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Chinese: A Comprehensive Grammar: A Comprehensive Grammar
A Comprehensive Grammar is a complete reference guide to Chinese grammar which presents a fresh and accessible description of the language, concentrating on the real patterns of use in modern Chinese. The volume is organized to promote a thorough understanding of Chinese grammar. It offers a stimulating analysis of the complexities of the language and provides full and clear explanations. Throughout, the emphasis is on Chinese as used by present-day native speakers. An extensive index and numbered paragraphs provide readers with easy access to the information they require. The new edition features a revised and expanded chapter on prosody (Prosody and Syntax), as well as four completely new • Morphology and Syntax (I) looks at Chinese word formation • Morphology and Syntax (II) explores the interaction between words, expressions and sentences • Intralingual Transpositions reviews the possible conversions between sentential constructions • Interlingual Conversions examines the differences between Chinese and English. The Grammar is an essential reference source for the adult learner and user of Chinese. It is ideal for independent study and for use in schools, colleges, universities and adult classes, up to an advanced level .
656 pages, Hardcover
First published September 29, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 18, 2022
This Chinese grammar book is the best of its kind. It is well organized, features multiple examples of every grammatical concept introduced, and has good explanations that go beyond the oversimplified ones in most grammar books. It was clearly designed and written by a native speaker of Chinese, and should be the go-to volume for all serious students of Chinese grammar.
That's not to say that it is perfect. Surprisingly, the editors at Routledge decided not to check the grammar on many of the English translations of the example sentences. In addition to the occasional mistranslation of basic words, there are some English translations that are extremely awkward, or that are simply incorrect. Some attention to detail before publishing would have been nice.
It would also have been nice if this book had been arranged according to a more natural Chinese grammatical structure, rather than sticking rigidly with the tired and true "Nouns -> Adjectives -> Verbs -> Adverbs" organization that we see in all Routledge grammars. As is the case with Korean and Japanese, some sentences and concepts that are simple in English do not translate well to the Chinese context. For this reason, the structure of this book leaves a lot to be desired. Some concepts seem to be repeated time and time again, in particular the various passive uses of particles such as 把, 被, and 让.
I should also note that this book is heavily focused on mainland Chinese grammar, particularly grammatical structures commonly heard in northern China. Those coming from a Taiwan or Singapore linguistic context will be puzzled at sentences listed here as "incorrect" that are perfectly acceptable in those countries. It would have been nice if the authors had spent more time acknowledging acceptable geographic variations rather than spending dozens of pages on all the possible permutations of Chinese sentence structure.
Having said all that, the imperfections of this book do not detract from its usefulness. I highly recommend it.
That's not to say that it is perfect. Surprisingly, the editors at Routledge decided not to check the grammar on many of the English translations of the example sentences. In addition to the occasional mistranslation of basic words, there are some English translations that are extremely awkward, or that are simply incorrect. Some attention to detail before publishing would have been nice.
It would also have been nice if this book had been arranged according to a more natural Chinese grammatical structure, rather than sticking rigidly with the tired and true "Nouns -> Adjectives -> Verbs -> Adverbs" organization that we see in all Routledge grammars. As is the case with Korean and Japanese, some sentences and concepts that are simple in English do not translate well to the Chinese context. For this reason, the structure of this book leaves a lot to be desired. Some concepts seem to be repeated time and time again, in particular the various passive uses of particles such as 把, 被, and 让.
I should also note that this book is heavily focused on mainland Chinese grammar, particularly grammatical structures commonly heard in northern China. Those coming from a Taiwan or Singapore linguistic context will be puzzled at sentences listed here as "incorrect" that are perfectly acceptable in those countries. It would have been nice if the authors had spent more time acknowledging acceptable geographic variations rather than spending dozens of pages on all the possible permutations of Chinese sentence structure.
Having said all that, the imperfections of this book do not detract from its usefulness. I highly recommend it.
March 23, 2017
Only for very advanced students, others should look for Basic Grammar by the same author.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews