别 (bié) or 不要 (búyào) before a verb means "don't!" With 了 at the end, it means "stop": 别说了. 别 sounds slightly more conversational; 请不要 is polite.
(You) + 别 / 不要 + verb — don't do it!
别 / 不要 + verb + 了 — stop; don't do it now
请 + 不要 + verb — please don't (polite)
别走！ Bié zǒu! Don't leave!
不要说话！ Búyào shuōhuà! Don't talk!
别开门！ Bié kāi mén! Don't open the door!
V 不 V？
Yes–no questions: 去不去？ 是不是？
You can ask a yes–no question by repeating a verb or adjective with 不 in between: 你去不去？ — are you going? Do not add 吗 at the end. With 有, use 有没有.
Subject + verb + 不 + verb (+ object)？ — are you doing it or not?
Subject + adjective + 不 + adjective？ — is it like that or not?
Subject + 有 + 没有 + noun？ — do you have it or not?
……，是不是？ / 好不好？ — …, right? / …, okay?
你去不去？ Nǐ qù bu qù? Are you going?
你是不是老师？ Nǐ shì bu shì lǎoshī? Are you a teacher?
今天冷不冷？ Jīntiān lěng bu lěng? Is it cold today?
为什么 ……？
"Why?": 为什么
为什么 (wèishénme) means "why, what for." It usually comes after the subject and before the verb (你为什么不来？), or at the beginning of the sentence. Do not add 吗 to this question; answer with 因为.
为什么 + subject + …？ — why …? (asking about the whole situation)
为什么？ — 因为 …… — Why? — Because …
为什么？ Wèishénme? Why?
你为什么不来？ Nǐ wèishénme bù lái? Why aren't you coming?
你为什么学汉语？ Nǐ wèishénme xué Hànyǔ? Why are you learning Chinese?
多 + adj.？
"How…?": 多大, 多高, 多远
多 (duō) + adjective in a question means "how…?": 多大 — how old / how big, 多高 — how tall, 多远 — how far, 多长时间 — how long. 有 often comes before 多.
Subject + (有) + 多 + adjective？ — how …?
Subject + 多大 (了)？ — how old?
(要 / 了) + 多长时间？ — how long?
你今年多大？ Nǐ jīnnián duō dà? How old are you this year?
你的孩子多大了？ Nǐ de háizi duō dà le? How old is your child?
你有多高？ Nǐ yǒu duō gāo? How tall are you?
最 + adj. / verb
"Most", "the most": 最
最 (zuì) means "most" or "the most". It goes before an adjective or a verb expressing feelings: 最好 — best, 最喜欢 — like the most. 很 is not needed alongside 最.
Subject + 最 + adjective — the most …
Subject + 最 + 喜欢 / 想 + … — like / want the most
最 + adjective + 的 + noun — the most … (person or thing)
Group，A + 最 + adjective — of all of them, A is the most …
这个最好吃。 Zhège zuì hǎochī. This one is the tastiest.
哪个最便宜？ Nǎge zuì piányi? Which one is the cheapest?
我最喜欢吃饺子。 Wǒ zuì xǐhuan chī jiǎozi. I like eating dumplings the most.
A 跟 B 一起 + V
"Together with someone": 跟……一起
跟 (gēn) + person + 一起 (yìqǐ) + verb means "do something together with someone": 我跟朋友一起去. Without 一起: 跟他说 — talk to him. The whole phrase goes before the verb; 和 can replace 跟.
A + 跟 / 和 + B + 一起 + verb — A does something together with B
A + 跟 + B + 说 / 学 — A talks to B / learns from B
A + 不 + 跟 + B + 一起 + verb — A does not do something together with B
我跟朋友一起去。 Wǒ gēn péngyou yìqǐ qù. I'll go with a friend.
给 (gěi) + person + verb means "do something to / for someone": 给你打电话 — call you, 给妈妈做饭 — cook for Mom. The 给 phrase goes before the verb; negation goes before 给.
