Sentence patterns and function words

 

jīng clause (4)

is short for AS A RESULT OF (Lit. TO GO THROUGH, PASS, BY MEANS OF). It is similar to another expression 通过tōngguò. The elements which are followed by or can be verbs, nouns, or nouns with attributives. Usually these elements or phrases imply sustained actions.

Aor clause is often followed by a clause which contains the main verb of the sentence:

经过

               S

V                            O

经过            努力,

去年     

                一本  小说 

as a result of   effort,

last year he  

write completed   LE  a BEN novel

After much hard work, he completed his novel last summer.

Examples

经过

 S

V                     O

经过

                 法。

经过 17 的努力

           现在

                      

 

Without clause the above sentences will be:

后,

法。

努力了17

           现在

                 

 

Examples

Write down the English translation of the following words and phrases in the boxes below.

经过

 

 

 

 

 

经过

 

     

 

经过

 

17 的努

 

 

 

 

纸了

 

经过 17 的努

 

     

 

duì clause (4)

It means TO (THIS)… The clause is used as a co-verb clause in sentences to bring a topic before the verb. Modal verbs such as 应该, are placed before the clause. For instance:

  S    

               topic  

V                                 O

我们

应该        作风

进行            政治    运动

we

should DUI no good DE practice        

carry out a CHANG  political movement

We should launch a political campaign to oppose unhealthy work practice.

 

Examples

      topic    

S    

V             O

  

 

  

 

  

 

Without clause the above sentences will be:

 

 

 

jìnxíng TO CARRY OUT (4)

This sentence pattern is frequently used in newspapers. The nouns preceded by are used as verbs in sentences: words such as to discuss and discussion, to develop and development, to negotiate and negotiation are often seen after the verb . When you learn a new word which is preceded by , you should remember it as a phrase: for example:

 

...进行

谈判

Carry out negotiations

...进行

发展

Carry out developments

 

Examples

Write down the English translation of the following words and phrases in the boxes below.

中国政府

 

 

十年来

 

在中国国内

 

造成的

 

危害

 

进行

 

总结

 

中国政府对十年来在中国国内造成的危害进行总结

 

     

 

中国

 

 

过去的二十年

 

 

 

很多方面

 

进行

 

改革

 

中国在过去的二十年里对很多方面进行改革

 

     

 

去年

 

政府

 

 

城市人口

 

找工作困难的

 

问题

 

进行

 

调查

 

去年政府对城市人口找工作困难的问题进行调查

 

     

 

gāi (4)

means THE ABOVE MENTIONED, THE AFOREMENTIONED. It is often followed by a noun. For instance,

云南  Yunnan university

行了一       运动

carried out a CHANG anti-drug    campaign      

                     师和 生都

The aforementioned university’s teachers and students all…

Yunnan University carried out an anti-drug campaign. The teachers and students of the aforementioned university are...

Examples

         

 

jì…yĕ… …  construction (4)

It means BOTH... AND / AS WELL AS

The clauses in the ... ... construction are normally parallel in sense. and are placed before verbs or stative verbs.

                                   

                    

我们学     东西       ,

学了  以后   不能   用。

we   studied DE thing   JI  not easy study,

studied after     YE cannot use

The things which we learned were not very easy; we cannot even  use them after learning them.

Examples

作。

 

给签

由。

 

Time word  + SINCE, WITHIN THE LAST… (4)

 

            

Since this year

Within the last three years

三个月

Within the last three months

 
Reading tips

Abbreviated words (4)

 

There are many abbreviated expressions in newspaper articles. An abbreviated form should be simple, clear and rhythmically balanced. For example, is short for 应该; is short for 已经; is short for 经过. Usually the second syllable of the word is omitted.

 

An effective way to remember new vocabulary (4)

 

Recognising verb-object patterns is very important in newspaper reading. The most effective way to remember these patterns is to write down the object on your flash card when you are learning a new verb.