Chinese language skills for Britain: Disseminating Best Practice

mŏu…某 CERTAIN… (7)

某is used to disguise a real name, as in 李某: although the surname 李 Li is revealed, the given name is hidden. 某 can also be followed by a noun: 某校 a certain school, 某人 a certain person. 某医院 a certain hospital. 

cóng…(V)dào… 从…(V)到 … FROM … TO… (7)

This construction is used to indicate a sequence of actions. Like the other co-verb constructions, a  从… clause is followed by a main verb clause, in this case (V) 到.

For instance:

Walk to school from home.

bă 把 used as a co-verb (7)

A verb in the 把 construction changes the form, situation or direction of the object. A verb in the 把 construction is in complex form. It is usually a verb of method of action plus another element. The elements which can be attached to the main verbs in 把 sentences are:

Resultative complements

Put our energy into our work.

Directional complements

He has already taken the book in.

得 (complement of degree) constructions

You didn’t do this job very well.

一下 (or 一 verb)

Please do this exercise once more.

yīn…因 BECAUSE (7)

因is short for 因为. A 因为 clause is often followed by a 所以 therefore clause. Both 因 为 and 所 以 are placed before subjects or verbs in sentences. A因clause is often followed by  a 而 clause. For instance:

He was arrested because he had taken drugs.

yú 于 BE IN, ON, AT (7)

于 is used in a formal style of writing and is followed by a time word or place. It is similar to 在. For instance:

The meeting starts on 16 March.

chūyú…出于 ARISE FROM… (7)

出于 is short for 出自于. It is often placed after a subject and followed by a noun. For instance:

The teacher feels that it is his responsibility to ask you to do this exercise.

 jí 即 NAMELY (7)

即 is used to indicate a detailed or specific explanation. The explanation is placed after

即. For instance:

China’s reform policy, namely the economic reform policy, has had some success.

bèi  被 used as a passive construction (7)

被 sentences describe how a particular object (abstract or physical) is dealt with or disposed of by somebody or something. The verbs in these constructions take complicated forms. They are verbs of method of action, plus other elements. Most of the elements attached to the main verbs in 被 sentences are similar to those used in the 把 construction:

Time/action measure: Resultative complements

We have put all our energy into our work.

Directional complements

The book has already been taken into (a room) by him.

得 (complement of degree) constructions

This job hasn’t been done very well by you.

一下 (or 一 verb); 三个星期; 一次; 一遍

This exercise has been done once more by you.