Subject + 给 + person + verb (+ object) — do something to / for someone
Subject + 不 / 没有 + 给 + person + verb — not do something to / for someone
给 + person + verb + 吧 — do something to / for someone (request)
妈妈给我做了饺子。 Māma gěi wǒ zuò le jiǎozi. Mom made dumplings for me.
她每天给孩子做饭。 Tā měi tiān gěi háizi zuòfàn. She cooks for the children every day.
A 对 B + 好 / 说
Attitude toward someone: 对 + person
对 (duì) means "to, toward". 老师对我们很好 — the teacher treats us well. 对……说 means "say to someone", 对身体好 means "good for your health". The 对 phrase goes before the adjective or verb.
A + 对 + B + 很好 / 不好 — A treats B well / badly
A + 对 + B + 说 …… — A speaks to B, addressing them directly
Something + 对 + 身体 + 好 / 不好 — good / bad for your health
老师对我们很好。 Lǎoshī duì wǒmen hěn hǎo. The teacher is very kind to us.
中国人对我很好。 Zhōngguó rén duì wǒ hěn hǎo. Chinese people treat me very well.
他对我不太好。 Tā duì wǒ bú tài hǎo. He doesn't treat me very well.
每 + measure word + noun + 都
"Every": 每……都
每 (měi) means "every." It needs a measure word after it (每个人, 每件衣服), but 天, 年, 次 do not need one: 每天. 都 almost always goes before the verb: 我每天都跑步.
每 + measure word + noun + 都 + verb / adjective — every … does / is
Subject + 每 + 天 / 年 / 次 / 周 + 都 + verb — every day / year / time
Subject + 每 + 天 + 几点 + verb？ — what time … every day?
我每天都学习汉语。 Wǒ měi tiān dōu xuéxí Hànyǔ. I study Chinese every day.
每个人都有手机。 Měi ge rén dōu yǒu shǒujī. Everyone has a phone.
每个菜都很好吃。 Měi ge cài dōu hěn hǎochī. Every dish is delicious.
V + 过
Past experience: "have done before" with 过
过 (guo) right after a verb means "have done at least once; have that experience": 我去过中国 — I have been to China. Negate it with 没有 + verb + 过, not 不.
Subject + verb + 过 + object — have done before; have the experience
Subject + 没有 + verb + 过 + object — have never done
Verb + 过 + object + 吗？ / 没有？ — have you ever done it?
我去过中国。 Wǒ qùguo Zhōngguó. I have been to China.
你吃过饺子吗？ Nǐ chīguo jiǎozi ma? Have you ever eaten jiaozi?
我没有吃过。 Wǒ méiyǒu chīguo. I have never tried them.
…… 了 (at the end)
Sentence-final 了: "things have changed"
了 at the very end of a sentence signals a change: "has become," "already," "no longer." 下雨了 — it has started raining; 我不去了 — I have changed my mind and am not going.
Subject + adjective / verb + 了 — it wasn't this way before, but now it is
Subject + 不 + verb + 了 — no longer / have changed my mind
Number / time + 了 — already this many (years, hours)
下雨了。 Xiàyǔ le. It has started raining.
天气冷了。 Tiānqì lěng le. It has gotten cold.
我累了。 Wǒ lèi le. I'm tired now.
已经 …… 了
"Already": 已经……了
已经 (yǐjīng) means "already." It goes after the subject and before the verb, usually with 了 at the end: 他已经走了 — he has already left. "Not yet" is 还没有.
你已经买票了吗？ Nǐ yǐjīng mǎi piào le ma? Have you bought a ticket already?
正在 / 正 / 在 + V + 呢
"Doing it right now": 正在……呢
正在 + verb + 呢 means "doing something at this very moment". Shorter forms are 正……呢, 在……呢, or simply verb + 呢. The negative is 没有在 + verb.
