About This Lesson
Use Asking for a grammar explanation to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
你能再解释一下这个语法模式吗？
Nǐ néng zài jiěshì yíxià zhège yǔfǎ móshì ma? Could you explain this grammar pattern again?
B
它表示一个动作已经完成了。
Tā biǎoshì yí ge dòngzuò yǐjīng wánchéng le. It shows that an action is already complete.
A
为什么这个句子里的动词会变化？
Wèishénme zhège jùzi lǐ de dòngcí huì biànhuà? Why does the verb change in this sentence?
B
因为这个动作已经结束了，所以形式会变化。
Yīnwèi zhège dòngzuò yǐjīng jiéshù le, suǒyǐ xíngshì huì biànhuà. The form changes because the event is finished.
A
你能再给我一个例子吗？
Nǐ néng zài gěi wǒ yí ge lìzi ma? Can you give me another example?
B
有人在上课前打开了书。
Yǒu rén zài shàngkè qián dǎkāi le shū. Someone opened the book before class.
A
这样更容易理解这个模式。
Zhèyàng gèng róngyì lǐjiě zhège móshì. That makes the pattern easier to understand.
B
现在试着造一个自己的句子。
Xiànzài shìzhe zào yí ge zìjǐ de jùzi. Now try making your own sentence.Word by Word
你
你 means “you” here and refers to the person being asked to explain the pattern. It is the subject of the request in 你能再解释一下. Use it when speaking directly to one person.
能
能 means “can” or “be able to” here and asks whether the listener is able or willing to do something. In 你能再解释一下, it comes before the action. This is useful for making a polite request to another person.
再
再 means “again” here, showing that the explanation should be given one more time. It comes before the action in 再解释一下. Use it before an action that you want repeated.
解释
解释 means “explain” here: the speaker wants the other person to make the grammar pattern clear. It is the main action in 解释一下. Use it when asking someone to clarify a word, idea, or pattern.
一下
In 解释一下, 一下 makes the request sound brief and softer. 一 is the first part and 下 is the second part of this expression; together they soften the action rather than expressing separate literal meanings here. This form is useful when making a light, polite request.
这个
这个 means “this” and points to the particular grammar pattern being discussed. It comes before the noun in 这个语法模式. Use it when identifying a specific nearby thing or topic.
语法
语法 means “grammar” here and specifies the language-study topic. In 这个语法模式, it helps describe what kind of pattern is meant. Use it when discussing rules or structures in a language classroom.
模式
模式 means “pattern” here and refers to the grammar structure the learners are studying. It is the noun described by 这个语法. Use it for a repeated or recognizable way of forming language.
吗
吗 is a question particle at the end of 你能再解释一下这个语法模式吗？. It turns the preceding statement into a yes-or-no question. Use it at the end of a similar question when asking whether something is possible or true.
它
它 means “it” here and refers to the grammar pattern just mentioned. It is the subject of 它表示一个动作已经完成了. Use it to refer back to a non-person thing or idea already under discussion.
表示
表示 means “indicate” or “show” here: the pattern indicates that an action is complete. It introduces the meaning described in 表示一个动作已经完成了. Use it when explaining what a word, mark, or pattern communicates.
一个
一个 means “one” or “a” here and introduces a single action in 一个动作. The form combines the number 一 with the general measure word 个 before the noun. Use it when referring to one countable item without specifying a more particular measure word.
动作
动作 means “action” here and refers to something that has been carried out. In 一个动作, it is the thing described as complete. Use it when discussing an action in a grammar explanation or in an everyday event.
已经
已经 means “already” here and shows that the action has reached completion by the relevant point. It comes before 完成 in 已经完成了. Use it before an action or state that has already happened.
完成
完成 means “complete” or “finish” here and describes the action as reaching its end. In 已经完成了, it follows 已经 and is followed by 了. Use it when saying that a task or action has been brought to completion.
了
了 at the end of 已经完成了 marks the completed action or resulting completed state in this sentence. It works with 完成 to show that the action is now complete. This form is useful when describing an event that has finished.
为什么
为什么 means “why” here and asks for the reason that the verb changes. It comes at the beginning of 为什么这个句子里的动词会变化？. Use it when asking for an explanation of a cause or reason.
句子
句子 means “sentence” here and identifies the whole sentence being examined. In 这个句子里的动词, it is part of the phrase meaning “the verb in this sentence.” Use it when discussing a written or spoken sentence.
里
里 means “in” or “inside” here and places the verb within the sentence: 这个句子里的动词. It follows 句子 and comes before 的 to form a modifier for 动词. Use it when locating something inside a place, container, or text.
的
的 links the descriptive phrase to the noun in 这个句子里的动词 and shows that the verb is the one in this sentence. It follows the modifying phrase and comes before 动词. Use it to connect a description or location phrase to a noun.
动词
动词 means “verb” here and identifies the language element whose form is being discussed. It appears in 这个句子里的动词. Use it when talking about an action word or a verb in a sentence.
