Common errors
Syntactic errors
Errors in the structure of the sentence with the interrogative pronouns 怎么样 / 怎麼樣 or 怎样/怎樣
1. Learners may have difficulties placing the interrogative pronouns 怎么样 / 怎麼樣 or 怎样/怎樣 in a correct position. The most common errors of this type involve:
- placement of the interrogative pronoun 怎么样 / 怎麼樣 or 怎样/怎樣 in the sentence initial position.
*怎么样你妈妈?
你妈妈怎么样?
*怎麼樣你媽媽?
你媽媽怎麼樣?
2. Learners may include words in the sentence that should not be used, for instance:
- use the verb 怎样/怎樣 before the interrogative pronoun 怎么样 / 怎麼樣 or 怎样/怎樣 in the sentences with the adjectives functioning as predicates.
*你哥哥今天是怎么样?
你哥哥今天怎么样?
*你哥哥今天是怎麼樣?
你哥哥今天怎麼樣?
- use the modal particle 吗/嗎 at the end of the sentences with the interrogative pronoun.
*你哥哥怎么样吗?
你哥哥怎么样?
*你哥哥怎麼樣嗎?
你哥哥怎麼樣?
- use the particle 的 at the end of the sentences with the interrogative pronoun 怎么样 / 怎麼樣 or 怎样/怎樣.
*你怎么样的?
你怎么样?
*你怎麼樣的?
你怎麼樣?
3. Learners may omit the words that should be used, for example:
- omit the structural particle 的 in the sentences with the interrogative pronoun 怎么样 / 怎麼樣 or 怎样/怎樣 functioning as an attributive.
*他是怎么样男人?
他是怎么样的男人?
*他是怎麼樣男人?
他是怎麼樣的男人?
Pragmatic errors
Incorrect use of the interrogative pronoun
- Learners may use 你怎么样 / 你怎麼樣 instead of 怎么样 / 怎麼樣 or 你看怎么样 / 你看怎麼樣 when asking about somebody’s opinion.
*我帮你办这件事,你怎么样?
我帮你办这件事,你看怎么样?
*我幫你辦這件事,你怎麼樣?
我幫你辦這件事,你看怎麼樣?