RealHSK

HSK 2Lesson 13 of 13 · 7 grammar points

States, experiences and approximations

着 presents a continuing state or action; 过 presents experience. Number expressions can be labels or estimates rather than exact counts. Position matters particularly with 多: one-plus hours differs from ten-plus hours.

Learning goals (7)
  • State continuing with 着.
  • An activity continuing with 着.
  • Past experience.
  • Numbered labels.
  • Approximate 几.
  • An amount beyond a round number.
  • A little more than a unit.

着

State continuing with 着

Verb+着 presents a state as maintained during the relevant period.

窗户开着。

Chuāng hu kāi zhe.

The window is open.

More

Pitfall: 开了 can describe the change; 开着 profiles the state.

表示动作的持续

An activity continuing with 着

着 can present an action as continuing, including as background for another event.

他一直笑着。

Tā yī zhí xiào zhe.

He kept smiling.

More

Pitfall: 着 is not automatically an instruction to add English present continuous.

过

Past experience

Use 过 after a verb to say the experience has occurred at least once; context can specify frequency.

她吃过中国菜。

Tā chī guò zhōng guó cài.

She has eaten Chinese food before.

More

Pitfall: Do not confuse an experiential claim with a particular completed meal.

三班

Numbered labels

Number+classifier can label a room, class or similar unit in a conventional naming system.

我在三班。

Wǒ zài sān bān.

I am in Class Three.

More

Pitfall: 三班 can be a label; 三个班 means three classes.

几

Approximate 几

几 may mean a few rather than ask how many, especially in a statement or after another number.

我买了几本书。

Wǒ mǎi le jǐ běn shū.

I bought a few books.

More

Pitfall: Question or approximation depends on sentence context.

数词+多+量词

An amount beyond a round number

For suitable round quantities, put 多 after the numeral and before the classifier: 十多个人.

这里有二十多个学生。

Zhè lǐ yǒu èr shí duō gè xué shēng.

There are over twenty students here.

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Pitfall: This construction does not usually mean exactly twenty.

数词+量词+多

A little more than a unit

Number+unit+多 often adds a fraction beyond a measured amount, as in 一个多小时.

我等了一个多小时。

Wǒ děng le yī gè duō xiǎo shí.

I waited for more than an hour.

More

Pitfall: 一个多小时 and 十多个小时 express very different durations.

Source details (official syllabus)

  • State continuing with 着

    Syllabus item
    动词+着：（1）表示状态的持续
    Category
    持续态
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L2-072
    PDF page
    391 (printed 388)

  • An activity continuing with 着

    Syllabus item
    （2）表示动作的持续
    Category
    持续态
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L2-073
    PDF page
    391 (printed 388)

  • Past experience

    Syllabus item
    用动态助词“过”表示
    Category
    经历态
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L2-074
    PDF page
    391 (printed 388)

  • Numbered labels

    Syllabus item
    序数表示法2：数词+量词
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L2-075
    PDF page
    391 (printed 388)

  • Approximate 几

    Syllabus item
    概数表达法1：（1）用“几”表示概数
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L2-076
    PDF page
    391 (printed 388)

  • An amount beyond a round number

    Syllabus item
    （2）数词+多+量词
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L2-077
    PDF page
    391 (printed 388)

  • A little more than a unit

    Syllabus item
    （3）数词+量词+多
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L2-078
    PDF page
    391 (printed 388)