Series ID: EDKS-BASIC-ZH-0033 · Lesson No.033 · 零基础英语第三十三课 · A1 Sentence Building
Building Sentences from Chunks | 用语块造句
Do not build every sentence from zero. Reuse stable English chunks and change the part that matters.
不要每一句都从零开始。先用稳定语块，再替换真正需要变化的部分。
Fluent beginners do not calculate every word separately. They reuse familiar patterns: I need…, Where is…?, I’m going to…, There is…, Can you…?. These chunks carry grammar and leave one or two slots open for meaning.
这一课把前面的句型重新组织成“可重复使用的句子零件”。目标是减少逐字翻译，提高造句速度和稳定性。
Chinese Edition Hub · 中文版入口 · ← Lesson No.032 · Speaking with Confidence and Repair
The chunk-building map | 语块造句路线
- fixed chunk vs open slot
- substitution
- expansion
- statement → question → negative
- subject + be + adjective
- subject + have + noun
- subject + verb + object
- want/need/like chunks
- can + base verb
- there is/are
- time and place add-ons
- past and future frames
- because / but / so
- noun chunks and adjective chunks
- preposition chunks
- chunk chaining for longer sentences
- Mandarin-to-English restructuring
1. What is a chunk? | 什么是语块？
A chunk is a group of words you store and use together.
- I don’t know.
- Can you help me?
- at three o’clock
- next to the station
- I’d like…
Some chunks are full sentences; some are sentence parts.
2. Fixed part + open slot | 固定部分 + 可替换位置
Pattern:
I need + NOUN.
- I need water.
- I need help.
- I need a ticket.
The grammar stays fixed while the slot changes.
3. Substitution | 替换
Start with:
I like tea.
Change one word:
- I like coffee.
- I like music.
- I like this book.
This is safer than inventing a new structure every time.
4. Change one variable at a time | 一次只换一个变量
Do not change subject, tense, noun and question form at the same time when learning a new chunk.
Stable practice:
- I need water.
- I need help.
- I need a taxi.
5. Expansion | 扩展
Start small:
- I work.
- I work in a shop.
- I work in a shop near my home.
- I usually work in a shop near my home on weekdays.
Expansion adds information without destroying the core sentence.
6. Core first, detail second | 先核心，再细节
Core: I bought a shirt.
Add:
- I bought a blue shirt.
- I bought a blue shirt yesterday.
- I bought a blue shirt at the mall yesterday.
7. Subject + be + adjective | 主语 + be + 形容词
- I am tired.
- She is busy.
- They are ready.
Mandarin often allows adjective predicates without an English-style be verb. English usually requires am/is/are.
8. Change the subject | 换主语
- I am tired.
- He is tired.
- We are tired.
The adjective stays; the be verb changes.
9. Subject + have/has + noun | 主语 + have/has + 名词
- I have a car.
- She has two brothers.
- We have a meeting.
10. Subject + verb + object | 主语 + 动词 + 宾语
- I drink tea.
- She reads books.
- They play football.
This common pattern is similar to many Mandarin sentences, but English verb forms may change.
11. I want + noun | 想要某物
- I want water.
- I want the blue one.
12. I want to + verb | 想做某事
- I want to go.
- I want to learn English.
- I want to buy this.
Do not omit to in this pattern.
13. I need + noun | 需要某物
- I need help.
- I need a ticket.
14. I need to + verb | 需要做某事
- I need to leave.
- I need to study.
- I need to call Anna.
15. I like + noun | 喜欢某物
- I like tea.
- I like this colour.
16. I like + -ing | 喜欢做某事
- I like reading.
- I like cooking.
This is a useful next-step pattern. Learn common examples as chunks.
17. Can + base verb | can + 动词原形
- I can swim.
- Can you help?
- She can’t come.
After can, use the base verb.
18. Do/does chunks | do/does 句型
- Do you like tea?
- Does she work here?
- I don’t know.
- He doesn’t drive.
After do/does/don’t/doesn’t, use the base verb.
19. Did chunks | did 过去问句
- Did you go?
- What did you do?
- I didn’t see him.
20. Be-question chunks | be 问句
- Are you ready?
- Is she at home?
- Were they late?
Move the be verb before the subject.
21. There is / There are | 有……
- There is a shop near here.
- There are two chairs.
- There isn’t any water.
22. Place chunks | 地点语块
- in the kitchen
- on the table
- next to the station
- between the shops
Add them to complete sentences:
The bag is on the table.
23. Time chunks | 时间语块
- at three
- on Monday
- in September
- tomorrow morning
- last night
24. Time at the end | 时间放句尾
- I’m meeting Anna at three.
- I worked yesterday.
- We have class on Monday.
Many simple sentences work naturally with time at the end.
25. Time at the beginning | 时间放句首
- Tomorrow, I’m going to study.
- Yesterday, I stayed home.
