Level 3 Lesson 43.2 – 我们连最后一个项目都已经完成了。

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:

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.