<p><strong>UPDATE</strong> with answers:</p>

<p>Q0: example of a sample compound sentence</p>

<pre><code>o. 她跳舞, 我歌唱.
</code></pre>

<p>Q1: Could someone supply a sample Mandarin Chinese complex sentence here?</p>

<pre><code>a. 那是**我遇见她的**房子. (adjectival clause)
b. 我知道**答案是什么**. (noun clause)
</code></pre>

<p>Q2: Could someone supply a sample Mandarin Chinese compound-complex sentence here?</p>

<pre><code>x. 她跳舞, 我知道**_她跳的_是什么舞**.
</code></pre>

<p>(this is partly using o and b)</p>

<p>Q3: Have I missed any major Mandarin Chinese sentence types? </p>

<p>No, I think the three types (simple, compound, complex) are the major ones.
Again, compound-complex / complex-compound is just built on compound and complex.</p>

<p>(note: I am not able to make the characters <strong>bold</strong> or <em>italic</em> in the above sentences)</p>

<hr>

<p>I will start with your Q3:</p>

<p>I think simple, compound, and complex are the three types. You can count compound-complex / complex-compound as a fourth, but it's really building on compound and complex.</p>

<p>I am inclined to believe that <code>compound sentence</code> and (<em>some of</em>) <code>complex sentence</code> (*) in English tend to be the same thing in Mandarin.</p>

<p>(*) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clause#Adverbial_clause" rel="nofollow">Adverbial_clause</a></p>

<p>Compare this example: </p>

<pre><code>I ate breakfast before I washed the dishes. (A)
</code></pre>

<p>to this one:</p>

<pre><code>I ate breakfast, and I washed the dishes. (B)
</code></pre>

<p>The distinction between <code>before</code> (adverb) and <code>and</code> (conjunction) is not so big in Mandarin.</p>

<hr>

<p>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clause#Noun_clause" rel="nofollow">noun clause</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clause#Relative_.28adjectival.29_clause" rel="nofollow">adjectival clause</a> are a different story though.</p>

<p>For <code>noun clause</code> (and an answer to your Q1), if we consider <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clause#Noun_clause" rel="nofollow">this</a> as complex:</p>

<pre><code>I know who said that.
</code></pre>

<p>then we have this complex Mandarin sentence:</p>

<pre><code>我知道是谁说的.
</code></pre>

<p>(Note that the addition of <code>是</code> and the omission of <code>that</code>, which changes the sentence structure quite a bit. Due to that, I don't know if the Chinese sentence should be counted as complex.)</p>

<p>Similarly, when you think of <code>adjectival clause</code>:</p>

<p>That is the house where I met her.</p>

<p>can be translated to:</p>

<pre><code>那是我遇见她的房子.
</code></pre>

<p>Probably that is what makes you think that</p>

<pre><code>the sentence types below apply to both English and Mandarin Chinese languages
</code></pre>

<p>As a side note, 
I think the classification of simple, compound and complex is more or less based on English, like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentence_clause_structure" rel="nofollow">this one</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-13T11:26:13.137Z
please see the answers in the update
XoXo
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-09T01:07:32.583Z
2014-07-13T11:25:37.927Z
2014-07-13T11:25:37.927Z
XoXo
<p>First, thank you to everyone for taking the time to read this question. I am curious whether knowledgeable native speakers could assist me with the following grammar questions:</p>

<p>I am aware of the following <a href="http://mandarin.about.com/od/grammar/a/sentencestruct.htm" rel="nofollow">rules that apply to Mandarin Chinese Grammar.</a> I believe the sentence types below apply to both English and Mandarin Chinese languages:</p>

<p>NB - These English sentence types are samples pulled from the <a href="http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/sentence-structure.html" rel="nofollow">English Grammar Revolution website</a> on sentence structure. They are not meant to be translated but to provide context so that my questions below are understood as they relate to grammar constructions.</p>

<p><strong>Simple Sentence</strong> - A sentence having one independent clause: i.e. I drink tea. (我喝茶).</p>

<p><strong>Compound Sentence</strong> - A sentence having at least two independent clauses (joined by either a coordinating conjunction [并列连词] or a semi-colon): i.e. Because he is Chinese so he really likes to eat Chinese food.  (my sample - 因为他是中国人所以他很喜欢吃中国菜)</p>

