Level 3 Lesson 43.2 – 我们连最后一个项目都已经完成了。
GRAMMAR: The 连……都/也…… Structure.
In this HSK 3 video lesson we'll learn how to use the 连……都/也…… structure. This structure has a few variations:
- 连……都……
- 连……也……
- ……都……
- ……也……
GRAMMAR
Grammar 1. 连……都/也……
lián......dōu/yě...... ▸ even...even/even...
The structure is used to put emphasis on an “extreme example” and follows this format:
连 |
Extreme Example |
都
|
…… |
| prep. | pron. / n. (phrase) / v. (phrase) | adv. adv. |
|
| even | even / even |
We will see some example sentences:
(1) 连 pron. 都/也……
- Tā de rèqíng lián wǒ dōu/yě gǎnjué dào le.
他的热情连我都感觉到了。
他的热情连我也感觉到了。
His passion (-) “even” me (-) felt (it). - Nǐ zěnme lián nàr dōu/yě zhǎo bu dào a? Bú shì jiù zài fùjìn ma?
你怎么连那儿都找不到啊？不是就在附近吗？
你怎么连那儿也找不到啊？不是就在附近吗？
How-come (-) “even” you (-) (do)-not-have-the-potential-to-be-able-to find there? Isn’t (it) exactly in (a) nearby-place?
(2) 连 n.(phrase)_ 都/也……
- Nǐ duì Běijīng liǎojiě de zhēn duō, lián zhè duàn lìshǐ dōu/yě zhīdào.
你对北京了解得真多，连这段历史都知道。
你对北京了解得真多，连这段历史也知道。
You know really a-lot about Beijing, “even” this “period” (of) history (-) (you) know. - Tā lián zhème fùzá de wèntí dōu/yě néng jiějué, wǒmen yídìng yào xiāngxìn tā.
他连这么复杂的问题都能解决，我们一定要相信他。
他连这么复杂的问题也能解决，我们一定要相信他。
He (-) “even” such complicated problem (-) can solve, we must should trust him.
(3) 连 v.(phrase) 都/也(不/没/没有)……
If 连 is followed by a verb phrase, we usually(but not always) use negative words such as 不, 没, 没有.
When negative words are used:
- Wǒ lián dìng nǎ jiā jiǔdiàn dōu/yě juédìng bu liǎo.
我连订哪家酒店都决定不了。
我连订哪家酒店也决定不了。
I (-) “even” booking which “jia” (of) hotel (-) (do)-not-have-the-potential-to-be-able-to decide. - Zhème kuàisù de fāzhǎn, wǒ yǐqián lián tīng dōu/yě méi tīng guo.
这么快速的发展，我以前连听都没听过。
这么快速的发展，我以前连听也没听过。
Development (that is) so fast, I (in) the-past (-) “even” hearing (-) (have) not heard.
[Development (that is so fast, I haven’t even heard of in the past.]
When negative words are not used:
- Háizi lí bu kāi māma, lián líkāi yí xià dōu/yě huì kū.
孩子离不开妈妈，连离开一下都会哭。
孩子离不开妈妈，连离开一下也会哭。
(The) child (does)-have-the-potential-to-be-able-to leave (their) mom, “even” leaving (for) “a little bit” (-) (they) will cry.
Grammar 2. ……都/也……
......dōu/yě...... ▸ ...even/even...
In the 连……都/也…… structure, 连 can also be omitted:
- Nǐ shuō nàyàng bú xìng, wǒ lǐjiě, kěshì zhèyàng dōu/yě bùxíng ma?
你说那样不行，我理解，可是连这样都不行吗？
你说那样不行，我理解，可是连这样也不行吗？
You say that (does)n’t work, I understand, but this “even” (does)n’t work? - Tā chūyuàn dōu/yě bú gàosu wǒ, zìjǐ jiù huí jiā le.
他连出院都不告诉我，自己就回家了。
他连出院也不告诉我，自己就回家了。
He being-discharged-from-the-hospital “even” (did) not tell me, (by him)self (he) “then” returned-home.