Use a comma in writing when helpful.
26. Past chunk | 过去语块
- Yesterday I…
- Last week I…
- I went…
- I had…
27. Future chunk | 未来语块
- I’m going to…
- I’ll…
- I’m meeting…
28. Statement → question | 肯定变问句
| You are tired. | Are you tired? |
| You like tea. | Do you like tea? |
| She works here. | Does she work here? |
| You went home. | Did you go home? |
29. Statement → negative | 肯定变否定
| She is ready. | She isn’t ready. |
| I work here. | I don’t work here. |
| He works here. | He doesn’t work here. |
| They went. | They didn’t go. |
30. One sentence, three controls | 一句三控
Base:
She works here.
- Statement: She works here.
- Question: Does she work here?
- Negative: She doesn’t work here.
This transformation test shows whether a chunk is productive.
31. Noun chunks | 名词语块
- a blue shirt
- two train tickets
- the new meeting room
- my phone number
Noun chunks can enter larger sentence frames.
32. Article + adjective + noun | 冠词 + 形容词 + 名词
- a small bag
- an old building
- the blue jacket
33. Plural noun chunks | 复数名词块
- two books
- three tickets
- some apples
34. Preposition chunks | 介词语块
- at work
- at home
- on the bus
- in the car
- by card
- with my friend
Learn them as whole combinations.
35. Verb + noun chunks | 动词 + 名词
- take the bus
- make the bed
- have lunch
- do homework
- make an appointment
These are collocations: common word partnerships.
36. Do not translate collocations word by word | 搭配不要逐字翻
Chinese may use one verb where English uses another.
- 做作业 → do homework
- 坐公交 → take the bus
- 开灯 → turn on the light
37. Because | 因为
- I’m late because the train is delayed.
- I stayed home because I was tired.
because adds reason.
38. But | 但是
- I like the shirt, but it’s too expensive.
- She’s tired, but she’s working.
but adds contrast.
39. So | 所以
- It’s raining, so I’ll take the bus.
- The shop is closed, so we’ll go tomorrow.
so adds result.
40. And | 和 / 并且
- I bought tea and coffee.
- I went home and cooked dinner.
41. Chunk chaining | 语块连接
Combine stable parts:
I’m going to + take the train + at eight + because + I have a meeting.
Result:
I’m going to take the train at eight because I have a meeting.
42. Build left to right | 从左到右组装
- subject: I
- future: am going to
- verb: take
- object: the train
- time: at eight
- reason: because I have a meeting
43. Do not overbuild | 不要堆太长
If too many chunks make the sentence unstable, split it:
I’m taking the train at eight. I have a meeting at nine.
44. Pronoun chunks | 代词指代
First mention:
This is Anna. Anna works with me.
Better:
This is Anna. She works with me.
Make sure the pronoun clearly points to the right person.
45. This/that/it | 指示与代词
- This is my bag. It is blue.
- That is the station. It is closed.
46. One / ones | 避免重复名词
- I like the blue one.
- These are too small. Do you have larger ones?
47. Mandarin transfer: topic-first vs English subject frame | 话题句与英语主语
Mandarin can organise information around a topic more freely. English beginner sentences often need an explicit subject.
- 今天很忙。 → I’m very busy today. / It’s very busy today, depending on meaning.
48. Mandarin transfer: omitted subjects | 中文省略主语
Chinese can omit understood subjects. English often cannot.
- 不知道。 → I don’t know.
- 很累。 → I’m very tired.
49. Mandarin transfer: one Chinese verb, several English chunks | 一个中文词，多种英语结构
“开” can map to:
- open the door
- turn on the light
- start the car
Choose the English chunk by situation.
50. Mandarin transfer: 有 | there is / have
- 房间里有桌子。 → There is a table in the room.
- 我有一张桌子。 → I have a table.
51. Sentence-building drill A | 造句 A
Frame: I need to + verb.
- leave
- study
- call my teacher
- buy a ticket
52. Sentence-building drill B | 造句 B
Frame: Can you + verb + object?
- send the file
- check the price
- show me the way
- repeat the number
53. Sentence-building drill C | 造句 C
Frame: There is/are + noun + place.
- a shop / near here
- two chairs / in the room
- some water / on the table
54. Sentence-building drill D | 造句 D
Frame: Yesterday + subject + past verb + detail.
- I / worked / at home
- she / went / to school
- we / had / lunch together
55. Sentence-building drill E | 造句 E
Frame: Tomorrow + subject + going to + verb.
- I / study
- we / travel
- she / work
56. Reading practice: identify chunks | 阅读语块
I’m going to meet Anna at the station at six because we’re having dinner together.
Find:
- future chunk
- person
- place chunk
- time chunk
- reason chunk
57. Writing practice: expand one core | 写作扩展
Start: I bought a bag.