<p>NB - Coordinating conjunctions glue words, phrases, or clauses together.</p>

<p><strong>Complex Sentence</strong> - A sentence containing a subordinate clause (a group of words that have subject and verb but does not express a complete thought) and an independent clause.</p>

<p>i.e. I washed the dishes after I ate breakfast. (this is just a sample English complex sentence, not a translation request)</p>

<p><strong>Q1: Could someone supply a sample Mandarin Chinese complex sentence here?</strong></p>

<p><strong>Compound-Complex Sentence</strong> - A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause.</p>

<p>i.e. I would have purchased the cheese that you like, but it was too expensive. (this is just a sample English Compound-Complex sentence, not a translation request)</p>

<p><strong>Q2: Could someone supply a sample Mandarin Chinese compound-complex sentence here?</strong></p>

<p><strong>Q3: Have I missed any major Mandarin Chinese sentence types?</strong> I do understand that there are many other phrases (conjunctions that I could have displayed) but I am interested in determining the broader category of sentences available in Mandarin.</p>

<p>For example, the following conjunctions can be used to create more complex sentences. Please feel free to share an example or two using some of these in your answers.</p>

<p>不但。。。而且,
不过,
除了。。。以外,
但是,
跟,
还是,
和,
或者,
可是,
那,
虽然,
所以,
要是,
因为</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-05T20:32:10.800Z
This question appears reasonable to me, per the help center... "Questions about the Chinese language: This includes, grammar, pronunciation, syntax, etc." If there is any issue please leave a comment letting me know how the question might be better rather than any anonymous down vote. I want to make sure my questions are a good fit for the site and feedback is welcome.
Tommie C.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-05T20:36:30.630Z
Is your question asking for examples of Chinese sentences of various types (complex, compound-complex)? Or translations of the English sentence examples ("i.e. I washed..., I would have...")? Either way, I suggest you remove [those copied contents](http://mandarin.about.com/od/grammar/a/sentencestruct.htm) since they seem irrelevant to your question but instead causes confusion.
Semaphore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-05T21:09:31.037Z
@Semaphore Thanks for the constructive feedback. I hope the edits sufficiently clarify the question.
Tommie C.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-06T08:19:21.113Z
中国饭 should be 中国菜
Mou某
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-06T16:30:54.677Z
“不点。。。而且”：do you mean “不但。。。而且”？
Roman Reiner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-25T16:25:27.153Z
If you are looking for sample usage of different words or structures, I suggest listening to some Chinese pop songs and see if you can understand what messages the lyrics convey. Though there are often metaphors found in songs, you may first try to comprehend the literal meaning. Besides, this is also a good way for you to learn more vocabularies.
S.C.
<grammar><sentence-structure>
Sample Mandarin Grammar (Sentences)
# Sample Mandarin Grammar (Sentences)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-05)

First, thank you to everyone for taking the time to read this question. I am curious whether knowledgeable native speakers could assist me with the following grammar questions:

I am aware of the following [rules that apply to Mandarin Chinese Grammar.](http://mandarin.about.com/od/grammar/a/sentencestruct.htm) I believe the sentence types below apply to both English and Mandarin Chinese languages:

NB - These English sentence types are samples pulled from the [English Grammar Revolution website](http://www.english-grammar-revolution.com/sentence-structure.html) on sentence structure. They are not meant to be translated but to provide context so that my questions below are understood as they relate to grammar constructions.

**Simple Sentence** - A sentence having one independent clause: i.e. I drink tea. (我喝茶).

**Compound Sentence** - A sentence having at least two independent clauses (joined by either a coordinating conjunction [并列连词] or a semi-colon): i.e. Because he is Chinese so he really likes to eat Chinese food. (my sample - 因为他是中国人所以他很喜欢吃中国菜)

NB - Coordinating conjunctions glue words, phrases, or clauses together.

