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Mandarin Chinese 2 Unit 9: Conjunctions: 因为…所以, 虽然…但是, 如果…就

Paired conjunctions let you connect two clauses to show cause, contrast, condition, addition and sequence. Unlike English, Chinese often uses both halves of the pair.

Covers: Cause and effect with 因为…所以, Contrast with 虽然…但是/可是, Conditions with 如果/要是…(的话)，就, 不但…而且, 一…就 for immediate sequence, 还是 versus 或者, Placement of conjunctions and 就

Study guide

Chinese often marks both clauses of a complex sentence. For cause and effect, use 因为 (because) in the first clause and 所以 (so) in the second: 因为下雨了，所以我们没去公园. English would use only one of these words, but Chinese commonly uses both, or either one alone. The cause normally comes first. 因为 can go before or after the subject (我因为生病 or 因为我生病), but 所以 goes at the very start of its clause. To ask why, use 为什么, and answer with 因为.

For contrast, use 虽然 (although) in the first clause and 但是 or 可是 (but) in the second: 虽然中文很难，但是很有意思. Again, Chinese uses both halves where English uses one; saying "although ... but" is normal in Chinese, not an error. 但是 or 可是 must start the second clause, and 还 or 也 can follow the subject for emphasis: 虽然他很累，可是他还在工作. For condition, use 如果 or the more casual 要是 (if), often with 的话 at the end of the condition, and 就 in the result: 如果明天下雨(的话)，我们就不去了. 就 is an adverb, so it goes after the subject of the second clause, never before it: 我们就, not 就我们.

不但…而且 means "not only ... but also": 他不但会说中文，而且会说日语. If both clauses share the same subject, put 不但 after the subject; if the subjects differ, put 不但 before the first subject: 不但我喜欢，而且我妈妈也喜欢. The pattern 一…就 means "as soon as": 我一到家就给你打电话 (I'll call you as soon as I get home). Both 一 and 就 go after their subjects: 他一下课就走了. This pattern is also used for habits: 我一喝咖啡就睡不着 (Whenever I drink coffee, I can't sleep).

Finally, Chinese has two words for "or." 还是 is used in questions that offer a choice: 你喝茶还是喝咖啡? (Do you want tea or coffee?) 或者 is used in statements: 我们可以坐公共汽车或者坐地铁 (We can take the bus or the subway). Using 或者 in a choice question, or 还是 in a statement, is a common test error. However, 还是 can appear in statements after 不知道 or 不管, which embed a question: 我不知道他去还是不去.

Key ideas

• 因为…所以 marks cause and effect; Chinese often uses both words.
• 虽然…但是/可是 marks contrast; using both halves is normal.
• 如果/要是…(的话)，就 marks a condition and its result.
• 就, 也 and 还 are adverbs and go after the subject of their clause.
• 不但…而且 means not only ... but also; placement of 不但 depends on the subjects.
• 一…就 means as soon as, for single events or habits.
• 还是 offers a choice in questions; 或者 means or in statements.

Formulas and rules

Common mistakes

• Putting 就 before the subject, as in 如果下雨，就我们不去.
• Thinking 虽然…但是 is redundant and dropping 但是 so the contrast is unclear.
• Using 或者 in a choice question (你喝茶或者咖啡?).
• Reversing cause and effect between 因为 and 所以.
• Putting 不但 before a shared subject (不但他会唱歌，而且他会跳舞) when the subject is the same.

Before the test, make sure you can

• Connect cause and effect with 因为…所以.
• Express contrast with 虽然…但是/可是 and add 还/也 correctly.
• State conditions with 如果/要是…(的话)，就 and place 就 after the subject.
• Use 不但…而且 with the same or different subjects.
• Describe immediate sequence and habits with 一…就.
• Choose 还是 or 或者 correctly.
• Identify sentences where the conjunction pair is mismatched.

Words to know

因为

because (yīnwèi)

所以

so, therefore (suǒyǐ)

虽然

although (suīrán)

但是

but (dànshì)

可是

but (kěshì)

如果

if (rúguǒ)

要是

if (yàoshi)

的话

if (clause-final) (dehuà)

就

then (jiù)

只要

as long as (zhǐyào)

不但

not only (búdàn)

而且

but also, moreover (érqiě)

然后

then, afterward (ránhòu)

一…就

as soon as (yī…jiù)

先

first (xiān)

还是

or (questions) (háishi)

或者

or (statements) (huòzhě)

为什么

why (wèishénme)

决定

to decide (juédìng)

选择

to choose; choice (xuǎnzé)

Sample practice questions

30 more questions like these, from level 1 to 5, are in the practice set.