In this sequence, we cover several important grammar points: pronouns for animals and things, a new classifier, the difference between “a little” and the famous 了 for situational change.
Pronouns 大家, 它 and 它们
In Chinese, there is a specific pronoun to refer to animals and objects in the third person: 它 . Its plural form is 它们 .
Summary of third-person pronouns:
- 他 : he (for a man)
- 她 : she (for a woman)
- 它 : it (for an animal or object)
Examples from the text:
我家有一只狗，还有两只猫。它们都不大。
My family has a dog and also two cats. They are not big.
Note
In speech, 他, 她 and 它 are all pronounced the same: . The distinction is only in writing.
大家 is a pronoun meaning “everyone.” It is used to address a group or speak about the whole group.
Example: 大家好！ Hello everyone!
The classifier 只
只 is the classifier for small animals (cats, dogs, birds, etc.).
Examples from the text:
我家有一只狗。 My family has a dog.
还有两只猫。 And also two cats.
WARNING: 只 has two pronunciations
只 is pronounced (first tone) when used as a classifier.
But 只 is pronounced (third tone) when used as an adverb meaning “only.”
Example: 我只有一个妹妹。 I have only one younger sister.
一点儿 and 有点儿: two ways to say “a little”
Both expressions mean “a little,” but their use differs.
1. 一点儿 : a little (after the verb)
一点儿 comes after the verb. It indicates a small quantity, with no negative connotation.
Examples:
他们都会说一点儿中文。
They all know how to speak a little Chinese.
也会写一些汉字。
And they can also write some Chinese characters.
2. 有点儿 : a little (before the verb)
有点儿 comes before the verb (or adjectival verb). It is an adverb and often carries a negative connotation, implying discomfort or awkwardness.
Example from the text:
我有点儿喜欢她。
I like her a little (it’s a bit awkward…).
Don’t mix them up!
一点儿 comes after the verb: 说一点儿中文 (speak a little Chinese).
有点儿 comes before the verb: 有点儿喜欢 (like a little).
You can remember that 有点儿 often carries a nuance of awkwardness or negativity, while 一点儿 is neutral.
The final 了: situational change
The particle 了 , placed at the end of a sentence, indicates that a situational change has occurred: something is new, different from before. It is a modal particle.
Examples from the text:
我二十岁了。
I am now twenty years old. (= this is new, I’ve reached that age)
她九岁了。
She is now nine years old.
Comparison:
我二十岁。 I am twenty years old. (simple statement, no nuance)
我二十岁了。 I am now twenty years old. (that’s it, I’ve reached that age — it’s new)
Note
This 了 is not a past tense marker. It indicates a change in state, regardless of time. For example, 我不学中文了。 means “I no longer study Chinese.” (= change: before I studied, now I don’t).
Using modal 了 isn’t always obvious for beginners. However, it becomes more natural with practice. It’s therefore important to memorize typical sentences.
The expression 有的: “some… others…”
有的 means “some.” It is used to express a distinction within a group: “some are X, others are Y.”
Example from the text:
他们有的是英国人，有的是美国人。
Among them, some are English, others are American.
The expression 人很好: “to be a good person”
In the sentence 我的爸爸妈妈人很好。 , the word 人 does not refer to “a person” in the literal sense, but describes someone’s character. It’s like saying in English: “My parents are good people.”
The structure is:
和 in the sense of “with”
We saw in Sequence 6 that 和 means “and” (a coordinating conjunction between two nouns). In this sequence, 和 takes another meaning: “with” (preposition).
Example from the text:
我喜欢和它们玩。
I like to play with them.
How to tell the two meanings apart? It’s the context that makes it clear:
爸爸和妈妈 — dad and mom (between two nouns = “and”)
和它们玩 — play with them (before a complement + verb = “with”)
