Level 3 Lesson 24.2 – 我先吃晚饭，再做运动，然后洗澡，最后睡觉。

GRAMMAR

Grammar 1. 先……，再……，然后……，最后……。

Xiān......, zài......, ránhòu......, zuìhòu......。 ▸ First…, then…, after-that…, (in the) end… .

This structure suggests that a series of actions or events occur in succession. The order of 先, 再, 然后 and 最后 cannot be changed.

We can use this structure like this:

• Wǒ xiān zuò Shùxué zuòyè, zài zuò Hànyǔ zuòyè, ránhòu zuò Yīngyǔ zuòyè, zuìhòu zuò Fǎyǔ zuòyè.
  我先做数学作业，再做汉语作业，然后做英语作业，最后做法语作业。
  I first do Math homework, then do Chinese homework, after-that (I) do English homework, (in the) end (I) do French homework.
• Huí jiā yǐhòu, wǒ xiān chī wǎnfàn, zài zuò yùndòng, ránhòu xǐzǎo, zuìhòu shuìjiào.
  回家以后，我先吃晚饭，再做运动，然后洗澡，最后睡觉。
  (In the) time (that is) after returning home, I first eat evening-meal, then do-exercise, after-that (I) take-(a)-shower, (in the) end (I) sleep.

Grammar 2. Variations of Structure "

先……，再……，然后……，最后……

".

When we use the structure "先……，再……，然后……，最后……", there are four actions or events. If we have less than four, we can also use other structures, such as:

• Xiān……，zài.……。先 ……，再……。First..., then... .
• Xiān……，ránhòu……。先 ……，然后……。 First..., after-that... .
• Xiān……，zài.……，zuìhòu......。先 ……，再……，最后……。First..., then..., (in the) end… .
• Xiān……，ránhòu……，zuìhòu......。先 ……，然后……，最后……。First..., after-that..., (in the) end… .

(1) 先……，再……。Xiān……，zài.……。▸ First..., then... .

When we have two events, we can use "先......，再......". For example,

• Nǐ xiān xiǎng jǐ tiān zài zuò juédìng.
  你先想几天再做决定。
  You (can) first think (about it) (for) several days (and) then make (the) decision.
• Wǒmen xiān pāi zhàopiàn, zài pāi shìpín.
  我们先拍照片，再拍视频。
  We (will) first take (the) photos, (and) then take (the) videos.

(2) 先……，然后……。Xiān……，ránhòu……。▸ First..., after-that... .

When we have two events, we can also use "先......，然后......". For example,

• Shì tā xiān bān de jiā, ránhòu wǒmen yě bān jiā le.
  是他先搬的家，然后我们也搬家了。
  (It) was him (that) first moved (his) home, after-that we also moved (our) home.
• Wǒmen xiān zuò diàntī shàng bā lóu zhǎo Zhāng Yīshēng, ránhòu dào shí lóu zhǎo Gāo Hùshi.
  我们先坐电梯上八楼找张医生，然后到十楼找高护士。
  We (will) take (the) elevator to go-up to (the) 8(th) Floor to seek Doctor Zhang, then (we will) arrive (the) 10(th) Floor to seek Nurse Gao.

(3) 先 ……，再……，最后……。Xiān……，zài.……，zuìhòu......。▸ First..., then..., (in the) end… .

When we have three events, we can also use "先……，再……，最后……". For example,

• Wǒmen xiān xué shēngcí, zài liànxí duìhuà, zuìhòu xué xiě Hànzì.
  我们先学生词，再练习对话，最后学写汉字。
  We (will) first learn (the) new-words, then (we will) practice (the) dialogue, (in the) end (we will) learn to write (the) Chinese-Characters.
• Nín xiān shìshi zhè zhǒng lǜchá, zài shìshi nà zhǒng hóngchá, zuìhòu hái kěyǐ shìshi xīn lái de Lánshān Kāfēi.
  您先试试这种绿茶，再试试那种红茶，最后还可以试试新来的蓝山咖啡。
  You (can) first try this type (of) green-tea “really quick”, then (you can) try that type (of) black-tea “really quick”, (in the) end (you can) additionally try (the) new(ly)-came Blue-Mountain-Coffee.

(4) 先……，然后……，最后……。Xiān……，ránhòu……，zuìhòu......。▸ First..., after-that..., (in the) end… .

When we have three events, we can also use "先……，然后……，最后……". For example,

• Wǒmen xiān pá shān, ránhòu chī wǔfàn, zuìhòu huá chuán.
  我们先爬山，然后吃午饭，最后划船。
  We first climbed (the) hill, then ate lunch, (in the) end (we) paddled boat.
• Zuò zhè dào cài de shíhou, xiān fàng cài, ránhòu fàng ròu, zuìhòu fàng yán hé táng.
  做这道菜的时候，先放菜，然后放肉，最后放盐和糖。
  (At the) time (when) making this “dao” (of) dish, (we) first put-in (the) vegetable, then put-in (the) meat, (in the) end (we) put-in salt and sugar.