Subject + 正在 / 正 / 在 + verb + 呢 — is doing it right now
Subject + 没有 + 在 + verb — is not doing it now
……的时候，Subject + 正在 + verb — when…, I was doing it
妈妈正在做饭呢。 Māma zhèngzài zuòfàn ne. Mom is cooking right now.
你在做什么呢？ Nǐ zài zuò shénme ne? What are you doing now?
我在听呢。 Wǒ zài tīng ne. I'm listening!
快要 / 快 / 要 …… 了
"Soon, about to": 快要……了
快要……了, 快……了, and 要……了 mean "about to happen, happening soon"; 了 at the end is required. With a specific time (明天, 八点), use (就)要……了, not 快要.
Subject + 快要 + verb + 了 — is about to do it / happen
快 + number / adjective + 了 — will soon be (that amount, that way)
Time + 就 + 要 + verb + 了 — will happen as soon as (that time)
快要下雨了。 Kuàiyào xiàyǔ le. It's about to rain.
电影快要开始了。 Diànyǐng kuàiyào kāishǐ le. The movie will start soon.
快十二点了。 Kuài shí'èr diǎn le. It's almost twelve.
A 比 B + adj.
Comparisons: "A is …-er than B": 比
A 比 B + adjective means "A is …-er than B": 他比我高 — he is taller than me. Do not use 很 or 非常 in this pattern; for "even …-er", put 还 before the adjective.
A + 比 + B + adjective — A is …-er than B
A + 比 + B + 还 + adjective — A is even …-er than B
A + 比 + B + adjective + 吗？ — Is A …-er than B?
A + 不 + 比 + B + adjective — A is not …-er than B (roughly the same)
哥哥比我高。 Gēge bǐ wǒ gāo. My older brother is taller than me.
今天比昨天冷。 Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng. Today is colder than yesterday.
这件衣服比那件漂亮。 Zhè jiàn yīfu bǐ nà jiàn piàoliang. This item of clothing is prettier than that one.
从 A 到 B
"From… to…", "from…": 从……到……
从 (cóng) A 到 (dào) B means "from A to B", for both time and place: 从八点到五点, 从家到公司. The whole phrase goes before the verb. 从 + place + 来 means "come from…".
Subject + 从 + time + 到 + time + verb — do something from … to …
从 + place + 到 + place + verb / adjective — from … to … (travel, be close)
Subject + 从 + place + 来 / 回来 — come / return from …
从 + time + 开始 — starting from …
我从八点到五点工作。 Wǒ cóng bā diǎn dào wǔ diǎn gōngzuò. I work from eight to five.
我们从星期一到星期五上课。 Wǒmen cóng xīngqīyī dào xīngqīwǔ shàngkè. We have classes from Monday to Friday.
从我家到公司很近。 Cóng wǒ jiā dào gōngsī hěn jìn. It is not far from my home to work.
A 离 B + 近 / 远
Distance: A 离 B 很近 / 很远
离 (lí) expresses distance: A 离 B 很近 — A is close to B, 我家离公司很远 — my home is far from work. For time: 离考试还有三天 — there are still three days until the exam.
A + 离 + B + 很近 / 很远 / 不远 — A is close to / far from B
A + 离 + B + 远吗？ / 多远？ — is A far from B?
离 + event + 还有 + time remaining — there is still … until the event
我家离公司很近。 Wǒ jiā lí gōngsī hěn jìn. My home is close to work.
学校离这里不远。 Xuéxiào lí zhèlǐ bù yuǎn. The school is not far from here.
机场离这里远吗？ Jīchǎng lí zhèlǐ yuǎn ma? Is the airport far from here?
往 + direction + V
"Towards…": 往前走, 往左看
往 (wǎng) + direction + verb means "move towards…": 往前走 — go straight ahead, 往右边看 — look right. Use this pattern to give directions. A verb after the direction is required.
往 + 前 / 后 / 左 / 右 / 上 / 下 + verb — move in this direction
往 + 左边 / 右边 / 里面 / 外面 + verb — the same pattern with location words
往 + place + verb — move towards a place
往前走。 Wǎng qián zǒu. Go straight ahead.
