I very like it: Adverb, Adjective and Time-Order Traps for Mandarin Speakers
You say 'I very like it.' Your teacher writes a red line through it. You ask why. The answer is not that you are bad at English. The answer is that your brain is following the Mandarin map. In Mandarin, you say 'wǒ hěn xǐhuān' (I very like). You put the time word first. You put the description before the noun. English does the exact opposite. This guide breaks the Mandarin rules that are sabotaging your writing. We will fix the adverb trap, the time word trap, and the modifier trap. You will stop sounding like a direct translation. You will start sounding like a native speaker.
✗ I very like this book.
✓ I like this book very much.
Why Mandarin places degree adverbs like 'hěn' (very) before the verb. English requires the adverb to come after the verb or at the end of the clause.
Move 'very' to the end. Use 'very much' or 'a lot' after the object. Example: 'I like this book very much.'
✗ I yesterday went to the store.
✓ I went to the store yesterday.
Why Mandarin often places time expressions at the beginning of a sentence. English typically places them at the end for neutral statements.
Put the time word after the verb and object. Example: 'I went to the store yesterday.'
✗ I very happy.
✓ I am very happy.
Why Mandarin allows adjectives to function as predicates without a linking verb. English requires a form of 'to be' with descriptive adjectives.
Use 'am', 'is', or 'are' before the adjective. Example: 'I am very happy.'
✗ I have a red car.
✓ I have a red car.
Why Mandarin uses the particle 'de' to modify nouns, but English requires adjectives to precede the noun and does not use 'de'. Additionally, Mandarin speakers may omit articles or misorder multiple adjectives.
Use the correct adjective order: opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material. Example: 'a beautiful big old red Chinese car.' Do not say 'I red car.' or 'A Chinese red old big beautiful car.'
✗ I have been in China for three years.
✓ I have been in China for three years.
Why Mandarin expresses duration with a time phrase following the verb, but English requires a preposition like 'for' or 'since' to mark duration in perfect tenses.
Use 'for' + time duration after the prepositional phrase. Example: 'I have been in China for three years.' Do not say 'I have three years in China.'
✗ He very tall.
✓ He is very tall.
Why Mandarin adjectives can serve as predicates without a linking verb. English adjectives require a form of 'to be' to link the subject to the description.
Always use 'am', 'is', or 'are' with adjectives. Example: 'He is very tall.'
Common questions
Why can't I say 'I very like'?
Because 'very' is an adverb in English. Adverbs modify verbs, but they usually go after the verb or at the end of the sentence. In Mandarin, 'hěn' goes before the verb. Do not transfer that rule.
Where do I put 'yesterday'?
At the end. 'I saw him yesterday.' Not 'Yesterday I saw him' unless you are emphasizing it, but even then, the end is safer for beginners.
Do I need 'to be' with adjectives?
Yes. 'I happy' is wrong. 'I am happy' is right. Mandarin adjectives work like verbs, but English adjectives are just labels. You need a verb to connect the label to the person.
Keep practising
Sources
- The Negative Transfer of Chinese Syntax in English Writing, Atlantis Press.
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