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HSK1·Lesson 11

I'm Studying at University

我读大学呢

Be able to understand and use three structures to express actions in progress | Be able to understand and form questions using the affirmative-negative question pattern | Master the use of the modal verb "要" to express the desire or intention to do something

Text 1

在路上，李文在找饭店，王一飞给他打电话

zài lù shang ， lǐ wén zài zhǎo fàn diàn ， wáng yì fēi gěi tā dǎ diàn huà

On the road, while Li Wen was looking for the restaurant, Wang Yifei called him

王一飞 (Wang Yifei)喂，李文，你什么时候能到饭店？
李文 (Li Wen)还不知道，正在找呢。它是不是在超市后边？
王一飞 (Wang Yifei)是的。你开车没开车？
李文 (Li Wen)我没开车，坐车呢。

Text 2

在饭店里，王一飞和李文见面后聊天儿

zài fàn diàn lǐ ， wáng yì fēi hé lǐ wén jiàn miàn hòu liáo tiān ér

After meeting at the restaurant, Wang Yifei and Li Wen were chatting

王一飞 (Wang Yifei)你还在读大学吗？
李文 (Li Wen)对，我读大学呢，还是大学生。
王一飞 (Wang Yifei)你们学习忙不忙？
李文 (Li Wen)非常忙，我学医，我们的课很多。

Text 3

星期六早上，刘明要去医院加班，出门前和女儿对话

xīng qī liù zǎo shàng ， liú míng yào qù yī yuàn jiā bān ， chū mén qián hé nǚ ér duì huà

On Saturday morning, Liu Ming was going to the hospital to work overtime. Before leaving, he talked with his daughter

刘明 (Liu Ming)弟弟起床没起床呢？
刘小雪 (Liu Xiaoxue)没起床呢，还在睡觉。
刘明 (Liu Ming)还睡呢？他今天去不去那里？
刘小雪 (Liu Xiaoxue)去哪里？
刘明 (Liu Ming)去超市。
刘小雪 (Liu Xiaoxue)我昨天问他，他对我说，他不去，他今天要和小朋友玩。
HanziPinyinEnglish
时候shíhou(a point in) time
饭店fàndiànrestaurant
知道zhīdàoknow; realize
正在zhèngzàiin the process of; right now doing
找zhǎolook for
开车kāichēdrive (a vehicle)
车chēvehicle
在zàiused to indicate an action in progress

pair_dialogue

双人活动：两人一组，互相问答做不做某事。

Pair Work: Work in pairs and take turns asking and answering whether you are going to do something.

e.g. A: 你去不去吃午饭？B: 我不去。A: 你在做什么？B: 我在学中文呢。你学不学？……

读dúattend school; study
大学dàxuéuniversity; college
大学生dàxuéshēngcollege/university student
学xuéstudy; learn
医yīmedicine
弟弟dìdiyounger brother
起床qǐchuángget up; get out of bed
睡觉shuìjiàosleep
睡shuìsleep
那里nàlǐthere; that place
哪里nǎlǐwhere
昨天zuótiānyesterday
问wènask
对duìto; towards
说shuōspeak; talk; say
要yàowant; wish; intend to
小朋友xiǎopéngyouchild; kid

Affirmative-Negative Questions

Affirmative-negative questions follow the pattern "×+不/没+×" (bù / méi), where "×" is a verb or an adjective. "不/没" (bù / méi) is used in verb affirmative-negative questions, while "不" (bù) is used in adjective affirmative-negative questions.

  • 它是不是在超市后边？ (Tā shì bu shì zài chāoshì hòubian?)

    Is it behind the supermarket or not?

  • 你去没去学校？ (Nǐ qù méi qù xuéxiào?)

    Did you go to school or not?

  • 这件衣服好看不好看？ (Zhè jiàn yīfu hǎokàn bu hǎokàn?)

    Does this clothing look nice or not?

Temporal Adverbs "在/正在" (zài / zhèng zài)

The temporal adverbs "在/正在" (zài / zhèng zài) are placed before a verb, expressing that an action is ongoing or a situation is continuing. Three forms: (1) 在/正在 (zhèng zài)+Verb; (2) 在/正在 (zhèng zài)+Verb+呢 (ne); (3) Verb+呢. For negative responses, the adverb "没（有）" (méiyǒu) is used.

  • 你还在读大学吗？ (Nǐ hái zài dú dàxué ma?)

    Are you still studying at university?

  • 学生们在/正在上课呢。 (Xuéshengmen zài/zhèngzài shàng kè ne.)

    The students are having class right now.

  • 我们读书呢。 (Wǒmen dúshū ne.)

    We're reading.

Modal Verb "要" (yào)

When used before a verb, the modal verb "要" (yào) indicates the desire or intention to do something.

  • 他今天要和小朋友玩。 (Tā jīntiān yào hé xiǎopéngyou wán.)

    He is going to play with friends today.

  • 妈妈要去超市。 (Māma yào qù chāoshì.)

    Mom intends to go to the supermarket.

  • 白家月要在家里学中文。 (Bái Jiāyuè yào zài jiā li xué Zhōngwén.)

    Bai Jiayue is going to study Chinese at home.