In the Grammar and Vocabulary section, you will learn:

• 多 do1 (‘many, much; more’) and 少 siu2 (‘few, little; fewer, less’)
• The Verb 俾 / 畀 / 比 bei2 (‘to give’)
• The Modal Verb 可以 ho2 ji5 (‘can’)
• The Verbal Particle 埋 maai4 II (‘up’)
• The Verbal Particle 返 / 番 / 翻 faan1 I (‘left’)
• Definite and Indefinite Noun Phrases II
• Vocabulary List
• Vocabulary: Tableware

多 do1 means ‘many, much’, and 少 siu2 means ‘few, little’. We put 多 do1 or 少 siu2 before a noun. We usually add a degree word before 多 do1 or 少 siu2.

We combine the degree word 好 hou2 (‘very’) and 多 do1 (‘many, much’) to mean ‘a lot’.

We combine the degree word 好 hou2 (‘very’) and 少 siu2 (‘few, little’) to mean ‘very few, very little’.

We can also use other degree words (e.g., 勁 ging6 ‘strongly’, 超 ciu1 ‘super’).

We can say 少 siu2 twice to form the expression 少少 siu2 siu2, which means ‘a few, a little’. We don’t add a degree word before 少少 siu2 siu2. Note that we don’t have the expression 多多 do1 do1.

We can use 多 do1 with the verb 有 jau5 (‘to have’) to form a sentence.

We can use 少 siu2 with the verb 得 dak1 (‘to only have’) to form a sentence.

We can use 少少 siu2 siu2 with 有 jau5 (‘to have’) or 得 dak1 (‘to only have’) to form a sentence.

We can use 有冇 jau5 mou5 (‘to have + to not have’) to ask if there is something. When answering this type of question, we can omit the noun and say only the quantity.

多 do1 can also mean ‘more’, and 少 siu2 can also mean ‘fewer, less’. We use the following structure to express these meanings:

When the number is 一 jat1, we can optionally omit 一 jat1.

For plural (without an exact quantity) or uncountable nouns, we can use the classifier 啲 di1.

We usually omit 啲 di1 in some contracted expressions, such as the special requirements for food or drinks we learned previously.

We can also use 多啲 do1 di1 (‘more’) or 少啲 siu2 di1 (‘fewer, less’) alone.

We often add the aspect particle 咗 zo2 after 多 do1 or 少 siu2 if we want to indicate that the quantity of something is different from the expected or previous quantity.

The verb 俾 bei2 (also written as 畀 or 比) means ‘to give’. We can put two objects after 俾 bei2. The first one is a direct object (the thing given out). The second one is an indirect object (the recipient, i.e. the person who receives the thing). Notice the direct object is put before the indirect object.

We can omit the direct object if it is obvious in the context.

When we use a verb with the sense of giving, getting or creating something (e.g., 遞 dai6 ‘to pass’, 夾 gaap3 / gaap6 / gep6 ‘to pick up’), we can add 俾 bei2 to indicate the recipient using the sentence structure below. 俾 bei2 in this structure functions like the English preposition to (as in please pass the bowl to me). In grammar, this is also a type of serial verb construction.

The modal verb 可以 ho2 ji5 means ‘can’. We use it to indicate it is possible for someone to do an activity, or someone is allowed to do an activity. We put a verb for the activity after 可以 ho2 ji5.

We put 唔 m4 (‘not’) before 可以 ho2 ji5 to negate 可以 ho2 ji5.

We use the X-not-X construction to form yes-no questions with 可以 ho2 ji5. Notice X will be 可以 ho2 ji5 instead of the verb behind it.

We can contract 可唔可以 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 to可摸耳 / 可摸以 ho2 mo2 ji5. Notice we don’t usually use the written form 可摸耳 / 可摸以 unless we try to be funny.

To answer the question, we can give a long answer or a short answer. We give a short answer more often. We form a short answer by omitting the subject, the verb after 可以 and the object in the long answer.

For negative answers, we usually explain the reason instead.

We also often use 可唔可以 ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 to make a polite request. To accept a request, we can say 好呀 hou2 aa3 or 可以呀 ho2 ji5 aa3. To refuse a request, we usually explain the reason for refusal.

In Grammar and Vocabulary 23.6, we learned that the verbal particle 埋 maai4 can add the meaning of ‘as well’ to a sentence.

The verbal particle 埋 maai4 can also add the meaning of ‘up’ to the verb (as in to eat up the fried rice). When a task is incomplete and part of the task remains unfinished, we can use 埋 maai4 to indicate that the remaining part will be completed so that the whole task is completely finished. In the context of this lesson, part of a dish is not eaten. We use 埋 maai4 to indicate the remaining part can be eaten so that the whole dish is eaten up.

The verbal particle 返 faan1 (also written as 番 or 翻) can add the meaning of ‘left’ to the sentence (as in there are two cans of beer left). We use 返 faan1 to indicate that a certain quantity of something is left, in comparison to the original quantity. We only use 返 faan1 with several verbs to express this meaning. In this lesson, we will use 返 faan1 with the verbs 得 dak1 (‘to only have’) and 剩 zing6 (‘to remain’, also written as 淨).

We also use 返 faan1 with the verb 留 lau4 (‘to keep’) to indicate a certain quantity of something is kept, in comparison to the original quantity if nothing is kept.

In Grammar and Vocabulary 31.3, we learned that when a noun phrase appears after a verb (as an object or a subject complement) and only has the classifier and the noun, it can be a definite noun phrase or an indefinite noun phrase.

We can usually decide whether a noun phrase is definite or indefinite based on the meaning of the sentence. However, there are instances where a noun phrase can be interpreted as both definite and indefinite if we consider the meaning of the sentence alone. In such cases, we will need other information in the context to decide whether the noun phrase is definite or indefinite.

The rightmost column is the classifiers we use with the nouns.

In the Communication section, you will learn:

• Getting Help at a Restaurant II