Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

toPiC, FoCUS, aNd emPhaSiS

57.2

她把论文写完了。(verb with resultative ending)

她把論文寫完了。

Tā bǎ lùnwén xiěwán le.

She finished writing her thesis.

(She took her thesis and finished writing it.)

他把每个字都写错了。(verb with resultative ending)

他把每個字都寫錯了。

Tā bǎ měi gè zì dōu xiěcuò le.

He wrote every character wrong.

(He took every character and wrote it wrong.)

C18, 19, 20, 32.1

Mandarin often uses 把 bǎ when English would use a passive sentence.

C 21

For a more detailed discussion of 把 bǎ, see

C 20

57.2.2 indicating exception or addition with 除了 chúle... 以外 yHwài

除了 chúle noun phrase 以外 yǐwài

except for (noun phrase); in addition to (noun phrase)

This expression introduces an exception to a situation or an additional example of a situation.

The structure itself is the same whether it focuses on an exception or an example. The context

of the sentence makes it clear whether the sentence is providing an exception or an additional

example.

• The noun phrase that follows 除了 chúle may be the subject, a ‘time when’ expression, or
  the object of the verb.


• The full expression includes both 除了 chúle and 以外 yǐwài. However, either phrase may
  be omitted.


• 也 yě or 都 dōu typically occurs in the predicate.

除了 chúle... 以外 yǐwài marking exception: ‘except for noun phrase’

除了 chúle + subject

除了爷爷以外，我们全家都去中国旅游。

除了爺爺以外，我們全家都去中國旅遊。

Chúle yéye yǐwài, wǒmen quánjiā dōu qù Zhōngguó lǚyóu.

Except for grandfather, our whole family is going to China to travel.

除了 chúle + time when

除了星期天以外，他每天都复习中文。

除了星期天以外，他每天都復習中文。

Chúle xīngqītiān yǐwài, tā měitiān dōu fùxí Zhōngwén.

Except for Sunday, he reviews Chinese every day.

除了 chúle + object

除了苦瓜以外，我弟弟什么都吃。

除了苦瓜以外，我弟弟甚麼都吃。

Chúle kǔguā yǐwài, wǒ dìdi shénme dōu chī.

Except for bitter melon, my younger brother eats everything.