**Complex Sentence** - A sentence containing a subordinate clause (a group of words that have subject and verb but does not express a complete thought) and an independent clause.

i.e. I washed the dishes after I ate breakfast. (this is just a sample English complex sentence, not a translation request)

**Q1: Could someone supply a sample Mandarin Chinese complex sentence here?**

**Compound-Complex Sentence** - A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause.

i.e. I would have purchased the cheese that you like, but it was too expensive. (this is just a sample English Compound-Complex sentence, not a translation request)

**Q2: Could someone supply a sample Mandarin Chinese compound-complex sentence here?**

**Q3: Have I missed any major Mandarin Chinese sentence types?** I do understand that there are many other phrases (conjunctions that I could have displayed) but I am interested in determining the broader category of sentences available in Mandarin.

For example, the following conjunctions can be used to create more complex sentences. Please feel free to share an example or two using some of these in your answers.

不但。。。而且,
不过,
除了。。。以外,
但是,
跟,
还是,
和,
或者,
可是,
那,
虽然,
所以,
要是,
因为

**Tags:** grammar, sentence-structure

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: This question appears reasonable to me, per the help center... "Questions about the Chinese language: This includes, grammar, pronunciation, syntax, etc." If there is any issue please leave a comment letting me know how the question might be better rather than any anonymous down vote. I want to make sure my questions are a good fit for the site and feedback is welcome.  
> **username_1**: Is your question asking for examples of Chinese sentences of various types (complex, compound-complex)? Or translations of the English sentence examples ("i.e. I washed..., I would have...")? Either way, I suggest you remove [those copied contents](http://mandarin.about.com/od/grammar/a/sentencestruct.htm) since they seem irrelevant to your question but instead causes confusion.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Thanks for the constructive feedback. I hope the edits sufficiently clarify the question.  
> **username_2**: 中国饭 should be 中国菜  
> **username_3**: “不点。。。而且”：do you mean “不但。。。而且”？  
> **username_4**: If you are looking for sample usage of different words or structures, I suggest listening to some Chinese pop songs and see if you can understand what messages the lyrics convey. Though there are often metaphors found in songs, you may first try to comprehend the literal meaning. Besides, this is also a good way for you to learn more vocabularies.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-07-09. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

**UPDATE** with answers:

Q0: example of a sample compound sentence

```
o. 她跳舞, 我歌唱.

```

Q1: Could someone supply a sample Mandarin Chinese complex sentence here?

```
a. 那是**我遇见她的**房子. (adjectival clause)
b. 我知道**答案是什么**. (noun clause)

```

Q2: Could someone supply a sample Mandarin Chinese compound-complex sentence here?

```
x. 她跳舞, 我知道**_她跳的_是什么舞**.

```

(this is partly using o and b)

Q3: Have I missed any major Mandarin Chinese sentence types?

No, I think the three types (simple, compound, complex) are the major ones.
Again, compound-complex / complex-compound is just built on compound and complex.

(note: I am not able to make the characters **bold** or *italic* in the above sentences)

---

I will start with your Q3:

I think simple, compound, and complex are the three types. You can count compound-complex / complex-compound as a fourth, but it's really building on compound and complex.

I am inclined to believe that `compound sentence` and (*some of*) `complex sentence` (\*) in English tend to be the same thing in Mandarin.

(\*) [Adverbial\_clause](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clause#Adverbial_clause)

Compare this example:

```
I ate breakfast before I washed the dishes. (A)

```

to this one:

```
I ate breakfast, and I washed the dishes. (B)

```

The distinction between `before` (adverb) and `and` (conjunction) is not so big in Mandarin.

---

The [noun clause](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clause#Noun_clause) and [adjectival clause](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clause#Relative_.28adjectival.29_clause) are a different story though.

For `noun clause` (and an answer to your Q1), if we consider [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_clause#Noun_clause) as complex:

```
I know who said that.

```

then we have this complex Mandarin sentence:

```
我知道是谁说的.

```

(Note that the addition of `是` and the omission of `that`, which changes the sentence structure quite a bit. Due to that, I don't know if the Chinese sentence should be counted as complex.)

Similarly, when you think of `adjectival clause`:

That is the house where I met her.

can be translated to:

```
那是我遇见她的房子.

```

Probably that is what makes you think that

```
the sentence types below apply to both English and Mandarin Chinese languages

```

As a side note,
I think the classification of simple, compound and complex is more or less based on English, like [this one](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentence_clause_structure).

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: please see the answers in the update  

---

