Chinese

An Essential Grammar

Yip Po-Ching, Don Rimmington

• Editorial: Routledge
• Año: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781000345070
• Edición: 3
• Categoría: Sprachen & Linguistik
• Categoría: Sprachen

This new and extended edition of Chinese: An Essential Grammar is an up-to-date and concise reference guide to modern Chinese (Mandarin) grammar.

Refreshingly jargon-free, it presents an accessible description of the language, focusing on the real patterns of use today. This Grammar aims to serve as a reference source for the learner and user of Chinese, irrespective of level, setting out the complexities of the language in short, readable sections.

It is ideal either for independent study or for students in schools, colleges, universities and adult classes of all types.

Features include:

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• Three new chapters on speech habits, writing conventions and new lexicalisation processes

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• Chinese characters, as well as the pinyin romanisation, alongside all examples

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• Literal and colloquial translations into English to illustrate language points

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• Detailed contents list and index for easy access to information

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• A glossary of grammatical terms.

Part I

Nouns

Introduction

In this section we discuss nouns and pronouns in Chinese. In particular we will look at the different types of nouns and those elements closely associated with them: numerals, demonstratives, measure words and attributives.

Nouns in Chinese generally have one or two syllables. A few have three syllables, but four-syllable nouns are quite rare. Some nouns are identifiable by the suffixes 子 -zi, 儿 -(e)r or 头 -tou, but most are not obviously distinguishable from other word classes.

Nouns do not change for number. An unqualified noun can therefore be singular or plural, though out of context it is likely to be plural. The plural suffix 们 -men is used with pronouns, and in particular circumstances with nouns that refer to human beings.

Numerals are placed before nouns to sp...