Chinese: A Comprehensive Grammar

by Yip; Po-Ching

• ISBN13: 9780415150323
• ISBN10: 0415150329
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2003-12-22
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Chinese: A Comprehensive Grammar is a complete reference guide to Chinese grammar.It presents a fresh and accessible description of the language, concentrating on the real patterns of use in modern Chinese. The Grammar is an essential reference source for the learner and user of Chinese, irrespective of level. It is ideal for use in schools, colleges, universities and adult classes of all types and will remain the standard reference work for years to come.The volume is organized to promote a thorough understanding of Chinese grammar. It offers a stimulating analysis of the complexities of the language, and provides full and clear explanations. Throughout, the emphasis is on Chinese as used by present-day native speakers.An extensive index and numbered paragraphs provide readers with easy access to the information they require.Features include:* thorough and comprehensive coverage of the modern language* use of script and romanisation throughout* detailed treatment of common grammatical structures and parts of speech* extensive and wide-ranging use of examples* particular attention to areas of confusion and difficulty

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	xiv
List of Abbreviations	xv
Introduction	xvi
Nouns and Nominalisations	1	(16)
Nouns and categorisation	1	(6)
Common nouns	1	(2)
Material nouns	3	(1)
Collective nouns	4	(1)
Abstract nouns	5	(1)
Proper nouns	5	(1)
Temporal and spatial nouns	6	(1)
Nouns and reference	7	(2)
Definite or indefinite/generic reference	7	(2)
Exclusive reference	9	(1)
Nouns and plurality	9	(2)
Nouns and syntactic functions	11	(2)
Nouns and semantic fields	13	(3)
Nominalisations	16	(1)
Numerals and Measures	17	(30)
Digits, units and cardinal numbers	17	(2)
Ordinals	19	(1)
Enumeration	20	(1)
Fractions, percentages and decimals	20	(2)
Fractions	20	(1)
Percentages	21	(1)
Decimals	21	(1)
Imprecise numbers, halves and multiples	22	(4)
Imprecise numbers (yueshu)	22	(3)
Halves	25	(1)
Multiples	25	(1)
Mathematical symbols and simple arithmetic equations	26	(1)
The multiplication table	26	(1)
Measure words	27	(14)
Standard measures	27	(5)
Classifying measures	32	(9)
Measure words and other attributives	41	(2)
Reduplication of measure words	43	(1)
Missing measure words	44	(2)
Disyllabic measure words	46	(1)
Compound measure worlds	46	(1)
Duration and frequency measures	46	(1)
Pronouns, Pronominals and Pro-words	47	(11)
Personal pronouns	47	(1)
Demonstrative pronouns	48	(2)
Interrogative pronouns	50	(2)
Indefinite pronouns	52	(2)
Enumerative pronouns	54	(1)
Pronominals	54	(2)
Pro-words	56	(2)
Adjectives as Attributives and Predicatives	58	(18)
Adjectives in Chinese	58	(1)
Qualifiers or quantifiers	59	(1)
Degree adverbs and complements	60	(2)
The descriptive indicator de	62	(3)
Attributives and predicatives	65	(4)
Adjectives and their functional capacity	65	(2)
Attributive-only adjectives	67	(1)
Predicative-only adjectives	68	(1)
Various inherent features of adjectives	69	(4)
Gradable vs non-gradable	69	(1)
Conditional vs unconditional	70	(1)
Derivable vs non-derivable	70	(1)
Reduplicable vs non-reduplicable	71	(1)
Derogatory vs commendatory	72	(1)
Adjectives and valency	73	(1)
Adjectives and collocation	73	(1)
Adjectives and comparison	74	(2)
Attributives other than Adjectives	76	(12)
The different forms of attributive	77	(4)
Nouns	77	(1)
Verbs	78	(1)
Clauses	78	(1)
Prepositional or postpositional phrases with de	78	(1)
Numerals or demonstratives and measure words	79	(1)
Pronouns	80	(1)
Idioms	80	(1)
The sequencing of attributives	81	(4)
Combination, embedding and delaying	85	(3)
Commas or conjunctions	85	(1)
Longer attributives	86	(2)
Action Verbs	88	(24)
Transitive and intransitive	89	(2)
Dynamic and static differences	91	(1)
Dative verbs	91	(4)
Causative verbs	95	(3)
Coverbs	98	(1)
Agreement between the subject and its action verb predicate	99	(2)
Agreement between an action verb and its object	101	(1)
Action verbs: completion and continuation	102	(5)
The completion aspect	102	(3)
The continuation aspect	105	(2)
Action verbs: manner described and experience explained	107	(5)
Manner of existence with zhe	107	(1)
