Lesson 2: Before Going to Work

准备

Learn 正在 + 动词 and A + 还是 + B？ through Before Going to Work.

7 words3 grammar points1 dialogues~16 min

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Vocabulary7 words

准备zhǔnbèiVerb

1.to prepare
2.to intend; to plan

Examples

我正在准备晚饭。

wǒzhèngzàizhǔnbèiwǎnfàn。

I am preparing dinner.

你准备好了吗？

nǐzhǔnbèihǎolema？

Are you ready?

回来huíláiVerb

1.to come back; to return
2.to come back

Examples

他很快就会回来。

tāhěnkuàijiùhuìhuílái。

He will be back very soon.

就jiùAdverb

1.then; in that case
2.right away; immediately
3.just; only

Examples

如果你去，我就去。

rúguǒnǐqù，wǒjiùqù。

If you go, then I'll go.

他就来了。

tājiùláile。

He will come right away.

非常fēichángAdverb

1.very; extremely
2.unusual; extraordinary

Examples

今天天气非常好。

jīntiāntiānqìfēichánghǎo。

The weather is very nice today.

这是非常时期。

zhèshìfēichángshíqī。

This is an extraordinary period.

坐zuòVerb

1.to sitThe action of sitting down.
2.to take (a vehicle)A bus, train, etc.

Examples

请坐。

qǐngzuò。

Please sit down.

坐车。

zuòchē。

to take a vehicle

上班shàngbānVerb

1.to go to work
2.to start one's work shift

Examples

我每天八点上班。

wǒměitiānbādiǎnshàngbān。

I go to work at eight o'clock every day.

电脑diànnǎoNoun

computerliterally 'electric brain'

Examples

用电脑。

yòngdiànnǎo。

To use a computer.

Grammar

Saying what is happening now (present continuous)

S + 正在 + V

Use 正在 to express an action happening at the moment of speaking. It works like 'be ...-ing' in English.

他正在准备饭。

tāzhèngzàizhǔnbèifàn。

He is getting the meal ready.

我正在从外边回来。

wǒzhèngzàicóngwàibianhuílái。

I’m on my way back from outside.

A or B (making a choice)

A + 还是 + B？

Use 还是 to present a choice or comparison, usually in a question. 还是 means 'or'.

你记得这些，还是忘了？

nǐjìdezhèxiē，háishìwàngle？

Do you remember these, or have you forgotten?

你喝水还是喝茶？

nǐhēshuǐháishìhēchá？

Do you want water or tea?

The linking adverbs 还 and 也

S + 还 / 也 + 动词、形容词

还 (hái) means "still / in addition"; 也 (yě) means "also". Both go before the verb or adjective, never at the end.

我还有一些事。

wǒháiyǒuyìxiēshì。

I still have a few things to do.

他也回来了。

tāyěhuíláile。

He came back too.

Dialogues

Early morning before work

Xiao Lin and Xiao Nan are roommates. One morning, Xiao Nan is getting his things ready for work.

小林

早上好！你正在准备什么？

zǎoshànghǎo！nǐzhèngzàizhǔnbèishénme？

Good morning! What are you getting ready?

小南

我在准备去上班。这些是文件，还有我的电脑。

wǒzàizhǔnbèiqùshàngbān。zhèxiēshìwénjiàn，háiyǒuwǒdediànnǎo。

I'm getting ready to go to work. These are documents, and my computer too.

小林

你记得从家里坐几路汽车吗？

nǐjìdecóngjiālizuòjǐlùqìchēma？

Do you remember which bus number to take from home?

小南

记得，最好的还是三路车。你呢？你还是开车去上班吗？

jìde，zuìhǎodeháishìsānlùchē。nǐne？nǐháishìkāichēqùshàngbānma？

I remember — bus number 3 is still the best. And you? Do you still drive to work?

小林

今天我不开车，我坐汽车去。

jīntiānwǒbùkāichē，wǒzuòqìchēqù。

Today I'm not driving — I'll take the bus.

小南

非常好！坐汽车也很快。你准备什么时候回来？

fēichánghǎo！zuòqìchēyěhěnkuài。nǐzhǔnbèishénmeshíhouhuílái？

Great! The bus is quick too. When are you planning to come back?

小林

大概下午五点就回来了。

dàgàixiàwǔwǔdiǎnjiùhuíláile。

Around five in the afternoon I'll be back.