Level 1 Lesson 29.1 – I Miss You A Lot Everyday Too

Grammar 1: Too, Also in Chinese 也 · HSK 1

To say too, also in Chinese we use the Adverb 也 yě. It is usually used as an Adverbial modifying the Predicate, and is put before the Predicate in a sentence, following this structure:

Subject + 也 + Predicate (+Object)

For example,

(1) with Verb Predicate

• tā zuò dìtiě qùshàngbān, wǒ yě zuò dìtiě qù shàngbān
  他坐地铁去上班，我也坐地铁去上班。
  he takes subway to go to work, I also take subway to go to work
• zhèlǐ xiàyǔ, yě xiàxuě
  这里下雨，也下雪。
  here rains, also snows

(2) with Adjective Predicate

• wǒ zuótiān bù shūfu, tā jīntiān yě bù shūfu
  我昨天不舒服，他今天也不舒服。
  I yesterday (was) not feeling well, he today also not feeling well
• zuò dìtiě hěn piányi, yě hěnkuài
  坐地铁很便宜，也很快。
  taking subway (is) very inexpensive,  also very fast

Grammar 2: Every in Chinese 每 · HSK 1

To say every in Chinese we use the Pronoun 每 měi,  which means every. Usually we say 每 plus the Measure Word, plus the thing, following this structure:

每 + Measure Word + Noun (Phrase)

For example,

• měi wèi bìngrén
  每位病人
  every "wei" (of) patient
• měi liàng chūzūchē
  每辆出租车
  every "liang" (of)  taxi

Some Time Words are especial and they can be used directly after 每, without any Measure Word, following this structure:

每 +  Time Word

For example,

• měi tiān 每天 every day
• měi zhōu 每周 every week
• měi nián 每年 every year
• měi fēnzhōng 每分钟 every minute

Some other Time Words are okay both with or without the Measure Word, phrases with the measure word 个 is more of spoken language though:

每 +  个 + Time Word

For example,

(1) with Measure Word 个

• měi ge xiǎoshí 每个小时 every hour
• měi ge xīngqī 每个星期 every week
• měi ge yuè 每个月 every month

(2) without Measure Word 个

• měi xiǎoshí 每小时 every hour
• měi xīngqī 每星期 every week
• měi yuè 每月 every month

Grammar 3: Both, All in Chinese 都 · HSK 1

To say both, all in Chinese we can use the Adverb 都.

都 is a Range Adverb 范围副词 Fànwéi fùcí. A 范围副词 modifies the Predicate, and suggests that “what the predicate talks about” includes the whole group that the Subject refers to. So the Subject usually refer to a group of things/items/people. Sentences that have Adverb 都 usually follow this structure:

Subject [Group(a, b, ... , n)] + 都 + Predicate (+Object)

For example,

(1) with Verb Predicate

• xīngqīyī hé xīngqī'èr dōu xiàxuě le
  星期一和星期二都下雪了。
  Monday and Tuesday both (had) snow(ed)
• tāmende míngzi dōushì sāngezì
  他们的名字都是三个字。
  their names all are three-character

(2) with Adjective Predicate

• tāmende nánpéngyou dōu hěnshuài
  她们的男朋友都很帅。
  their boyfriends (are) both very handsome
• huǒchē hé fēijī dōu búmàn
  火车和飞机都不慢。
  train(s) and plane(s) (are) both not slow

Grammar 4: The 每……都 Structure · HSK 1

Since 每 měi means every, phrases like "每个人 měigerén everyone", "每天 měi tiān every day" are basically talking about more than one thing/person, which is a "group". So 每 can be used with 都, as "the 每……都 Structure".

The 每……都 Structure is  a very useful and common structure in Chinese. Here the "每 phrase" is the Subject, with 每 + a noun. phrase, usually with the noun’s measure word, but sometimes there’s no measure word, and then the Adverbial 都, Predicate. Following this structure:

 Subject [每 (+ M.W.) + N. Phrase] + 都 + Predicate (+Object)

For example,

(1) with Verb Predicate

• měizhīmāo dōushì nǐde ma
  每只猫都是你的吗？
  every "zhi" cat all is yours -ma
• měiwèi bìngrén dōu zǒu le
  每位病人都走了。
  every "wei" patient all (have) left

(2) with Adjective Predicate

• měiliàngchē dōu hěnmàn
  每辆车都很慢。
  every "liang" che (are) all very slow
• měitiān dōu fēicháng rè le
  每天都非常热了。
  every day (is)  all extremely hot (now)

And the 每 Phrase doesn’t necessarily have to be the Subject either. It is also commonly used as the Adverbial of the sentence, to modify the Predicate. Following this Structure:

Subject + Adverbial [每 (+ M.W.) + N. Phrase] + 都 + Predicate (+Object)

For example,

• wǒ měi ge xīngqī dōu qù shūdiàn
  我每个星期都去书店。
  I every "ge" (of) week all go to (the) bookstore
• tā měifēnzhōng dōu xiǎng huíjiā
  他每分钟都想回家。
  he every minute all wants to go home