Languages 1001

Ready to double your fun—and your sentence length—in Chinese? Welcome to parallel sentences (并列复句, bìngliè fùjù)! This is the superhero grammar that lets you express two related ideas in one smooth sentence. Think of it as the grammatical equivalent of walking and chewing gum at the same time. Don’t worry, it’s not as hard as it sounds! 1. Parallel Sentences Without Linking Words（不用关联词语）
You can simply put two phrases together, separated by a comma. Each part talks about a different thing, but they’re connected—just like Lili and Xiaotong, both hardworking, both awesome.

Examples:

• 我喜欢看电视，弟弟喜欢打球。
  (I like watching TV, and my younger brother likes playing ball.)
• 他有一个哥哥，没有姐姐。
  (He has an older brother, (but) no older sister.)

So, no need to be fancy. Just two statements, joined by a comma, living in harmony.

2. Parallel Sentences With Linking Words（用关联词语）
Now let’s get a tiny bit fancier. Chinese uses words like "一边⋯⋯，一边⋯⋯" (yībiān..., yībiān...) to show someone doing two things at the same time. Or, the little word "也" (yě) for “also”.

• 他一边走路，一边唱歌。
  (He walks and sings at the same time.)
• 哥哥一边看电视，一边吃东西。
  (Elder brother eats while watching TV.)
• 我喜欢唱歌，弟弟也喜欢唱歌。
  (I like singing; my younger brother also likes singing.)
• 这个房间很大，也很干净。
  (This room is big, and also very clean.)

Pattern 1: 一边⋯⋯，一边⋯⋯ (doing X while doing Y)
Put “一边” before each verb.
Pattern 2: ⋯⋯，也⋯⋯ (…also…)
Just add “也” before the verb or adjective in the second part. Fun fact!
If you get the urge to connect even more ideas, just keep adding commas. Chinese sentences can be long, but your breath doesn’t need to be! (Pro-tip: If you ever need to tell your teacher “我一边学中文，一边看电视”, remember to swap the order if you want to sound more studious.)

Let’s let our cast practice!

1. Lili works, and Xiaotong studies.
丽丽工作，晓彤 。

<p>2. Haoran listens to music while he does homework.<br>
浩然一边做作业，一边 <input type="text" answer="听音乐">。</p>

<p>3. The room is bright, and also very clean.<br>
这个房间很亮，<input type="text" answer="也很干净">。</p>

<p>4. Jianguo has a son, (but) doesn’t have a daughter.<br>
建国有一个儿子，<input type="text" answer="没有女儿">。</p>

<p>5. Zhiqiang eats and talks at the same time.<br>
志强一边吃饭，一边 <input type="text" answer="说话">。</p>

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