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HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min read

Compressed Sentences Like 有事打电话

Squeeze two short clauses into one with no comma and no connecting word, as in 有事打电话.

Pattern

clause A + clause B (no comma, no connector)

In a compressed sentence (紧缩句), two short clauses are pressed together with no pause and no connecting word. The listener understands the link, usually “if A, then B” or “A, so B,” from the meaning.

有事给我打电话。

When to use Compressed Sentences Like 有事打电话

A full complex sentence might say 如果有事，就给我打电话. A compressed sentence drops the connecting words and the comma: 有事给我打电话. It reads like one short sentence, but it still contains two ideas.

你不去我去。

If you don’t go, I’ll go.

不会问老师。

If you don’t know how, ask the teacher.

想吃自己做。

If you want to eat it, make it yourself.

人太多坐不下。

There are too many people to all fit.

Common traps

  • Keep both parts short; once a clause gets long, put a comma between the clauses or use connecting words.
  • Don’t add 和 between the two parts: 你不去我去, not 你不去和我去.
  • The meaning comes from context, so use the full form (如果…就…, 因为…所以…) when the link could be unclear.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

声音太小 。

The sound is too quiet to hear
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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