xìng 性 NATURE OF... (5)
The use of 性 is often seen in formal written Chinese. 性 can change a stative verb into a noun, and can also change a noun into an attributive adjective. 重要 to be important is a stative verb. If it is followed by 性, then it becomes a noun 重要 性 importance. 历史 means history, and 历史性 means historic.
重要 used as a stative verb
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这 件 事 |
很 重要。 |
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this JIAN matter |
very important |
This matter is very important.
重要 used as a noun
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这 件 事 的 重要性 |
是什么？ |
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This JIAN matter DE importance |
is what |
What is the importance of this matter?
历史 used as a noun
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这 |
是历史。 |
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This |
is history |
This is history.
历史used as an adjective
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这 |
是历史性的 改革。 |
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This |
is historic DE reform |
This is a historic reform.
Write down the English translation of the following words and phrasers in the boxes below.
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对 |
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历史问题 |
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应该进行 |
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系统性的 |
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分析 |
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对历史问题应该进行系统性的分析。 |
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我们 |
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要分析 |
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本质性的 |
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问题 |
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我们要分析本质性的问题。 |
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…fŏu …否: 是否/能否 ... WHETHER... OR NOT (5)
是, 有and most monosyllabic modal verbs can be placed before 否 to form a choice type expression. For example, 是否 whether ... is... or not, 有否 whether... have... or no, 会 否 whether... will... or not, 应 否 whether... should... or not.
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这些 学生 |
能 否 毕业 |
取决 于他们的 学习成绩 |
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these students |
can or cannot graduate |
depends on their study results |
Whether these students can graduate or not depends on their academic results.
Write down the English translation of the following words and phrasers in the boxes below.
…fāng …方 SIDE. (5)
方 is placed after a monosyllabic word:
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西 |
方 |
The Western world.
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英 |
方 |
The British side.
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我 |
方 |
Our side.
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敌 |
方 |
The enemy side.
Reading tips
Which verbs are frequently used in direct and indirect speech? (5)
As you can see from the above article, apart from 说, there are also: 表示 to express, 强调 to emphasize and 指出 to point out. These verbs are often followed by a comma for indirect speech and a colon for direct speech.
zài 在clause (5)
The 在 clause is important. It can help you to find the main verbs, subjects and objects of sentences. The 在 clause often appears before adverbs, verbs and the attributive clause, (the 的 clause). The 在clause is often seen in the following forms: 在... 上, 里 or 下 (a clause for an event, place and situation) and 在...时 (a time clause). Let’s take out all the 在 clauses in the following sentences.
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... 在 这 里 |
再 次 强 调… |
The main verb is 强 调.
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... 在 今 天 的 记 者 招 待 会 上回 答 记 者 提 问 时 |
说... |
The main verb is 说.
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... 在 台湾 问 题 上 的 表 现 |
仅仅是一个方面… |
表 现 is the subject of the sentence.
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... 在人 权 问 题 上 |
发 表 了奇谈怪论... |
The main verb is 发 表.
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... 美国政府 |
应该制止右翼团体在台湾问题上的活 动。 |
活动 is the object of the sentence.