Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide

by Claudia Ross, Jing-heng Sheng Ma, Pei-Chia Chen, Baozhang He, Meng Yeh

Overview

Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, third edition, is an innovative reference guide to Mandarin Chinese, combining traditional and function-based grammar in a single volume.

The Grammar is divided into two parts. Part A covers traditional grammar points such as phrase order, and the structure of noun phrases and verb phrases. Part B is carefully organized around language functions and situations such as:

• Asking questions
• Communication strategies
• Making comparisons
• Giving orders and making requests
• Expressing apologies, regrets, and sympathy

The two parts of the Grammar are closely linked by extensive cross-references, providing a grammatical and functional perspective on many patterns. The Grammar is coordinated with the Workbook, which provides grammar-focused and situation-focused exercises to facilitate practice and reinforce language use.

All grammar points and functions are richly illustrated with examples presented in simplified and traditional characters and Pinyin romanization, with a strong emphasis on contemporary usage. This third edition includes new sections on character structure, social media, speaker perspective, and more, as well as updated illustrative sentences and an expanded index.

Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar is ideal for all learners of Mandarin Chinese, from beginner to intermediate and advanced students.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032370514
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/24/2024
Series:	Modern Grammars
Edition description:	3rd ed.
Pages:	448
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

Claudia Ross, Professor Emeritus of Chinese, College of the Holy Cross.

Jing-Heng Sheng Ma, Professor Emeritus of Chinese, Wellesley College.

Pei-Chia Chen, Senior Lecturer and Academic Coordinator of the Chinese program, University of California San Diego.

Baozhang He, Associate Professor Emeritus of Chinese, College of the Holy Cross.

Meng Yeh, Teaching Professor of Chinese, Rice University.

Table of Contents

Part A Structures

1 Overview of Pronunciation and Pinyin Romanization

2 Syllable, Meaning, and Word

3 The Chinese Writing System: An Overview

4 Phrase order in the Mandarin sentence  

5 Nouns

6 Numbers

7 Specifiers and Demonstratives

8 Classifiers

9 Noun Phrases

10 Adjectives and Adjectival Verbs

11 Stative Verbs

12 Modal Verbs

13 Action Verbs

14 Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases

15 Adverbs

16 Conjunctions

17 Aspect

18 Resulative verbs 

19 Directional verbs 

20  把 ba sentences: The 'disposal' construction

21 The passive

Part B Situations and Functions

22 Names, Kinship Terms, Titles, and Terms of Address

23 Introductions

24 Greetings and Goodbyes

25 Basic Strategies for Communication

26 Telecommunications and e-communications: Telephones, the internet, and social media

27 Negating Information

28 Asking questions, answering questions, and reporting questions

29 Expressing Identification, Possession, and Existence 

30 Describing People, Places, and Things

31 Describing How Actions are Performed

32 Indicating Result, Conclusion, Potential, and Extent

33 Making Comparisons

34 Talking About the Present

35 Talking About Habitual Actions

36 Talking About the Future

37 Indicating Completion and Talking About the Past

38 Talking About Change, New Situations, and Changing Situations

39 Talking About Duration and Frequency 

40 Expressing Additional Information

41 Expressing Contrast

42 Expressing Sequence

43 Expressing Simultaneous Situations

44 Expressing Cause and Effect or Reason and Result

45 Expressing Conditions

46. Expressing both, all, every, any, none, not any, and no matter how

47 Expressing Location and Distance

48 Talking about Movement, Directions, and Means of Transportation

49 Talking about Clock Time and Calendar Time 

50 Expressing Obligation and Prohibitions

51 Expressing Commands and Permission

52 Expressing Ability and Possibility

53 Expressing Desires, Needs, Preferences, and Willingness

54 Expressing Knowledge, Advice, and Opinions

55 Expressing Fear, Worry, and Anxiety

56 Expressing Speaker Attitudes and Perspectives with interjections and final particles

57 Topic, Focus, and Emphasis

58 Guest and Host

59 Giving and Responding to Compliments 

60 Expressing Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction

61 Expressing Gratitude and Responding to Expressions of Gratitude

62 Invitations, Requests, and Refusals

63 Expressing Apologies, Regrets, Sympathy, and bad news

64 Expressing Congratulations and Good Wishes

Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

'...exceptionally useful, accessible and easy-to-use grammar.' - Forum for Modern Language Studies

Editorial Reviews

The authors have rich knowledge of the subject area and have magically transformed a complicated grammar system into reader-friendly learning material.

- Wen-Hua Du, Pennsylvania State University

A very useful introduction to Mandarin grammar. Readers not only learn how to express their ideas with grammatical structures, but also when to use them appropriately. The authors also pinpoint the differences between Mandarin and English, and give clear and concise explanations. A good reference book for teachers and students alike.

- Hsiu-Hsien, Yale University

After having searched for more than 2 years for a usable book, I finally realized that Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar is in my opinion the only usable one for beginners. This book eventually allowed me to experience the feeling of unlimited immaterial joy when stepping into the world of the Chinese language (and therefore China).

- Rob Beck, Language Learner

From the Publisher