Lessons 16, 22: Time expressions and frequency adverbs

Time expressions as adverbials, and the position of frequency adverbs before the verb.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 16 · Hanyu 2 · Lesson 22

我不常看电视，也很少看电影。

Wǒ bù cháng kàn diànshì, yě hěn shǎo kàn diànyǐng.

I don't often watch TV, and I rarely watch movies either.

Explanation

In Chinese, a time expression usually comes before the verb or before the subject, and shows when the action takes place.

很少 in a sentence means 不常 (not often). 很少 can be used as an adverbial, but 很多 cannot.

From the textbook exercises: the adverbs 常, 总, 有时候, 也, 都, 只 and 非常 all come before the verb (or adjective) they modify, after the subject and any time expression.

Structure

1
Ssubjecttừ chỉ thời gianV (+ O) / Từ chỉ thời gianSsubjectVverbOobjectoptional
A time expression comes before the verb or before the subject.
- A：你晚上做什么？ B：我晚上做练习。
  A: Nǐ wǎnshang zuò shénme? B: Wǒ wǎnshang zuò liànxí.
  A: What do you do in the evening? B: In the evening I do my homework.
- A：下午你常去哪儿？ B：我常去图书馆。
  A: Xiàwǔ nǐ cháng qù nǎr? B: Wǒ cháng qù túshūguǎn.
  A: Where do you often go in the afternoon? B: I often go to the library.
- 晚上我复习课文预习生词。
  Wǎnshang wǒ fùxí kèwén yùxí shēngcí.
  In the evening I review the text and prepare the new words.
- 下午我跟玛丽一起去银行。
  Xiàwǔ wǒ gēn Mǎlì yìqǐ qù yínháng.
  In the afternoon I go to the bank with Mary.
2
很少VverbOobjectoptional
很少 means 不常 and can be used as an adverbial. 很多 cannot be used as an adverbial.
- 很少吃馒头
  hěn shǎo chī mántou
  rarely eat steamed buns
- 很少看电影
  hěn shǎo kàn diànyǐng
  rarely watch movies
- 很少看电视
  hěn shǎo kàn diànshì
  rarely watch TV
- 我不常看电视，也很少看电影。
  Wǒ bù cháng kàn diànshì, yě hěn shǎo kàn diànyǐng.
  I don't often watch TV, and I rarely watch movies either.
3
Ssubject常 / 总 / 有时候VverbOobjectoptional
A frequency adverb comes before the verb (after the subject); negative form: 不常.
- 我常上网查资料或者跟朋友聊天儿。
  Wǒ cháng shàngwǎng chá zīliào huòzhě gēn péngyou liáotiānr.
  I often go online to look up information or chat with friends.
- 她不常在图书馆看中文杂志。
  Tā bù cháng zài túshūguǎn kàn Zhōngwén zázhì.
  She doesn't often read Chinese magazines in the library.
- 我常看中国电影。
  Wǒ cháng kàn Zhōngguó diànyǐng.
  I often watch Chinese movies.
- 我不常喝啤酒
  Wǒ bù cháng hē píjiǔ
  I don't often drink beer.
- 上课的时候，老师常问我问题。
  Shàngkè de shíhou, lǎoshī cháng wèn wǒ wèntí.
  In class, the teacher often asks me questions.
4
总 + 在 + nơi chốn + V; 有时候……，有时候……
总: always; 有时候……，有时候……: sometimes…, sometimes….
- 我总上网跟朋友聊天。
  Wǒ zǒng shàngwǎng gēn péngyou liáotiān.
  I always go online to chat with friends.
- 星期六或者星期日我有时候在家看书或者看电影，有时候去朋友家玩儿，也有时候跟妈妈一起去买东西。
  Xīngqīliù huòzhě xīngqīrì wǒ yǒushíhou zài jiā kàn shū huòzhě kàn diànyǐng, yǒushíhou qù péngyou jiā wánr, yě yǒushíhou gēn māma yìqǐ qù mǎi dōngxi.
  On Saturday or Sunday, sometimes I stay home reading or watching movies, sometimes I go to a friend's house to hang out, and sometimes I go shopping with my mother.

Common mistakes

~~很多吃米饭~~
~~很多看电视~~
to say "rarely", use 很少

Practice

26 questions in 3 sets. One at a time, checked instantly, with explanations.

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