Level 2 Lesson 27.1 – I Invite You to Come to My Home

GRAMMAR

Grammar 1: The 又……又…… Structure · HSK 2

The 又……又…… Structure can be used to describe that something is "...and also...". We can follow this structure:

又 adj.¹ 又 adj.²

又 adj.¹ 又 adj. ², meaning something  is adj.¹ “AND ALSO”  adj. ², but the two Adjectives have to be both approving or both disapproving, without contradicting each other. For example,

• jīdàn yòu piányi yòu jiànkāng
  鸡蛋又便宜又健康。
  Eggs (are) inexpensive "and also" healthy.
• nà ge nǚháir de tóufa yòu hēi yòu cháng
  那个女孩儿的头发又黑又长。
  That girl's hair (is) black "and also" long.
• tā de gōngzuò yòu máng yòu lèi
  他的工作又忙又累。
  His work (is) busy "and also" tiring.

Grammar 2: Pivotal Sentences 兼语句 · HSK 2

Pivotal Sentences are very common in Chinese. The following examples is the structure of Pivotal Sentences.

Grammar 3: Double Negative 双重否定 · HSK 2

We’ve learned some negative words and phrases already, for example,

• bù 不 no/not
• bié 别 don't
• bú yào 不要 don't
• bù néng 不能 cannot
• méiyǒu 没(有) (have/did) not
• bù kěyǐ 不可以 cannot

When we use two of them together, it’s Double Negative 双重否定. And just like in English, Double Negative makes it positive, stronger and more emphasized. For example,

• wǒ bú shì bù bāng nǐ
  我不是不帮你。
  (It) wasn’t (that) I (do) not help you.
• nǐ bāng le wǒ yí ge dà máng, wǒ bù néng bú xièxie nǐ
  你帮了我一个大忙，我不能不谢谢你。
  You helped me a great busy (situation), I cannot not thank you.
• shénme shìqing? bié bú gàosu wǒ
  什么事情？别不告诉我。
  What matter (is it)? Don't not tell me.