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A Student Grammar of Chinese

A Student Grammar of Chinese

A Student Grammar of Chinese

Yongping Zhu, University of Notre Dame, Indiana
Chu-Ren Huang, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
April 2023
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Adobe eBook Reader
9781009233484

    Written for beginning learners of the language, this concise introduction to Chinese grammar assumes only a basic knowledge of Chinese, and no knowledge of grammatical terminology and practices. Comparing Chinese grammar patterns and rules with those of English, and illustrated with a wealth of real-life examples, it allows learners to understand the similarities and differences between the two languages. Using engaging and accessible language, it examines the Chinese sound system, writing system, word formation rules, parts of speech, and simple and complex sentences, as well as explaining special constructions that are typically challenging to second language learners. Each chapter begins with clear learning goals and ends with a useful summary highlighting the chapter's main points. To call attention to specific issues, sidebars are interspersed throughout the text, and exercises within the book and online answer keys help students to reinforce learned material and assist with self-study.

    • Introduces Chinese grammar with accessible language and examples by focusing on sentence patterns and rules and by contrasting their similarities and differences with English
    • Provides clear learning goals at the beginning and a brief summary at the end of each chapter, as well as tip, NOTE, Attention, and Alert! text boxes to emphasize common errors and learning strategies
    • Includes exercises at the end of chapters with an online answer key, helping students to reinforce what they have learned and assisting their self-study

    Product details

    April 2023
    Adobe eBook Reader
    9781009233484
    0 pages
    This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.

    Table of Contents

    • Preface
    • Glossary of grammar terms and abbreviations
    • The meanings of special symbols
    • Unit I. Introduction:
    • 1. Chinese and Mandarin
    • 2. Chinese grammar
    • 3. Sound system
    • 4. Words and Chinese characters
    • Unit II. Parts of Speech:
    • 5. Introduction of parts of speech in Chinese
    • 6. Nouns
    • 7. Numbers
    • 8. Measure words (Classifiers)
    • 9. Pronouns
    • 10. Verbs
    • 11. Modal verbs
    • 12. Adjectives
    • 13. Adverbs
    • 14. Prepositions
    • 15. Conjunctions
    • 16. Particles
    • Unit III. Simple Sentences:
    • 17. Introduction to simple sentences
    • 18. Elements of a sentence (1): subject and predicate
    • 19. Elements of a sentence (2): object
    • 20. Elements of a sentence (3): Complement
    • 21. Elements of a sentence (4): Attributive and adverbial
    • Unit IV. Special Sentences:
    • 22. The 把 bÇŽ construction
    • 23. The被 bèi construction
    • 24. Questions
    • 25. Comparisons
    • 26. Existential sentences
    • 27. Emphatic sentences
    • Unit V. Complicated Sentences:
    • 28. Compound sentences
    • 29. Complex sentences
    • Appendices.
    Resources for
    Type
    Chapter 3 Audio Exercises
    Size: 11.4 MB
    Type: audio/mp4
    Answer Keys
    Size: 1.56 MB
    Type: application/pdf
      Authors
    • Yongping Zhu , University of Notre Dame, Indiana

      Yongping Zhu is Associate Professor and Department Chair (2014–2021) at the University of Notre Dame, as well as President of Chinese Language Teachers Association, USA (2021–2022). Notable publications include Linguistic Analysis of Meaning and Syntactic Change in the Grammaticalization of Chinese Prepositions (2010) and A Teacher's Manual for the Instruction of Chinese (co-authored, 2018).

    • Chu-Ren Huang , Hong Kong Polytechnic University

      Chu-Ren Huang is Chair Professor of the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is fascinated by what language can tell us about human cognition and our collective reactions to natural and social environments. Related publications include A Reference Grammar of Chinese (2016), Mandarin Chinese Words and Parts of Speech (2017), The Routledge Handbook of Chinese Applied Linguistics (2019), and The Cambridge Handbook of Chinese Linguistics (2022).