Chinese Sentence Structure and Word Order VII

This grammar section is divided into a few sub-sections, and will be described through a few week activities:

SP1. Basic Pattern
SP2. Direct and Indirect Objects
SP3. Prepositional Phrases
SP4. Location and Time Phrases
SP5. Adverbs
SP6. Negation
SP7. Duration
SP8. Noun
SP9. Question
SP10. Particle

SP7 : Duration

• Duration phrases is used to indicate how long an action occurs. They are time phrases that indicate the length of time that an action occurs.
• Examples of the duration phrases include : 两天，半年，三个小时，很久，很多天，etc.
• Unlike English, there is no preposition associated with the expression of duration in Mandarin.
• Pattern 1: Duration phrases directly follow the verb.
  To indicate the duration of an action, follow the verb with a time phrase:

  Subject + Verb + Duration Phrase

  Example:

  1. He lived in the United States for two years. tā céng jīng zài měi guó zhù guo liǎng nián 。 他 曾 经 在 美 国 住 过 两 年 。 Subject Verb Duration He once in US lived two years Audio clip: view full post to listen. Adobe Flash is required 2. She was sick for two days. tā bìng le liǎng tiān 。 她 病 了 两 天 。 Subject Verb Duration She sick two days Audio clip: view full post to listen. Adobe Flash is required 3. We’ve known each other for ages. wǒ men rèn shí hěn duō nián le 。 我 们 认 识 很 多 年 了 。 Subject Verb Duration We know each other many years Audio clip: view full post to listen. Adobe Flash is required 4. They separated after only one year’s marriage. tā men jié hūn cái yī nián jiù fèn kāi le; 。 他 们 结 婚 才 一 年 就 分 开 了 。 Subject Verb Duration They married only one year then separated Audio clip: view full post to listen. Adobe Flash is required

• Pattern 2: The duration phrase plus 的 occurs immediately before the object
  
  Subject + Verb + Duration Phrase + Object
  
  Example:

  Action: 泡热水澡 。 1. I soaked in the hot tub for an hour. wǒ pào le yī gè xiǎo shí de rè shuǐ zǎo 。 我 泡 了 一 个 小 时 的 热 水 澡 。 Subject Verb Duration Object I all one hour hot bath Audio clip: view full post to listen. Adobe Flash is required Action: 开车。 2. I drove for 5 hours. wǒ kāi le wǔ gè xiǎo shí de chē 。 我 开 了 五 个 小 时 的 车 。 Subject Verb Duration Object I drive five hours car Audio clip: view full post to listen. Adobe Flash is required Action: 睡觉。 3. I slept for ten hours. wǒ shuì le shí gè xiǎo shí de jiào 。 我 睡 了 十 个 小 时 的 觉 。 Subject Verb Duration Object I sleep 10 hours sleeping Audio clip: view full post to listen. Adobe Flash is required

• Pattern 3: The verb repeats twice in the sentence.
  First it is followed by the object, then it is followed by the duration phrase.
  

  Subject + Verb + Object + Verb (Repeat) + Duration Phrase

  Example:

  Action: 等你。 1. She waited for you for one hour. tā děng nǐ děng le yī gè xiǎo shí 。 她 等 你 等 了 一 个 小 时 。 Subject Verb Object Verb Duration She wait you wait one hour Audio clip: view full post to listen. Adobe Flash is required Action: 开车。 2. I drove for 5 hours. wǒ kāi chē kāi le wǔ gè xiǎo shí 。 我 开 车 开 了 五 个 小 时 。 Subject Verb Object Verb Duration I drive car drive five hours Audio clip: view full post to listen. Adobe Flash is required Action: 睡觉。 2. I slept for ten hours. wǒ shuì jiào shuì le shí gè xiǎo shí 。 我 睡 觉 睡 了 十 个 小 时 。 Subject Verb Object Verb Duration I sleep sleeping sleep 10 hours Audio clip: view full post to listen. Adobe Flash is required

• Pattern 4: The time or duration phrase occurs before the verb to indicate the negation of a sentence. Subject + Duration Phrase + Negation + VerbExample:
  

  1. He hasn’t been here for three days. tā sān tiān méi lái le 。 他 三 天 没 来 了 。 Subject Duration Negation Verb he 3 days no come Audio clip: view full post to listen. Adobe Flash is required 2. I haven’t slept for three days. tā yǐ jīng sān tiān méi shuì jiào le 。 他 已 经 三 天 没 睡 觉 了 。 Subject Duration Negation Verb he already 3 days not sleep Audio clip: view full post to listen. Adobe Flash is required