Persistent posture or continuous movement with zhe	108	(1)
Accompanying manner with zhe	108	(1)
Experience and guo	109	(3)
Action Verbs and Time	112	(12)
Point of time	112	(1)
Duration	113	(3)
Brief duration	116	(2)
Frequency	118	(2)
mei `every'	120	(1)
Other time expressions	120	(1)
Negation and time reference	121	(3)
Negative expository sentences	121	(1)
Negative narrative sentences	122	(1)
Negative descriptive sentences	123	(1)
Action Verbs and Locations	124	(14)
Location expressions and position indicators	124	(2)
zai with location expressions	126	(1)
Location expressions as sentence terminators	127	(2)
Location expressions as sentence beginners	129	(2)
Direction indicators	131	(5)
Simple direction indicators lai `to come' and qu `to go'	131	(1)
Disyllabic direction indicators	132	(2)
Direction indicators indicating meaning other than direction	134	(2)
The destination indicator dao `to arrive'	136	(2)
Adverbials	138	(12)
Restrictive adverbials	138	(5)
Time expressions	138	(3)
Monosyllabic referential adverbs	141	(2)
Descriptive adverbials	143	(2)
Initiator-orientated or action-oriented descriptive adverbials	145	(2)
Omission of the descriptive marker de	147	(1)
Relative position of adverbials	148	(2)
Complements	150	(9)
Resultative complements	150	(3)
Adjectival resultative complements	150	(1)
Verbal resultative complements	151	(1)
Resultative complements in ba, bei and notional passive constructions	152	(1)
Resultative complements and intended/expected outcomes in imperative sentences	153	(1)
Potential complements	153	(2)
Adjectival potential complements	153	(1)
Verbal potential complements	154	(1)
Potential directional complements	154	(1)
Figurative uses and other features of resultative complements	155	(1)
Complements of manner and consequential state	155	(4)
Coverbs	159	(41)
Peer characteristics	160	(3)
Registral	160	(1)
Collocational	160	(1)
Governmental	161	(1)
Prosodic	162	(1)
Sequential	162	(1)
Usage	163	(1)
Semantic categories	163	(33)
Direction and position	164	(10)
Time	174	(6)
With, for or by someone or something	180	(3)
Instrument and vehicle	183	(2)
By means of, in accordance with, etc.	185	(8)
Grammatical operators	193	(3)
Coverbal positions	196	(4)
ba Constructions	200	(9)
The structural features of ba construction	200	(5)
Definite-referenced object	201	(1)
The elements after the main verb	201	(3)
The main verb in a ba construction	204	(1)
Intentionality in a ba construction	205	(1)
ba construction and imperatives	206	(1)
A particular feature of ba construction in evaluative sentences	207	(1)
ba versus jiang	208	(1)
The Passive Voice and bei Constructions	209	(17)
Three forms of passive	209	(1)
The notional passive	210	(7)
The formal passive	217	(4)
Salient features	217	(1)
Basic characteristics	218	(2)
Imperatives	220	(1)
Whole-part relationships	220	(1)
A classical variant	221	(1)
The lexical passive	221	(5)
Chain Constructions	226	(17)
The first verb introducing a coverbal phrase that indicates location, etc.	226	(1)
The second verb indicating purpose	227	(5)
The first verb indicating reason or cause	232	(2)
The first verb expressing accompanying manner or circumstances	234	(2)
Consecutive actions	236	(4)
Simultaneous actions	240	(1)
An emphatic chain construction	240	(1)
An articulated chain construction	241	(2)
The Verb shi	243	(15)
shi introducing a predicative	243	(4)
Predicatives with an optional shi	247	(1)
shi indicating existence	248	(2)
shi expressing emphasis	250	(5)
shi assessing an overall situation	255	(1)
shi forming part of a connector	256	(1)
shi as a pivot	257	(1)
The Verb you	258	(11)
you indicating possession	258	(1)
you indicating existence	259	(2)
you introducing subjects and time or location expressions of indefinite reference	261	(2)
you specifying degree or extent	263	(1)
you introducing comparison	264	(1)
you as an adjectival formative	264	(1)
you expressing ideas of development and change	265	(1)
you introducing a conditional clause	265	(1)
mei(you) as negator of action verbs	266	(1)
Negator of past action/experience	266	(1)
Affirmative--negative questions and past action/experience	266	(1)
Another form of the question	267	(1)
you to indicate `part of'	267	(1)
you as the first verb in a sequence	268	(1)
Verbs that Take Verbal or Clausal Objects	269	(9)
Intention and aspiration	270	(3)
Positive intentions and aspirations	270	(1)
