，我也要把这个做完。(Nǎpà hěn lèi, wǒ yě yào bǎ zhèɡe zuòwán.) Even if I’m tired, I will still finish it.
哪怕过了很久，他也很爱你。(Nǎpà ɡuòle hěn jiǔ, tā yě hěn’ài nǐ.) Even if time goes by, he will still love you.
你们哪怕多给我一天时间也行。(Nǐmen nǎpà duō ɡěi wǒ yì tiān shíjiān yě xínɡ.) It would be okay if you can give me even one more day.
哪怕你已经给了他钱，下次他还会问你要。(Nǎpà nǐ yǐjīnɡ ɡěile tā qián, xiàcì tā hái huì wèn nǐ yào.) Even if you have already given money to him, he will still ask you for money next time.
It indicates the subject takes some actions in order to reach a certain purpose.
The first part expresses the action that has been taken or things that have been done, and then the second part indicates the purpose.
Action / Thing, 好 + Purpose
e.g.
她每天都给家里打电话，好让父母放心。(Tā měitiān dōu ɡěi jiālǐ dǎ diànhuà, hǎo rànɡ fùmǔ fànɡxīn.) She will make a phone call with her family every day in order not to make her parents worried.
我每天下午都要喝咖啡，好保持头脑清醒。(Wǒ měitiān xiàwǔ dōu yào hē kāfēi, hǎo bǎochí tóunǎo qīnɡxǐnɡ.) I will drink coffee everyday afternoon in order to sustain my sober mind.
我们每天要在微信上打卡，好记录身体情况。(Wǒmen měitiān yào zài Wēixìn shànɡ dǎ kǎ, hǎo jìlù shēntǐ qíngkuànɡ.) We need to check on Wechat every day in order to record our condition.
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