"He goes to work out every single Sunday."
Translation:他每个星期日都去锻炼。
33 CommentsThis discussion is locked.
There is no consistency across lessons over whether you can put the information about time (every Sunday) before the subject or not
The point is, there is no consistency needed. It's up to preference and how long the time specifier is.
If, for example the time specifier is very long, it's more natural to put it before the subject.
1958
A user below said the 都 modifies the verb 去 so 都 can't go before 他 .
The dictionary says 都 means:
all; both; entirely; (used for emphasis) even; already; (not) at all
Part of Speech (副) adverb
While I can understand that 都 (as an adverb) needs to go before the verb, it definitely seems 都 is modifying the time element and not the verb. It's one of those times where the Chinese and English don't match up as easily.
I wish I had been using a dictionary when I started this course. It took 9 months, but someone finally answered my question. :-)
I don't get it. What are you saying that this sentence is actually saying then?
- 1958
We previously learned that time can go before or after the subject.
每天 · 我学习 or 我 · 每天学习 - I study every day
So if 每天 is "every day" and 每天都 is "every single day", we wanted to know why 我每天都学习 is allowed and 每天都我学习 is not allowed.
In English, we think of 每天都 (every single day) as being fully time related, but in Chinese grammar the 都 aspect is linked to the verb and not the time. So you can't use 每天都 before the subject like you can with 每天.
- 1180
每天 is a time point. 都 is an adverb. 都 must go right before the verb (or predicate adjective). The only thing that can come between 都 and its verb (or predicate adjective) is another adverb. So, 每天我都学习 is correct.
- 439
2021.02.21
「都」 has a function where it often is used as a 「毎・都」 pair. It doesn't have to be used, but it is naturally spoken and written that way a lot
The 「都」 here makes the 「每个星期日」 mean something along the lines of (every "single" Sunday) or ("each and" every Sunday). That's all @cinnamonte1 was trying to say
Of course,
他每个星期日去锻炼。 is a perfectly valid sentence without the 「都」
- 137
Why should 都 be used in this sentence? I thought 每个 already said that it's about every sunday
It is the equivalent of the word 'single' in the sentence 'He goes to work out every single Sunday'. (Not that it translates to 'single', but that it is being used for emphasis, even if the sentence works without it.)
I put the ta before the dou and got marked off. I would appreciate if someone could tell me if there is another place I could put it other than the beginning. I like to place the subject after the time.
- 1200
Could you explain to us learners why 都 has to go between the 他 and 去 and why it wouldn't be 星期日都他去 like us foreign learners might expect it to be?
- 439
2020.02.02
Though the 每天 phrase here can be moved around, this kind of usage of 「都」goes in front of the verb
So while,
他每天星期日 都去锻炼。and
每天星期日他 都去锻炼。
are equivalent, the （都）stays with the （去）here
Just using 每天星期日都 requires a verb next.
This is the normal grammar pattern for a 每...都 (V) pair sentence
For example,
每天星期日都 很热 is fine
每天星期日都 放假。This assumes I omitted a（我，你...）
Native speaker here. I think adding a "都" would be better. "每个星期日（，）他都去锻炼。"
- 1040
That doesn't really make sense. 都 modifies the verb 去. Having it in front of 我 is not grammatically correct
- 1958
Why do you recommend putting 都 before the verb 去 and not right after 星期日 ?
How does that work in Chinese?
The noun Sunday is modified by two adjectives every single. Every is a necessary descriptor since it conveys necessary meaning and therefore comes before the noun. Single is mere commentary and is not crucial and therefore follows the noun. That is my guess after reading numerous blogs on Chinese adjectives. Google translate agrees with Duo and translates the sentence precisely the same as Duo. Although Google is by no means an authority, they usually get the simple stuff.
- 507
Sometimes the subject can come after the adverbial phrase, can't it? Is word order strict?