会
会 means “will” or “be likely to” here and marks the expected change of the verb in this sentence. It comes before 变化 in 会变化. Use it before an action or event that is expected or possible.
变化
变化 means “change” here and describes the verb becoming different in form. In 动词会变化, it follows 会. Use it when explaining that a form, situation, or feature becomes different.
因为
因为 means “because” here and introduces the reason for the form changing. It begins the reason clause in 因为这个动作已经结束了. Use it before a reason when explaining why something happens.
结束
结束 means “end” or “finish” here and says that the action has come to an end. In 这个动作已经结束了, it is combined with 已经 and 了 to describe a completed event. Use it when an activity, event, or period comes to an end.
所以
所以 means “so” or “therefore” here and introduces the result of the reason given before it. In the dialogue, it connects the finished action with the changing form. Use it before a result after explaining a reason.
形式
形式 means “form” here and refers to the grammatical shape of a word. In 形式会变化, it is the thing that changes because the action has ended. Use it when comparing or explaining the form of a word or expression.
给
给 means “give” here and introduces the act of providing an example to the speaker. In 给我一个例子, it comes before the recipient and the thing given. Use it in requests for someone to provide something.
我
我 means “me” here and identifies the person who should receive the example. It follows 给 in 给我一个例子. Use it after 给 when saying that something should be given to you.
例子
例子 means “example” here and refers to another sentence or situation that demonstrates the grammar pattern. It appears in 给我一个例子. Use it when asking for or providing a concrete illustration of an idea.
有人
有人 means “someone” here and introduces an unspecified person who opened the book. It is the subject of 有人在上课前打开了书. Use it when referring to an unknown or unspecified person who exists or does something.
在
在 marks the time setting of the action in 有人在上课前打开了书. Here it comes before 上课前, identifying the time before class when the book was opened. Use it before a place or time phrase to show where or when an action occurs.
上课
上课 refers to having or attending class here. In 上课前, it combines with 前 to mean “before class.” Use it when talking about the activity or period of being in class.
前
前 means “before” here and follows 上课 in 上课前 to set a time boundary. The phrase identifies when the book was opened. Use it after an event or activity when referring to the time before it.
打开
打开 means “open” here and describes opening the book. It appears before 了 in 打开了书, while 了 marks the completed action. Use it when describing opening a book, door, window, or other object.
书
书 means “book” here and is the object opened in 打开了书. It follows 打开 to identify what was opened. Use it when referring to a book in a classroom or another reading situation.
这样
这样 means “this way” or “like this” here and refers to the example that was just given. In 这样更容易理解这个模式, it explains the effect of presenting the pattern in this way. Use it to refer back to a demonstrated method or situation.
更
更 means “more” or “even more” here and shows an increased degree of ease. It comes before 容易 in 更容易理解这个模式. Use it before an adjective when comparing the degree of a quality.
容易
容易 means “easy” here and describes understanding the pattern as requiring less difficulty. In 更容易理解这个模式, it is followed by the action 理解. Use it to describe an action or task that is not difficult.
理解
理解 means “understand” here and refers to grasping the grammar pattern. It appears in 理解这个模式, with the pattern as its object. Use it when talking about understanding an explanation, idea, or structure.
现在
现在 means “now” here and marks the time for the next activity. It comes at the beginning of 现在试着造一个自己的句子. Use it to introduce something that should happen at the present moment.
试着
试着 means “try to” here and encourages the learner to attempt the action that follows. It comes before 造 in 试着造一个自己的句子. Use it before an action when encouraging someone to make an attempt.
造
造 means “make” or “construct” here and refers specifically to constructing a sentence. In 造一个自己的句子, it is followed by the sentence being made. Use it when asking a learner to construct a sentence or another language example.
自己
自己 means “one’s own” here and identifies the sentence as belonging to the person being addressed. In 自己的句子, it appears before 的 to describe whose sentence it is. Use it when emphasizing that someone does something personally or has something of their own.
Grammar Points
已经 + 动词
句子已经完成。
Jùzi yǐjīng wánchéng.The sentence is already complete.
已经 comes before the verb to show that an action or state has been completed.
更 + 形容词
这样更容易理解。
Zhèyàng gèng róngyì lǐjiě.This way, it is easier to understand.
更 comes before an adjective to express a higher degree: “more” or “even more.”
Chinese Vocabulary
变化
verb
biànhuà
to change; change
表示
verb
biǎoshì
to show; to indicate
动词
noun
dòngcí
verb
动作
noun
dòngzuò
action
解释
verb
jiěshì
to explain
句子
noun
jùzi
sentence
完成
verb
wánchéng
to complete; to be complete
为什么
adv
wèishénme
why
已经
adv
yǐjīng
already
因为
conj
yīnwèi
because
语法模式
noun
yǔfǎ móshì
grammar pattern
再
adv
zài
again
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
grammar pattern
Show Answer
语法模式why
Show Answer
为什么to show; to indicate
Show Answer
表示because