往左走，就是车站。 Wǎng zuǒ zǒu, jiù shì chēzhàn. Go left, and you will find the station.
往右走十分钟就到了。 Wǎng yòu zǒu shí fēnzhōng jiù dào le. Walk to the right for ten minutes, and you will be there.
第 + number + measure word
Ordinal numbers: 第一, 第二…
第 (dì) + number forms an ordinal: 第一 — first, 第二天 — on the second day. Before a noun, use a measure word: 第一个人, 第二本书; with 天, 年, 次, no extra measure word is needed.
第 + number + measure word + noun — first / second … (person or thing)
第 + number + 天 / 次 / 课 — on the first day / for the first time, lesson number …
第 + 几 + measure word？ — which one in order?
他是第一。 Tā shì dì yī. He came first (took first place).
我是第一次来中国。 Wǒ shì dì yī cì lái Zhōngguó. This is my first time in China.
你是第几次来这里？ Nǐ shì dì jǐ cì lái zhèlǐ? How many times have you been here now?
V + 数 + 次
How many times: 次
次 (cì) means "time" (an occurrence). The number of times goes after the verb (and after 了 or 过): 我去过两次 — I have been there twice. "For the first time" is 第一次; "next time" is 下次.
Subject + verb + (了 / 过) + number + 次 (+ object) — did something N times
Subject + verb + 几 + 次？ — how many times?
第一次 / 下次 / 上次 / 每次 + verb — for the first time / next time / last time / every time
我去过两次。 Wǒ qùguo liǎng cì. I have been there twice.
这个电影我看了三次。 Zhège diànyǐng wǒ kàn le sān cì. I have watched this film three times.
请你再说一次。 Qǐng nǐ zài shuō yí cì. Please say it again.
可能 + V
"Maybe, possibly": 可能
可能 (kěnéng) means "maybe, probably." It goes before the verb or at the start of the sentence: 他可能不来了 — he probably won't come. 不可能 means "it can't be, impossible."
Subject + 可能 + verb / adjective — probably …
可能 + subject + verb — maybe …
Subject + 可能 + 不 / 没有 + verb — probably not …
不可能 — it can't be; impossible
明天可能下雨。 Míngtiān kěnéng xiàyǔ. It may rain tomorrow.
他可能不来了。 Tā kěnéng bù lái le. He probably won't come.
可能他病了。 Kěnéng tā bìng le. Maybe he is ill.
这么 / 那么 + adj.
"So, to this/that extent": 这么 and 那么
这么 (zhème) / 那么 (nàme) + adjective means "so, to this/that extent": 这么贵！ — so expensive! 这么 refers to something here and now; 那么 to something distant or previously mentioned. "Do it this way" is 这样 + verb.
这么 / 那么 + adjective — so; to this/that extent
Subject + 怎么 / 为什么 + 这么 + adjective？ — why is it so … (here)?
这么 / 那么 + 多 + noun — so much; so many
这样 / 那样 + verb; 这样的 + noun — do it this/that way; this kind of (person, thing)
这么贵！ Zhème guì! So expensive!
今天怎么这么冷？ Jīntiān zěnme zhème lěng? Why is it so cold today?
你的汉语说得这么好！ Nǐ de Hànyǔ shuō de zhème hǎo! You speak Chinese so well!
…… 就 + V
"Already, right away, exactly": 就
就 (jiù) before a verb means "already, as early as, right away": 他七点就来了 — he arrived as early as seven (earlier than expected). It also means "exactly, precisely": 这就是我的家 — this is my home.
Subject + time + 就 + verb + 了 — already (earlier than expected)
A，(subject) + 就 + verb — immediately after A …
…… + 就 + 是 + …… — exactly this; precisely
他七点就来了。 Tā qī diǎn jiù lái le. He arrived as early as seven.
我六点就起床了。 Wǒ liù diǎn jiù qǐchuáng le. I got up as early as six.
