Ch 27 · Lesson 10Mandarin · Chapter 27 · Lesson 10 · Grammar primer
以来 and 以…为…
follows the time and runs up to now (); is a point later on. …… takes X as Y: .
The short version
，。Tā lái Zhōngguó yǐlái, yìzhí hěn máng.
Why?Hide
English 'since' goes before the time; (yǐlái) goes after it, and the stretch reaches the present: (sān nián yǐlái), over the last three years. (sān nián yǐhòu) is different: three years later.
以来 (yǐlái): since, up to now
(yǐlái) goes after a time, not before it as English "since" does, and the stretch runs up to now. (yǐhòu) is a point later on:
三年以前 sān nián yǐqián: three years ago (a point)
三年以来 sān nián yǐlái: over the last three years, up to now
三年以后 sān nián yǐhòu: three years later (a point)
Timeline from past to future, with now marked.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
，。 | Sān nián yǐlái, zhège chéngshì biànhuà hěn dà. | This city has changed a lot in three years |
，。 | Tā lái Zhōngguó yǐlái, yìzhí hěn máng. | He's been busy since he came to China |
，国。 | Sān nián yǐhòu, tā huíguó le. | Three years later, he went home |
Because the stretch reaches now, the clause after (yǐlái) usually reports a change or an ongoing state, as in the first two rows.
以…为… (yǐ…wéi…): take X as Y
Here the old verb shows most plainly: (yǐ) takes something, and (wéi) says what it counts as. Both halves must appear:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
。 | Zhège xuéxiào yǐ xuéshēng wéi zhōngxīn. | This school puts students at the centre |
例。 | Wǒmen yǐ tā wéi lì. | Let's take him as an example |
。 | Tā yǐ gōngzuò wéi zhòng. | He puts work first |
is read wéi here, "to be, to act as", not the wèi of (wèi shénme). On its own, (yǐ) also survives in writing as "with, by": (yǐ zuì kuài de sùdù), at top speed.
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
，免。 | ，免。 | 免 (yǐmiǎn) already means "not to" |
，。 | ，。 | (yǐlái) follows the time |
。 | 。 | the frame is …… (yǐ…wéi…) |
。 | ，。 | (yǐjí) is for lists of things |
Going further: The whole family on one screen and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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