ABSTRACT

Basic Cantonese introduces the essentials of Cantonese grammar in a straightforward and systematic way.

Each of the 28 units deals with a grammatical topic and provides associated exercises, designed to put grammar into a communicative context. Special attention is paid to topics which differ from English and European language structures.

This new edition features:

clear, accessible format

• lively examples to illustrate each grammar point

• informative keys to all exercises

• glossary of grammatical terms

Basic Cantonese is ideal for students new to the language. Together with its sister volume, Intermediate Cantonese, it forms a structured course of the essentials of Cantonese grammar.

chapter 1|5 pages

Unit 1: Consonants

chapter 2|4 pages

Unit 2: Vowels and diphthongs

chapter 3|5 pages

Unit 3: Tone

chapter 4|6 pages

Unit 4: Pronouns

chapter 5|3 pages

Unit 5: Possession Ge 嘅

chapter 7|4 pages

Unit 7: Being Haih 係

chapter 8|6 pages

Unit 8: Noun classifiers

chapter 9|4 pages

Unit 9: Adjectives

chapter 10|5 pages

Unit 10: Adverbs of manner

chapter 12|7 pages

Unit 12: Comparison Gwo 過 and dī 啲

chapter 13|7 pages

Unit 13: Prepositions Space and time

chapter 14|6 pages

Unit 14: Negation

chapter 16|5 pages

Unit 16: Verbs of giving Béi 畀

chapter 17|5 pages

Unit 17: Verbs and particles

chapter 19|6 pages

Unit 19: Activities Gán 緊 and jyuh 住

chapter 20|7 pages

Unit 20: Auxiliary verbs

chapter 21|5 pages

Unit 21: Passives

chapter 22|5 pages

Unit 22: Word order and topicalization

chapter 23|6 pages

Unit 23: Yes/no questions

chapter 24|5 pages

Unit 24: Wh-questions

chapter 25|5 pages

Unit 25: Sentence particles

chapter 26|5 pages

Unit 26: Imperatives

chapter 27|5 pages

Unit 27: Requests and thanks

chapter 28|6 pages

Unit 28: Numbers, dates and times