她三岁就会游泳了。 Tā sān suì jiù huì yóuyǒng le. She could already swim at the age of three.
再 + V
"Again, then": 再
再 (zài) before a verb means "once more, again" for a future action: 我想再看一次; it also means "then, after that": 吃了饭再走. 再 is not used for a repetition that has already happened.
再 + verb (+ 一次 / 一下) — once more (in the future)
A + 了 + 再 + B — first A, then B
不 / 别 + 再 + verb + 了 — no longer …
再 + adjective + 一点儿 — a little more …
你能再说一下吗？ Nǐ néng zài shuō yíxià ma? Could you say that again?
明天再来吧。 Míngtiān zài lái ba. Come again tomorrow.
我想再吃一个包子。 Wǒ xiǎng zài chī yí ge bāozi. I want to eat one more baozi bun.
因为 ……，所以 ……
Cause and effect: 因为……所以……
因为 (yīnwèi) means "because, since"; 所以 (suǒyǐ) means "so, therefore". Chinese often uses them as a pair: 因为下雨，所以我不去了. You can also use just one; the reason usually comes first.
因为 + reason，所以 + result — because…, so…
Reason，所以 + result — …, so…
Result，因为 + reason — …, because…
因为下雨，所以我不去了。 Yīnwèi xiàyǔ, suǒyǐ wǒ bú qù le. Because it's raining, I'm not going.
因为我病了，所以没有去上课。 Yīnwèi wǒ bìng le, suǒyǐ méiyǒu qù shàngkè. I was ill, so I didn't go to class.
我不买了，因为太贵了。 Wǒ bù mǎi le, yīnwèi tài guì le. I'm not buying it because it's too expensive.
虽然 ……，但是 ……
"Although…, but…": 虽然……但是……
虽然 (suīrán) …, 但是 (dànshì) … means "although…, but…". Unlike English, Chinese needs "but" in the second clause: 虽然很贵，但是很好吃. You can use the shorter 但 instead of 但是.
虽然 + A，但是 / 但 + B — although A, (but) B
Subject + 虽然 + A，但是 + B — although he is A, he is B
A，但是 + B — A, but B
虽然很贵，但是很好吃。 Suīrán hěn guì, dànshì hěn hǎochī. Although it's expensive, it's very delicious.
这件衣服虽然便宜，但是很漂亮。 Zhè jiàn yīfu suīrán piányi, dànshì hěn piàoliang. Although this piece of clothing is cheap, it's very pretty.
他虽然很忙，但是每天都运动。 Tā suīrán hěn máng, dànshì měi tiān dōu yùndòng. Although he's very busy, he exercises every day.
V + 得 + evaluation
How an action is done: 说得很好
Verb + 得 + evaluation describes how an action is done: 他说得很好 — he speaks very well. If there is an object, repeat the verb (说汉语说得很好) or put the object first (汉语说得很好).
Subject + verb + 得 + (很) + adjective — does it well / quickly…
Subject + verb + 得 + 不 + adjective — does not do it well / quickly…
Subject + (verb) + object + verb + 得 + adjective — the same with an object
Subject + verb + 得 + 怎么样？ — how does he do it?
他说得很好。 Tā shuō de hěn hǎo. He speaks well.
你跑得真快！ Nǐ pǎo de zhēn kuài! You run so fast!
我写得不好。 Wǒ xiě de bù hǎo. I don't write well.
VV / V一V
Verb reduplication: 看看, 听一听
Repeating a verb (看看, 听一听, 休息休息) softens the action: "a little, briefly, give it a try". Repeat a two-syllable verb in full: 休息休息. In the past: 看了看.
Verb + verb — a little, give it a try: 看看
One-syllable verb + 一 + verb — the same meaning: 听一听
你想想，我是谁？ Nǐ xiǎngxiang, wǒ shì shéi? Have a think: who am I?
你问问老师吧。 Nǐ wènwen lǎoshī ba. Try asking the teacher.
