bluetortilla Posted November 2, 2013 at 08:44 AM Report Posted November 2, 2013 at 08:44 AM What is the difference between conjunctives and conjunctions in Chinese? I sort of got an idea of conjunctive adverbs in English, but hazy on the long list of the two in Mandarin. e.g. 所以 is a conjunction. 却 is a conjunctive. Quote
travelgirl Posted November 3, 2013 at 07:37 PM Report Posted November 3, 2013 at 07:37 PM in my understanding a conjunction is a word that connects two sentences while conjunctive is an adverb and as an adverb goes before a verb or an adjective. hope it helps 1 Quote
flowertea Posted November 21, 2013 at 06:03 AM Report Posted November 21, 2013 at 06:03 AM I agree with travel girl’s words above and would like to explain the question with some examples. Conjunctions are the words which combine two sentences. 如果你去,我也去。I will go if you go. 因为我不舒服,所以我起床晚了。Because I didn’t feel well, I got up late. 虽然很冷,但是她还是坚持冬泳。She still swims in winters although it’s cold. Note: the word “because” and “so” can be used in one sentence in Chinese; “although” and “but” can be also used in one sentence. conjunctive adverbs of “却, 反而,倒” also means “but”, which are put in front of action verbs usually. 大家都同意了,他却反对。Everyone agreed, but he disagreed. 他家很远,反而到校很早。His home is far, but he often comes to school early. 他的房间不大,倒布置得很舒适。His room is not big, but he decorated comfortable. Difference 这个礼物很普通,但是他很喜欢。 Vs. 这个礼物很普通,他却很喜欢。 Both of sentences mean that he likes the gift although the gift is common. Note: If you use “但是”, it is a conjunction; if you use “却” , it is a conjunctive adverb. Usually conjunctions like “但是” should be at the beginning of a sentence, a conjunctive adverb like “却” can’t be put at the beginning of a sentence. Therefore, we should say 但是他很喜欢。 we can’t say 他但是很喜欢;we can say 他却很喜欢instead. 2 Quote
bluetortilla Posted November 26, 2013 at 01:16 PM Author Report Posted November 26, 2013 at 01:16 PM Thanks for the succinct overview. It also seems that in Chinese a conjunctive adverb is not necessarily used with an independent clause, but in English this always seems to be the case (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:English_conjunctive_adverbs). Also, it's a little odd for me thinking in English terms that 但是 would be a conjunction in the sentence 但是他很喜欢。as a conjunction should 'conjunct' something else. As a beginner in Chinese grammar it's a bit confusing- is this a complete sentence in Chinese? In direct translation it isn't ('But he likes it.'). You'd need to say 'She doesn't like it, but he does' or something like that. But I don't know about that either. (!) ha Perhaps when I get used to reading about Chinese grammar in Chinese these things will be clearer. Quote
Michaelyus Posted November 27, 2013 at 10:52 AM Report Posted November 27, 2013 at 10:52 AM No, the discourse function of 但是 in Chinese is the same as "but" in English here: you'd need prior context. Nonetheless, both "但是" and "but" are invariable non-adverbial conjunctions. 1 Quote
flowertea Posted December 6, 2013 at 10:11 AM Report Posted December 6, 2013 at 10:11 AM 你好,bluetortilla I am a little busy recently. Hope this post not too late. I think Michaelyus' words above are reasonable. In addition, this grammar point is not at a beginner's level and really hard. 但是 in Chinese is a conjunctional word. My example a few days ago: 这个礼物很普通,但是他很喜欢。 In this sentence, the word "但是" connects "这个礼物很普通" and "他很喜欢".)you'd need prior context as Michaelyus said. I suggest the easy way of making difference with 却 is where you put it in the sentence, so we can also say这个礼物很普通,他却很喜欢.(It's both ok for you to say or not to say “但是” before “他”. ) Don’t worry that you will make mistakes when you speak. You will understand this with your Chinese knowledge becoming more and more. 1 Quote
bluetortilla Posted December 9, 2013 at 12:32 PM Author Report Posted December 9, 2013 at 12:32 PM Yes, I see, thanks all. So we're talking colloquialisms here meaning that in speech (or certain kinds of writing) I can leave out the implied clause and start a sentence with 但是, just as I can with 'But...' in English. Can I use 所以 in the same way as well (like 'So...' in English)? Also, I got this description from Wiki: Many students are taught that certain conjunctions (such as "and", "but", "because", and "so") should not begin sentences. But authorities such as the Chicago Manual of Style state that this teaching has "no historical or grammatical foundation."[1] It seems this is true for Mandarin as well? Thanks flowertea for the encouragement. Quote
歐博思 Posted December 11, 2013 at 08:17 AM Report Posted December 11, 2013 at 08:17 AM If you believe that because shouldn't start a sentence, then you had better also consider this sentence ungrammatical as well, because both If / because are subordinating conjuctions (among many others). I recall reading somewhere that some teachers teach their students to not use 'because' to start a sentence for belief that young students might make a habit of using half the subordinating conjuction sentence (okay when answering a question, but not for forming more complex sentences): Because it's raining today, (so then what?) If you like icecream, (and then?) Once the weather is cold, (what will happen?) Quote
flowertea Posted December 11, 2013 at 09:01 AM Report Posted December 11, 2013 at 09:01 AM I think the problem is that there are two situations. 1.If you tell a story, you can not use them at the beginning, because people don't understand the context.The examples above can help us. I am not clear whether you understand,bluetortilla. eg: 因为不舒服,所以我上学晚了。(It means no one is asking, and the speaker is just telling her or his story that what happened.) 2. If you see people use them at the beginning of a sentence, usually that sentence is in a conversation, which people know the context. A: 你今天为什么来晚了? B:因为我有点不舒服。 Note: I guess when people teach grammar, they mean the first situation normally. Both English and Chinese textbooks seem do the same. Usually people think the grammar in the second the same as the first one, becuase there is already a prior context in the conversation. Quote
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