Add:
- colour
- place
- time
- reason
58. Speaking practice: substitution speed | 替换速度
Teacher says a new noun. Learner keeps frame:
I need ______.
Then new verb:
I need to ______.
59. Error clinic | 常见造句错误
| Error | Better English | Broken chunk |
|---|---|---|
| I need go. ✗ | I need to go. ✓ | need to + verb |
| Can you to help? ✗ | Can you help? ✓ | can + base verb |
| Did you went? ✗ | Did you go? ✓ | did + base verb |
| She very tired. ✗ | She is very tired. ✓ | be + adjective |
| There have two chairs. ✗ | There are two chairs. ✓ | there are |
60. First weak link diagnosis | 第一个卡点诊断
- I know words but cannot start → missing frame.
- I start but grammar collapses → chunk not automated.
- I can use one sentence only → substitution weak.
- I can substitute but not expand → add-on chunks weak.
- I can make statement but not question/negative → transformation weak.
- I translate word by word → collocation/chunk problem.
61. Retrieval lab | 提取练习
- 我需要帮助。 → ______
- 我需要离开。 → ______
- 你能帮我吗？ → ______
- 附近有一家商店。 → ______
- 我昨天工作了。 → ______
- 我明天打算学习。 → ______
- 因为火车晚点，我迟到了。 → ______
- 我喜欢这件，但太贵了。 → ______
- 下雨了，所以我坐公交。 → ______
- 我不知道。 → ______
Suggested answers: I need help. / I need to leave. / Can you help me? / There is a shop near here. / I worked yesterday. / I’m going to study tomorrow. / I’m late because the train is delayed. / I like this one, but it’s too expensive. / It’s raining, so I’ll take the bus. / I don’t know.
62. Ten-minute daily practice | 每天十分钟
| 2 min | three core frames | 核心语块 |
| 2 min | substitution | 替换 |
| 2 min | question/negative | 问否转换 |
| 2 min | time/place expansion | 扩展 |
| 2 min | chunk chaining | 连接 |
63. Seven-day training cycle | 七天训练
| Day 1 | be/have/SVO | 核心骨架 |
| Day 2 | want/need/like | 需求喜好 |
| Day 3 | can/do/does | 助动词 |
| Day 4 | there is/place | 存在位置 |
| Day 5 | past/future | 时间框架 |
| Day 6 | because/but/so | 连接 |
| Day 7 | 30-sentence build | 综合造句 |
64. Self-test: 30 questions | 30 题自测
- Define a chunk.
- What is an open slot?
- Give three I need + noun examples.
- Give three I need to + verb examples.
- Give one be + adjective sentence.
- Give one have/has sentence.
- Give one SVO sentence.
- Give one can + verb sentence.
- Give one do-question.
- Give one did-question.
- Give one there is sentence.
- Give one place chunk.
- Give one time chunk.
- Expand “I bought a shirt” twice.
- Turn “She works here” into a question.
- Turn it into a negative.
- Give one verb+noun collocation.
- Give one because sentence.
- Give one but sentence.
- Give one so sentence.
- Explain chunk chaining.
- Explain why long sentences should sometimes be split.
- Explain Chinese subject omission vs English.
- Explain 有 → there is/have.
- Correct: I need go.
- Correct: Can you to help?
- Correct: Did you went?
- Build a past sentence from chunks.
- Build a future sentence from chunks.
- Build one 12-word sentence from at least four chunks.
Answer key | 答案
1 stored group of words used together; 2 replaceable meaning position; 3–14 answers vary; 15 Does she work here?; 16 She doesn’t work here; 17 take the bus/do homework examples; 18–24 answers vary; 25 I need to go; 26 Can you help?; 27 Did you go?; 28–30 answers vary.
65. For parents and teachers | 给家长和老师
Teach patterns before abstract grammar labels. If the learner can use I need to + verb reliably, the grammar rule has practical value.
Use substitution tables and oral drills, but always end with a meaningful real-life sentence.
For Mandarin speakers, target subject omission, adjective predicates, English auxiliary verbs and collocations rather than generic “grammar weakness”.
Do not force long sentences. Stable short sentences are the foundation for later complexity.
66. Final real-world challenge | 最终真实任务
- Use ten core chunks.
- Substitute three words in each.
- Expand five sentences.
- Turn five statements into questions.
- Turn five statements into negatives.
- Add time and place chunks.
- Use because, but and so.
- Build past and future sentences.
- Repair three Mandarin-transfer errors.
- Create twenty new sentences without translating word by word.
Next: Lesson No.034 | 下一课
Chunks give you practical sentence pieces. Next, organise those pieces into the most important everyday grammar patterns so you know why they change and when to choose one structure over another.
Lesson No.034 · Everyday Grammar Patterns · 日常英语语法模式
Reference floor: British Council A1–A2 Grammar · Cambridge Essential Grammar in Use A1–B1.