V + 见 / 懂 / 完 / 错 / 到 / 好 / 会
Results of actions: 看见, 听懂, 做完
A verb is often followed by a second word showing the result: 看 "look" → 看见 "see", 听懂 "understand what you hear", 吃完 "finish eating". Negative: 没有 + verb + result.
Verb + result (+ object) + 了 — did it and achieved the result
没有 + verb + result — the result was not achieved
Verb + result + 了 + 吗？ — was the result achieved?
你看见我的手机了吗？ Nǐ kànjiàn wǒ de shǒujī le ma? Have you seen my phone?
我听见有人在说话。 Wǒ tīngjiàn yǒu rén zài shuōhuà. I can hear someone talking.
我听懂了。 Wǒ tīngdǒng le. I understood (what you said).
V + 来 / 去
Direction of movement: 进来, 出去, 回来
来 after a movement verb means "here, toward the speaker"; 去 means "there, away from the speaker": 进来 — come in, 出去 — go out. Put the place before 来/去: 进房间来.
进 / 出 / 上 / 下 / 回 / 过 + 来 — movement here, toward the speaker
进 / 出 / 上 / 下 / 回 / 过 + 去 — movement there, away from the speaker
Verb + place + 来 / 去 — with a place: 进房间来, 上楼去
请进来！ Qǐng jìnlai! Please come in!
老师，我可以进去吗？ Lǎoshī, wǒ kěyǐ jìnqu ma? Teacher, may I come in?
他不在，他出去了。 Tā bú zài, tā chūqu le. He's not here; he's gone out.
是 …… 的
Emphasizing "when, where, how": 是……的
是……的 highlights a detail of something that has already happened: when, where, how, or with whom. 我是昨天来的 — I arrived (specifically) yesterday. 是 can be omitted, but 的 cannot. The negative is 不是……的.
Subject + 是 + when / where / how / with whom + verb + 的 — highlighting a detail
Subject + 不是 + detail + verb + 的 — not then / not that way
Subject + 是 + 什么时候 / 怎么 / 在哪里 + verb + 的？ — when / how / where did it happen?
我是昨天来的。 Wǒ shì zuótiān lái de. I arrived yesterday.
你是什么时候来的？ Nǐ shì shénme shíhou lái de? When did you arrive?
你是怎么来的？ Nǐ shì zěnme lái de? How did you get here?
AA + 的 / AA + verb
"Really tall": adjective reduplication 高高的, 慢慢走
A one-syllable adjective can be doubled: 高高的 — "really tall," 大大的 — "really big." Before a noun and at the end of a sentence, use 的; before a verb, it means doing something thoroughly: 慢慢走. Don't use 很 or 不 with reduplication.
who / what + AA + 的 — very much so (vivid description)
AA + 的 + noun — a vividly described thing
AA (+ 地) + verb — do something thoroughly, without rushing
他个子高高的。 Tā gèzi gāogāo de. He's really tall.
她的眼睛大大的，很漂亮。 Tā de yǎnjing dàdà de, hěn piàoliang. Her eyes are really big and very beautiful.
这个包子大大的，很好吃。 Zhège bāozi dàdà de, hěn hǎochī. This steamed bun is really big and very tasty.
都 + time / age + 了
"It's already eight!": 都……了
都 (dōu) …… 了 means "already!" with feeling: 都八点了 — it's already eight (it's late!), 你都十岁了 — you're already ten. 都 goes before the time, age, or verb, and 了 goes at the end. 都几点了？ — "Do you know what time it is?!"
都 + time + 了 — it's already this late!
who + 都 + age / 是 + who + 了 — already so grown-up
who + 都 + verb + 了 + how long + 了 — have already been doing it for so long
都 几 点 了？ — do you know what time it is?! (reproach)
都八点了，快起床！ Dōu bā diǎn le, kuài qǐchuáng! It's already eight. Hurry up and get out of bed!
