Pinyin and English Annotation: Unit 1.2.1 Pinyin and English

Vocabulary Study Sheet: Unit 1.2.1 Chat between Melissa and Jaden Vocab

Reading Exercises

Exercise A. Read the chat between Melissa and Jaden. Decide the following statements True or False.

Exercise B： Please answer the following questions based on the conversation between Melissa and Jaden.

Sentence Structures

1. 在 (zài) – to be (at/in); at, in, on

• • Meaning: Indicates location or existence. It can also function as the verb “to be (located at)” or “to be doing something.”
  • When to use:
    • Use 在 to describe where someone or something is located.
    • Use 在 + verb to indicate an ongoing action (similar to “-ing” in English).
  • Examples:
    • 我在学校。(Wǒ zài xuéxiào.) → I am at school.
    • 他在看书。(Tā zài kàn shū.) → He is reading a book.

2. 吗 (ma) – question particle

• • Meaning: Turns a statement into a yes/no question.
  • When to use:
    • Use 吗 at the end of a statement to turn it into a question.
  • Examples:
    • 你是学生吗？(Nǐ shì xuéshēng ma?) → Are you a student?
    • 他喜欢音乐吗？(Tā xǐhuān yīnyuè ma?) → Does he like music?

3. 哪儿 (nǎr) – where

• • Meaning: Asks for a location.
  • When to use:
    • Use 哪儿 in questions to ask “where” something or someone is.
  • Examples:
    • 你在哪儿？(Nǐ zài nǎr?) → Where are you?
    • 学校在哪儿？(Xuéxiào zài nǎr?) → Where is the school?

4. 呢 (ne) – question particle for context

• • Meaning: Used to ask about the current state or context, often in follow-up questions.
  • When to use:
    • Use 呢 after a noun or pronoun to ask about someone or something already mentioned.
  • Examples:
    • 我是学生，你呢？(Wǒ shì xuéshēng, nǐ ne?) → I am a student, and you?
    • 我的书在这里，你的呢？(Wǒ de shū zài zhèlǐ, nǐ de ne?) → My book is here; where’s yours?

5. 只 (zhǐ) – only

• • Meaning: Indicates “only” or “just.”
  • When to use:
    • Use 只 before a verb or noun to emphasize limitation.
  • Examples:
    • 我只有一块钱。(Wǒ zhǐ yǒu yí kuài qián.) → I only have one yuan.
    • 他只会说汉语。(Tā zhǐ huì shuō Hànyǔ.) → He can only speak Chinese.

6. 会 (huì) – can; will

• • Meaning: Indicates ability (can) or future actions (will).
  • When to use:
    • Use 会 to talk about skills someone has learned or future actions.
  • Examples:
    • 我会说英语。(Wǒ huì shuō Yīngyǔ.) → I can speak English.
    • 明天我会来。(Míngtiān wǒ huì lái.) → I will come tomorrow.

7. 都 (dōu) – all; both

• • Meaning: Indicates “all” or “both” in a sentence.
  • When to use:
    • Use 都 before a verb to emphasize that something applies to everyone/everything mentioned.
  • Examples:
    • 我们都是学生。(Wǒmen dōu shì xuéshēng.) → We are all students.
    • 他们都喜欢打篮球。(Tāmen dōu xǐhuān dǎ lánqiú.) → They all like playing basketball.

8. 跟 (gēn) – with; to follow

• • Meaning: Used to indicate “with” someone or to follow someone.
  • When to use:
    • Use 跟 to connect two people (like “with”).
    • Use it in phrases where “following” is implied.
  • Examples:
    • 我跟你一起去。(Wǒ gēn nǐ yìqǐ qù.) → I will go with you.
    • 他跟老师学中文。(Tā gēn lǎoshī xué Zhōngwén.) → He studies Chinese with the teacher.

Quick Summary Table:

Grammar and Sentence Structure Practice

1. Multiple choice. Select one correct answer from the given choices.

2. Fill in the blanks. Select one correct answer from the drop-down list to complete the sentence.

Translation Exercises