了 for completed events
verb + 了 + object
Verb-final 了 can present an event as completed in context.
我买了两本书。
I bought two books.
她昨天看了一个电影。
She watched a movie yesterday.
Common mistake: 了 does not simply equal the English past tense.
Correct model: Treat 了 as an aspect marker, not a universal past-tense ending.
Quick practice
- Write a new sentence following
verb + 了 + object. - Rewrite the common mistake above, then compare your structure with the two model sentences.
过 for experience
verb + 过 + object
过 says that an experience has happened at least once before.
我去过北京。
I have been to Beijing.
你吃过北京烤鸭吗？
Have you eaten Beijing roast duck?
Common mistake: Use 没 before the verb to negate: 我没去过.
Correct model: Negate experience with 没: 我没去过。
Quick practice
- Write a new sentence following
verb + 过 + object. - Rewrite the common mistake above, then compare your structure with the two model sentences.
比 comparisons
A + 比 + B + adjective
Use 比 to compare one quality directly.
今天比昨天冷。
Today is colder than yesterday.
这本书比那本书贵。
This book is more expensive than that one.
Common mistake: Do not put 很 directly before the comparison adjective.
Correct model: Say A 比 B + adjective, without 很 before the adjective.
Quick practice
- Write a new sentence following
A + 比 + B + adjective. - Rewrite the common mistake above, then compare your structure with the two model sentences.
正在 for an action in progress
subject + 正在 + verb
正在 highlights that an action is happening now.
她正在上课。
She is in class right now.
孩子们正在外面踢足球。
The children are playing football outside.
Common mistake: State verbs such as 是 and 有 do not normally take 正在.
Correct model: Use 正在 with an action, not with a state such as 是.
Quick practice
- Write a new sentence following
subject + 正在 + verb. - Rewrite the common mistake above, then compare your structure with the two model sentences.
因为…所以…
因为 + reason， 所以 + result
This pair makes the reason-result relationship explicit.
因为下雨，所以我们没去。
Because it rained, we did not go.
因为太晚了，所以我坐出租车回家。
Because it was late, I took a taxi home.
Common mistake: Chinese can use both parts together; keep the reason before the result.
Correct model: Keep the reason before the result.
Quick practice
- Write a new sentence following
因为 + reason， 所以 + result. - Rewrite the common mistake above, then compare your structure with the two model sentences.
得 after a verb
verb + 得 + description
得 introduces a description of how an action is performed.
他说得很快。
He speaks very quickly.
她汉字写得很漂亮。
She writes Chinese characters beautifully.
Common mistake: Do not confuse structural 得 with possessive 的.
Correct model: Use 得 after the verb to introduce how the action is done.
Quick practice
- Write a new sentence following
verb + 得 + description. - Rewrite the common mistake above, then compare your structure with the two model sentences.