都十二点了，你怎么还不睡觉？ Dōu shí'èr diǎn le, nǐ zěnme hái bú shuìjiào? It's already twelve. Why aren't you asleep yet?
都几点了？我们快走吧！ Dōu jǐ diǎn le? Wǒmen kuài zǒu ba! Do you know what time it is? Let's hurry!
Who / what + part + adjective
"He's in good health": 他身体很好
In Chinese, "I have a headache" is 我头疼: first say who you're talking about, then which part, then describe it. Use this pattern for health, height, weather, and work: 他身体很好, 这儿天气很热. No 的 or 是 is needed.
Person + 身体 / 个子 / 工作 + (很) + adj. — someone's health / height / work is like this
Person + 头 / 眼睛 + 疼 — someone's head / eyes hurt
Place / time + 天气 + adj. — the weather somewhere is like this
Person + part + 怎么样？ — how is someone's …?
他身体很好。 Tā shēntǐ hěn hǎo. He is in good health.
这儿天气很热。 Zhèr tiānqì hěn rè. It is hot here.
我头疼。 Wǒ tóu téng. I have a headache.
A + V + 得 + 比 B + adj. / A 比 B + V + 得 + adj.
"Runs faster than me": 他跑得比我快
Compare how people do something: 他跑得比我快 or 他比我跑得快 — "he runs faster than me." Put 比 B either after 得 or before the verb; the adjective goes at the very end, without 很.
A + verb + 得 + 比 B + adj. — A does something more … than B
A + 比 B + verb + 得 + adj. — the same meaning
A + verb + object + verb + 得 + 比 B + adj. — with an object: 说汉语说得比我好
他跑得比我快。 Tā pǎo de bǐ wǒ kuài. He runs faster than me.
他比我跑得快。 Tā bǐ wǒ pǎo de kuài. He runs faster than me.
她说汉语说得比我好。 Tā shuō Hànyǔ shuō de bǐ wǒ hǎo. She speaks Chinese better than me.
A 叫 / 让 + person + V
"Mom told me to…": 叫 / 让 + person + verb
叫 (jiào) or 让 (ràng) + person + action means "tell someone to do something": 妈妈叫我回家 — Mom is telling me to come home. 让 also means "allow": 让我看看 — let me see. Negation goes before 叫 / 让.
A + 叫 / 让 + B + verb — A tells B to do something
A + 不 / 没 + 让 + B + verb — A does not allow / did not tell B to
让 + 我 + verb — let me…, allow me to…
妈妈叫我回家吃饭。 Māma jiào wǒ huí jiā chī fàn. Mom is calling me home to eat.
妈妈叫你去买水果。 Māma jiào nǐ qù mǎi shuǐguǒ. Mom is asking you to go buy some fruit.
老师叫你过去一下。 Lǎoshī jiào nǐ guòqu yíxià. The teacher is asking you to come over for a moment.
给 (gěi) means "give": first the recipient, then the thing — 给他一个苹果. After the verbs 送, 卖, 拿, 给 shows who receives the item: 送给他一本书 — give him a book as a gift. You cannot put the thing before the recipient here.
A + 给 + recipient + thing — give someone something
A + 送 / 卖 / 拿 + 给 + recipient + thing — give as a gift / sell / hand something to someone
thing + 是 + person + 送给 + recipient + 的 — someone gave this to someone as a gift
他给我一个苹果。 Tā gěi wǒ yí ge píngguǒ. He gave me an apple.
请给我一个杯子。 Qǐng gěi wǒ yí ge bēizi. Please give me a glass.
妈妈给了我一些钱。 Māma gěi le wǒ yìxiē qián. Mom gave me some money.
几 + measure word ； number + 多 + measure word
"Several" and "over": 几个, 十几个, 二十多岁
几 (jǐ) outside a question means "several": 我有几个中国朋友. 十几 means "over ten", 几十 means "several dozen". 多 after a round number means "over": 二十多岁, 一百多块; after 一个: 一个多小时.