Negative intentions	271	(1)
Uncertain aspirations	272	(1)
Group intentions	272	(1)
Voiced intentions	272	(1)
Intentions put into practice	273	(1)
Frustration and compulsion	273	(1)
Attitudes	273	(1)
Knowing and thinking	274	(1)
Appearance and value	275	(1)
Dummy verbs	276	(2)
Modal Verbs	278	(12)
Semantic categories of modal verbs	278	(8)
Permission	278	(1)
Possibility	279	(1)
Probability	280	(1)
Ability or skill	281	(1)
Obligation	282	(1)
Wishing	283	(2)
Willingness	285	(1)
Necessity	285	(1)
Boldness	286	(1)
Speaker perspective of modal verbs	286	(1)
Negation of modal verbs	287	(1)
Grammatical orientation of modal verbs	288	(2)
Telescopic Constructions	290	(6)
Topic and sub-topic	290	(2)
Topic and subject	292	(2)
`Subject + predicate' as topic	294	(1)
`(Subject) + predicate' inserted between `topic' and `comment'	294	(2)
Narration, Description, Exposition and Evaluation	296	(19)
Narrative sentences	297	(6)
Descriptive sentences	303	(3)
Expository sentences	306	(4)
Topic-comment expository sentences	306	(2)
Subject-predicate expository sentences	308	(1)
Negation of expository sentences	309	(1)
Evaluative sentences	310	(1)
The modal verb evaluative	310	(1)
The modified adjective/complement evaluative	311	(1)
Comparisons between sentence types	311	(3)
Concluding remarks	314	(1)
le-Expository Sentences	315	(13)
Change or reversal of a previous situation	316	(3)
Subjective endorsement behind the objective explanation	319	(1)
Summing up after a series of actions	320	(1)
A rhythmic necessity for monosyllabic verbs or verbalised adjectives	321	(2)
Two or three functions in one	323	(1)
le-expository sentences and the four basic sentence types	323	(5)
Expository sentences	324	(1)
Narrative sentences	324	(1)
Descriptive sentences	325	(1)
Evaluative sentences	326	(2)
Conjunctions and Conjunctives	328	(19)
Conjunctions that link words or phrases	328	(2)
The four conjunctions	328	(1)
er `also'	329	(1)
bing `also'	330	(1)
Clausal conjunctions and conjunctives	330	(1)
Clausal conjunctions and conjunctives in semantic categories	331	(13)
Giving reasons: because, because of, therefore	331	(2)
Making inferences: since	333	(1)
Expressing supposition: if	334	(2)
Stating conditions: only if, only when	336	(1)
Offering concessions: though, although, yet	337	(2)
Defying setbacks: no matter	339	(1)
Clarifying time: when, as soon as, after, before, etc.	340	(2)
Indicating preference: would rather	342	(1)
Elucidating one's purpose: in order to, so as to, so as not to	343	(1)
Encoding miscellaneous relational concepts: apart from, let alone, otherwise	344	(1)
Correlations and parallels	344	(1)
Zero connectives	345	(2)
Interrogative Sentences	347	(12)
Yes-no questions	347	(2)
Surmise questions	349	(1)
Suggestions in the form of questions	350	(1)
Alternative questions	350	(1)
Affirmative-negative questions	351	(1)
Question-word questions	352	(4)
Follow-up queries with ne	356	(1)
Rhetorical questions	356	(1)
Exclamatory questions	357	(2)
Imperatives and Exclamations	359	(14)
Verbs in imperatives restricted to voluntary actions	360	(1)
Imperatives: beginners and end-particles	360	(4)
Spoken and written requests	364	(1)
Interjections and exclamatory expressions	365	(6)
Exclamations: particles and degree adverbials or complements	371	(2)
Abbreviations and Omissions	373	(6)
Abbreviations in answers to questions	373	(1)
Abbreviations in face-to-face exchanges	374	(1)
Abbreviations in comparisons	374	(1)
The hidden presence of the narrator in a narrative	375	(1)
Omissions in a discourse	375	(4)
Prosodic Features	379	(13)
The overall rhythm of Chinese speech	379	(6)
Syntactic sequences and their underlying rhythm	385	(4)
`Verb + object' patterns	385	(2)
The `attributive + headword' pattern	387	(2)
Echoing patterns of rhythm	389	(1)
Expanding, condensing and padding to get into the appropriate rhythm	390	(2)
Stylistic Considerations in Syntactic Constructions	392	(13)
The presentational factor	392	(7)
Layered or sequential images	393	(1)
Reiteration for cumulative effect	394	(2)
Factorisation	396	(1)
Parallel matching	397	(2)
Inversion: attributives or adverbials after their headwords	399	(1)
The rhetorical factor	399	(5)
Coupling: XY, XY	399	(2)
Progression: XY, XY, XY	401	(1)
Echoing	402	(1)
Alternation: long and short sentences	403	(1)
Concluding remarks	404	(1)
Bibliography	405	(3)
Index	408