Grammar 8
Grammar of Unit 8
In this unit, we cover several important grammar points: the pronouns for animals and things, a new measure word, the nuance between the two ways of saying "a little," and the famous 了 of change of state.
The pronouns 大家, 它 and 它们
In Chinese, there is a specific pronoun to refer to animals and objects in the third person: 它 . Its plural is 它们 .
Summary of the third-person pronouns:
- 他 : he (for a man)
- 她 : she (for a woman)
- 它 : it (for an animal or an object)
Examples from the text:
我家有一只狗，还有两只猫。它们都不大。
My family has a dog and also two cats. They are not big.
Note
In speech, 他, 她 and 它 are all pronounced the same way: . The distinction exists only in writing.
大家 is a pronoun meaning "everyone." It is used to address a group or to speak about a group as a whole.
Example: 大家好！ Hello everyone!
The measure word 只
只 is the measure word for small animals (cats, dogs, birds, etc.).
Examples from the text:
我家有一只狗。 My family has a dog.
还有两只猫。 And also two cats.
WARNING: 只 has two pronunciations
只 is pronounced (1st tone) when used as a measure word.
But 只 is pronounced (3rd tone) when used as an adverb meaning "only."
Example: 我只有一个妹妹。 I have only one little sister.
一点儿 and 有点儿 : two ways to say "a little"
Both of these expressions mean "a little," but they are used differently.
1. 一点儿 : a little (after the verb)
一点儿 is placed after the verb. It indicates a small quantity, with no negative connotation.
Examples:
他们都会说一点儿中文。
They can all speak a little Chinese.
也会写一些汉字。
And also write a few Chinese characters.
2. 有点儿 : a little (before the verb)
有点儿 is placed before the verb (or the adjectival verb). It is an adverb. It often carries a negative connotation, of discomfort or awkwardness.
Example from the text:
我有点儿喜欢她。
I like it a little (it's a bit embarrassing…).
Do not confuse them!
一点儿 goes after the verb: 说一点儿中文 (to speak a little Chinese).
有点儿 goes before the verb: 有点儿喜欢 (to like a little).
One can remember that 有点儿 often carries a nuance of awkwardness or negativity, whereas 一点儿 is neutral.
The 了 final: change of state
The particle 了 , placed at the end of the sentence, indicates that a change of state has occurred: something is new, different from what was before. It is a modal particle.
Examples from the text:
我二十岁了。
I am (now) twenty years old. (= it's new, I have reached this age)
她九岁了。
She is (now) nine years old.
Comparison:
我二十岁。 I am twenty years old. (a plain statement, no nuance)
我二十岁了。 I am (now) twenty years old. (there it is, I have reached this age — it's new)
Note
This 了 is not a past-tense marker. It indicates a change of state, regardless of the time. For example, 我不学中文了。 means "I no longer study Chinese." (= change: before I studied, now I don't).
The use of the 了 modal is not always obvious for a beginner. However, it comes fairly naturally with practice. It is therefore important to learn key sentences by heart.
The expression 有的 : "some... others..."
有的 means "some." It expresses a distinction within a group: "some are X, others are Y."
Example from the text:
他们有的是英国人，有的是美国人。
Among them, some are English, others are American.
The expression 人很好 : "to be a good person"
In the sentence 我的爸爸妈妈人很好。 , the word 人 does not literally mean "a person," but describes the human character of someone. It's like saying in English: "My parents are good people."
The structure is:
和 in the sense of "with"
We saw in Unit 6 that 和 means "and" (a coordinating conjunction between two nouns). In this unit, 和 takes on another meaning: "with" (preposition).
Example from the text:
我喜欢和它们玩。
I like to play with them.
How to tell the two meanings apart? The context makes it clear:
爸爸和妈妈 — dad and mom (between two nouns = "and")
和它们玩 — play with them (before an object + verb = "with")