Lessons 2, 6, 8: Complex sentences: 不但……而且…… and 一……就……

Two structures for linking complex sentences: progression (not only… but also…) and sequence/condition (as soon as… / whenever…).

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他不但会说英语，而且还会法语。

Tā bùdàn huì shuō Yīngyǔ, érqiě hái huì Fǎyǔ.

He not only knows English but also French.

Explanation

不但……而且……

links a complex sentence of progression. When both clauses have the same subject, 不但 goes after the subject of the first clause; when the subjects differ, 不但 goes before the subject of the first clause.

一……就……

links a complex sentence and has two meanings. (A) The second action happens right after the first. (B) The first clause is a condition or cause, and the second clause is the result.

Structure

1
Ssubject不但V…，而且…
Same subject in both clauses: 不但 goes after the subject.
- 他不但会说英语，而且还会法语。
  Tā bùdàn huì shuō Yīngyǔ, érqiě hái huì Fǎyǔ.
  He not only knows English but also French.
- 她不但喜欢唱歌，而且唱得不错。
  Tā bùdàn xǐhuan chàng gē, érqiě chàng de bú cuò.
  She not only likes singing but also sings quite well.
2
不但S1…，而且S2…
Different subjects in the two clauses: 不但 goes before the subject of the first clause.
- 不但她会说汉语，而且她妹妹也会说汉语。
  Bùdàn tā huì shuō Hànyǔ, érqiě tā mèimei yě huì shuō Hànyǔ.
  Not only does she speak Chinese, but her younger sister does too.
3
一V1verb 1就V2 (động tác nối tiếp)
The second action happens right after the first.
- 今天我一下课就去看你。
  Jīntiān wǒ yí xiàkè jiù qù kàn nǐ.
  Today as soon as class is over, I'm going to visit a friend.
- 他一到中国就给我来了个电话。
  Tā yí dào Zhōngguó jiù gěi wǒ láile ge diànhuà.
  As soon as he arrived in China, he called me.
- 姐姐一毕业就参加工作了。
  Jiějie yí bìyè jiù cānjiā gōngzuò le.
  She started work as soon as she graduated.
- 一有来中国的旅游团，他就安排我陪团。
  Yì yǒu lái Zhōngguó de lǚyóutuán, tā jiù ānpái wǒ péi tuán.
  Whenever a tour group comes to China, he arranges for me to go along with the group.
4
一điều kiện/nguyên nhân就kết quả
The first clause is a condition or cause, and the second clause is the result.
- 中国人一听就知道你是老外。
  Zhōngguórén yì tīng jiù zhīdào nǐ shì lǎowài.
  As soon as Chinese people hear you, they know you're a foreigner.
- 我一感冒就咳嗽。
  Wǒ yí gǎnmào jiù késou.
  Whenever I catch a cold, I cough.
- 她一喝酒就脸红。
  Tā yì hē jiǔ jiù liǎn hóng.
  Whenever she drinks alcohol, her face turns red.
- 我汉语说得马马虎虎，中国人一听就知道我是老外。
  Wǒ Hànyǔ shuō de mǎmahūhū, Zhōngguórén yì tīng jiù zhīdào wǒ shì lǎowài.
  My Chinese is only so-so; as soon as Chinese people hear me, they know I'm a foreigner.
- 我高高的鼻子，黄黄的头发，中国人一看就知道我是老外。
  Wǒ gāogāo de bízi, huánghuáng de tóufa, Zhōngguórén yí kàn jiù zhīdào wǒ shì lǎowài.
  I have a tall nose and blond hair; as soon as Chinese people see me, they know I'm a foreigner.

Practice

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