Lesson 18: Order and simultaneity of actions: 一边……一边……; 先……再(又)……然后……最后……

Explanation

Structure

1. 1
   Ssubject+一边+V1，一边+V2verb 2

   Two or more actions carried out at the same time. The “一” in “一边” can be dropped (边 V1 边 V2); with monosyllabic verbs there is no pause in the middle when speaking.

   • 她一边说一边笑。

     Tā yìbiān shuō yìbiān xiào.

     She laughs as she talks.

   • 我喜欢一边听音乐，一边做练习。

     Wǒ xǐhuan yìbiān tīng yīnyuè, yìbiān zuò liànxí.

     I like to listen to music while doing my homework.

   • 边听边看，边想边写，边说边笑，边喝边聊

     biān tīng biān kàn, biān xiǎng biān xiě, biān shuō biān xiào, biān hē biān liáo

     listen and watch at the same time, think and write at the same time, talk and laugh at the same time, drink and chat at the same time

2. 2

   先 …… 再 / 又 …… 然后 …… 最后 ……

   Order of consecutive actions: 先 (first) …… 再/又 (then) …… 然后 (after that) …… 最后 (finally).

   • 我先复习生词，再做练习，然后读课文，最后预习课文。

     Wǒ xiān fùxí shēngcí, zài zuò liànxí, ránhòu dú kèwén, zuìhòu yùxí kèwén.

     I review the new words first, then do the exercises, then read the text, and finally prepare the new lesson.

   • 他先去西安，再去重庆，然后游览长江三峡，最后去香港。

     Tā xiān qù Xī’ān, zài qù Chóngqìng, ránhòu yóulǎn Chángjiāng Sānxiá, zuìhòu qù Xiānggǎng.

     He goes to Xi'an first, then to Chongqing, then visits the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, and finally goes to Hong Kong.

   • 你先填申请表，再去办护照，然后去大使馆办签证，最后再订机票。

     Nǐ xiān tián shēnqǐngbiǎo, zài qù bàn hùzhào, ránhòu qù dàshǐguǎn bàn qiānzhèng, zuìhòu zài dìng jīpiào.

     You fill out the application form first, then get a passport, then go to the embassy for a visa, and only finally book the plane ticket.