几 + measure word + noun — several (fewer than ten)
十几 / 几十 + measure word — over ten / several dozen
10, 20, 100… + 多 + measure word — over: 二十多岁
一 + measure word + 多 + noun — a little over one: 一个多小时
我有几个中国朋友。 Wǒ yǒu jǐ ge Zhōngguó péngyou. I have a few Chinese friends.
我想买几个苹果。 Wǒ xiǎng mǎi jǐ ge píngguǒ. I want to buy a few apples.
桌子上有几本书。 Zhuōzi shang yǒu jǐ běn shū. There are a few books on the table.
subject + 自己 + V ； 自己 的 + noun
"On one's own", "oneself", "one's own": 自己
自己 (zìjǐ) means "on one's own, oneself, one's own": 我自己去 — I'll go on my own, 他自己的房间 — his own room. For "do it oneself", put 自己 before the verb; for "one's own", use 自己的.
subject + 自己 + verb — do something oneself
(subject +) 自己 + 的 + noun — one's own
verb + 自己 — oneself
我自己去。 Wǒ zìjǐ qù. I'll go on my own.
你自己做吧。 Nǐ zìjǐ zuò ba. Do it yourself.
这是他自己做的菜。 Zhè shì tā zìjǐ zuò de cài. He cooked this dish himself.
有时 / 经常 + verb
"Sometimes" and "often": 有时, 经常
经常 (jīngcháng) means "often", 有时 (yǒushí) means "sometimes". Both go before the verb (有时 can also start a sentence). 有时 A，有时 B means "sometimes A, sometimes B". "Not often" is 不经常.
subject + 经常 + verb — often does something
subject + 不 + 经常 + verb — does not often do something
subject + 有时 + verb / (有时 + subject + verb) — sometimes does something
有时 A，有时 B — sometimes A, sometimes B
我经常去那家饭馆吃饭。 Wǒ jīngcháng qù nà jiā fànguǎn chī fàn. I often go to that restaurant to eat.
他经常给我打电话。 Tā jīngcháng gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà. He often calls me.
我们经常一起打篮球。 Wǒmen jīngcháng yìqǐ dǎ lánqiú. We often play basketball together.
那 + … ； … + 啊
"Then…" and added feeling: 那 and the particle 啊
那 (nà) at the start of a reply means "then, in that case": 那我们走吧. 啊 (a) at the end of a sentence adds feeling: 真大啊！, 好啊！, 快来啊！ Do not put the question particle 吗 before 啊.
(hear something) → 那 + (subject) + decision — then, in that case
真 + adj. + 啊！ — how …!
好 啊 / 是 啊 — sure! / yes, indeed
request / question + 啊 — softer, more expressive
那我们走吧。 Nà wǒmen zǒu ba. Then let's go.
你不去？那我也不去了。 Nǐ bú qù? Nà wǒ yě bú qù le. You're not going? Then I won't go either.
下雨了？那我们坐出租车吧。 Xiàyǔ le? Nà wǒmen zuò chūzūchē ba. It's started raining? Then let's take a taxi.
多 + adj. + 啊！ ； 好 + adj. (+ 啊)！
"How beautiful!": 多漂亮啊！, 好冷啊！
In exclamations, 多 + adjective + 啊 means "how …!": 多好啊！ 好 + adjective means "so …, very": 好冷啊！, 好大！ Unlike 多高？, this is not a question: it ends with 啊 and an exclamation mark; do not add 很 or 吗.
(sb / sth +) 多 + adj. + 啊！ — how …!
(sb / sth +) 好 + adj. (+ 啊)！ — so …! very …!
…，多好啊！ — that would be wonderful!
这儿多漂亮啊！ Zhèr duō piàoliang a! How beautiful it is here!
今天天气多好啊！ Jīntiān tiānqì duō hǎo a! What wonderful weather today!
能跟你一起去，多好啊！ Néng gēn nǐ yìqǐ qù, duō hǎo a! How wonderful it would be to go with you!