Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

NeGatiNG iNFormatioN

27.3

27.2 The relative order of negation and adverbs

Here are some general rules for the relative order of negation and adverbs. The adverbs are

emphasized in each example.

• Most adverbs occur before negation.

那本书，我还没看完。

那本書，我還沒看完。

Nà běn shū, wǒ hái méi kànwán.

That book, I have not yet finished reading it.

我喜欢吃中国饭，就不喜欢吃海参。

我喜歡吃中國飯，就不喜歡吃海參。

Wǒ xǐhuan chī Zhōngguó fàn, jiù bù xǐhuan chī hǎishēn.

I like to eat Chinese food; I just don’t like to eat sea slugs.

他也许不认识你妹妹。

他也許不認識你妹妹。

Tā yěxǔ bù rènshi nǐ mèimei.

Perhaps he doesn’t know your younger sister.

• A small number of adverbs may occur either before or after negation. The order of negation
  and adverb influences the meaning of the sentence.

我们都不会开车。

我們都不會開車。

Wǒmen dōu bù huì kāi chē.

We all cannot drive (a car).

我们不都会开车。有的会，有的不会。

我們不都會開車。有的會，有的不會。

Wǒmen bù dōu huì kāi chē. Yǒu de huì, yǒu de bù huì.

Not all of us can drive a car. Some can, some can’t.

我一定不去。

Wǒ yīdìng bù qù.

I am definitely not going.

我不一定去。

Wǒ bù yīdìng qù.

I am not definitely going. (I may not go.)

C15.1

27.3 Words that occur with negation

27.3.1 adverbs that occur with negation

Certain adverbs always occur with negation or in negative contexts. These include:

从来/從來 cónglái (+ negation) ‘never’

我从来没抽过烟。

我從來沒抽過煙。

Wǒ cónglái méi chōuguo yān.

I’ve never smoked cigarettes.