HSK 3Lesson 13 of 15 · 7 grammar points
Sequence, alternatives and parallel activity
先…再… orders actions, 或者 offers alternatives, 一会儿 alternates, 一边 overlaps and 不但 adds a point. These relationships are not interchangeable. Choose a pair that matches the actual temporal or argumentative relationship.
Learning goals (7)
- Ordered steps.
- Alternative possibilities.
- Alternating states.
- Two concurrent qualities.
- Doing two things at once.
- Adding a stronger point.
- Acknowledged fact and contrast.
先…，再/然后…
Ordered steps
先 introduces the initial action; 再 or 然后 introduces the following step.
先洗手，再吃饭。
Wash your hands first, then eat.
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Pitfall: The order matters; the connector does not describe simultaneous actions.
或者…，或者…
Alternative possibilities
或者…或者… presents alternatives without necessarily asking the listener to choose.
我们或者坐车，或者走路。
We can either take a vehicle or walk.
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Pitfall: For a direct choice question, 还是 is normally the appropriate connector.
一会儿…，一会儿…
Alternating states
一会儿…一会儿… describes alternation between activities or states over short intervals.
他一会儿看书，一会儿看手机。
He alternates between reading and looking at his phone.
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Pitfall: The activities alternate rather than necessarily occurring simultaneously.
又…，又…
Two concurrent qualities
又…又… adds two compatible properties or actions, often evaluatively.
这家店又便宜又好。
This shop is both inexpensive and good.
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Pitfall: This paired 又 differs from a single 又 meaning again.
一边…，一边…
Doing two things at once
一边…一边… links overlapping actions, usually with the same actor.
他一边走路，一边说话。
He talks while walking.
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Pitfall: Use sequential connectors when the activities occur one after the other.
不但…，而且…
Adding a stronger point
不但…而且… adds a further point, often increasing its importance. With different subjects, place 不但 before the first subject.
他不但会说，还会写。
He can not only speak but also write.
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Pitfall: The added point should form a meaningful progression or addition.
虽然…，可是…
Acknowledged fact and contrast
虽然 introduces a conceded fact; 可是 introduces the result that goes against expectation.
虽然下雨，可是他还是来了。
Although it rained, he still came.
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Pitfall: A concession does not mean its first clause is false.
Source details (official syllabus)
Ordered steps
- Syllabus item
- 先……，再/然后……
- Category
- 承接复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L3-082
- PDF page
- 394 (printed 391)
Alternative possibilities
- Syllabus item
- 或者……，或者……
- Category
- 选择复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L3-083
- PDF page
- 394 (printed 391)
Alternating states
- Syllabus item
- 一会儿……，一会儿……
- Category
- 并列复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L3-084
- PDF page
- 394 (printed 391)
Two concurrent qualities
- Syllabus item
- 又……，又……
- Category
- 并列复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L3-085
- PDF page
- 394 (printed 391)
Doing two things at once
- Syllabus item
- 一边……，一边……
- Category
- 并列复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L3-086
- PDF page
- 394 (printed 391)
Adding a stronger point
- Syllabus item
- 不但……，而且……
- Category
- 递进复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L3-087
- PDF page
- 394 (printed 391)
Acknowledged fact and contrast
- Syllabus item
- 虽然……，可是……
- Category
- 转折复句
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L3-088
- PDF page
- 394 (printed 391)
- 1FILL BLANK
洗手，再吃饭。
Choose the expression that completes the sentence.
“Wash your hands first, then eat.”
- 2FILL BLANK
虽然下雨，他还是来了。
Choose the expression that completes the sentence.
“Although it rained, he still came.”
- 3MATCH
Tap a sentence, then tap its meaning.
Tap a sentence, then tap its meaning.
- 4CHOOSE
Which explicitly describes simultaneous activities?
- 5CHOOSE
先买票，再进站。
Which sequence is required?
- 6ORDER
Tap the chunks to build the sentence.
“Wash your hands first, then eat.”
Tap the chunks in order. - 7ORDER
Tap the chunks to build the sentence.
“We can either take a vehicle or walk.”
Tap the chunks in order.
0 of 7 tasks answered.
Next lesson: Hypotheses, conditions and purposes →先…，再/然后…Ordered steps
- 他先让我看他怎么做，然后让我自己试一下。 Learning to Play Table Tennis with My Older Brother · HSK 3
- 到了以后，我们先到公园看看，然后去一个小饭店吃面条。 My Weekend Trip · HSK 3
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一会儿…，一会儿…Alternating states
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一边…，一边…Doing two things at once
- 我站在窗户旁边，一边吃面包，一边喝豆浆。 Breakfast at a Small Shop: Soy Milk and Bread · HSK 3
- 到了小湖旁边，我们坐下休息，一边喝水，一边看着安静的湖水。 A Walk in the Mountain Park · HSK 3
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