vault update: 2024-07-11 18:07:05

Affected files:
Optative Verbs.md
了le.md
就jiù.md
还hái.md
还是háishì vs 或者huòzhě.md

Optative Verbs.md

@@ -113,6 +113,14 @@ Similar to 不要, 不应该 indicates there is an obligation *not* to do someth
 
 # Table of Operative Verbs
 
-|     | Positive | Negative |
+|                      | Positive | Negative |
-| --- | -------- | -------- |
+| -------------------- | -------- | -------- |
-|     |          |          |
+| will likely (verb)   | 会        | 不会       |
+| know how to (verb)   | 会        | 会        |
+| able to (verb)       | 能/可以     | 不能       |
+| ought to (verb)      | 要/应该     | 不用       |
+| want to (verb)       | 想/要      | 不想       |
+| allowed to (verb)    | 可以       |          |
+| prohibited to (verb) |          | 不可以      |
+| should not (verb)    |          | 不要/不应该   |
+

了le.md

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+了le is very difficult to grasp in Chinese. It can appear after a verb or at the end of a sentence, and serves a variety of functions.
+
+# Post-Verbal (Perfective) 了
+The verbal 了 is used primarily to mark the completion [[Aspect|aspect]] of a verb. Note that this is not equivalent to marking a past action (tense).
+In English, the "perfective"/"completive" may appear in all three tenses:
+1. Past Perfect: I *had* already arrived (when he called).
+2. 

就jiù.md

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+就jiù is an adverb which acts as a temporal marker for a verb/adjective - stressing the imminence or urgency of the action/state. It can also indicate an event takes place sooner/earlier than expected. Consider the following:
+1. 我今年想去中国。
+2. 我今年就想去中国。
+(1) is a simple statement that you wish to go to China. Sentence (2) uses 就 to underscore the urgency of the plan - "I want to go to China, as early as this year".
+
+More examples:
+1. 我八点就可以回家。
+   I can return home as early as 8.
+2. 我现在就去。
+   I'll go right away.
+3. 在美国十八岁就可以开车。可是在中国呢，十八岁还不可以开车。对吗？
+   In America, you can drive as early as 18. But in China, at 18 you still can't drive. Right?

还hái.md

@@ -1,18 +1,19 @@
 #adverb #还 
 
+# 还 as "also; additionally"
 The adverb 还hái has a variety of meanings. One of the basic usages is to indicated "in addition to", "beside", or "on top of that":
 > **(1)** 我有三个姐姐，四个妹妹， 还有一个哥哥。
 > wǒ yǒu sānge jiějie, sìge mèime, hái yǒu yige gēge
 > I have three elder sisters, one younger sister, in addition to one older brother.
 
-# 还 and 也
+## 还 vs 也
 还 feels similar to 也yě, which means "also". We can even rephrase the previous sentence using 也:
 > **(2)** 我有三个姐姐， 四个妹妹， 也有一个哥哥。
 > wǒ yǒu sānge jiějie, sìge mèimei, yě yǒu yige gēge.
 
 However, there are a few differences between the two in usage.
 
-## Element of Surprise
+### Element of Surprise
 也 marks a parallel situation of a relationship between two events or action - hence, it is translated as "also" or "too".
 还, however, indicates an element of surprise - which is why it is translated more as "on top of", "in addition to", etc.
 Therefore, **(2)** is simply a counting of the siblings one has - whilst **(1)** places emphasis on the large number of siblings one has:
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ Here is an example of using both 也 and 还 in the same sentence:
 >      wǒ yě qù. wǒ qù nàr huán dìtú.
 >      I'm also going. I'm going there to return a map.
 
-## 还 can't mean "A does X, B also does X"
+### 还 can't mean "A does X, B also does X"
 To express the meaning: "**A** does **X**, **A** also does **Y**." You can use either 也 or 还.
 However, for the meaning: "**A** does **X**, **B** also does **X**" you can *only* use 也.
 Some examples:
@@ -55,3 +56,15 @@ Some examples:
    <mark style="background: #FF5582A6;">wǒ jiāo yǔfǎ, nǐ hái jiāo yǔfǎ</mark>
 <mark style="background: #FF5582A6;">   I teach grammar, and on top of that, you also teach grammar.</mark>
 
+
+# 还 as "still"
+还hái can also function as a temporal adverb, indicating that "the situation is *still* the case". The action or state represented by the verb began in the past, and continues into the present:
+1. 我以前有三个妹妹，现在还有三个妹妹。
+   I used to have three younger sisters, I *still* have three (none died).
+2. 我的孩子今年三岁，可是还不会走路。
+   My child is three this year, but he *still* can't walk.
+3. A: 我们走吧。
+   B: 还早呢。 我还要在跟丁云谈谈。
+   A: Let's go.
+   B: It's *still* early. I *still* need to talk to Ding Yun more.
+

还是háishì vs 或者huòzhě.md

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+还是háishì and 或者huòzhě are both translated into English as "or", but their meaning is actually different. This is due to some ambiguity in the English language; Chinese makes a distinction between the two meanings of "or" where English doesn't (or only uses intonation while speaking to do so).
+
+Consider the sentence "Are you going today or tomorrow?":
+1. If spoken with a rising intonation on "today", and falling intonation on "tomorrow", then you are asking them to answer with a choice of either "today" or "tomorrow". That is to say, you're asking a choice question.
+2. If spoken with a gradual rising intonation throughout the sentence, and no pause after "today", you are asking them if they are going either today or tomorrow. You're not asking which of the two, just if it's either of them. Thus, you're asking a yes/no question.
+
+In Chinese 还是 is used for (1), and 或者 is used for (2):
+1. 你要铅笔还是钢笔？
+   Do you want a pen, or do you want a pencil?
+2. 你要铅笔或者钢笔？
+   Do you (or do you not) want a pen or pencil?
+When not asking questions -- in statements -- or is always translated by 或者.