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HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 7 min read

Appearing and Disappearing: 前面走过来一个人

Describe someone or something arriving or leaving a place, as in 家里来了一位客人 and 我们班走了两个同学.

Pattern

Place + verb + complement (+ 了) + number + measure word + person / thing

Start with the place and put the new arrival after the verb: 家里来了一位客人, not 一位客人家里来了.

家里来了一位客人。

When to use Appearing and Disappearing: 前面走过来一个人

To say that someone or something appeared in or left a place, start with the place, then the verb with a complement and usually 了, then a number + measure word + the person or thing: 家里来了一位客人。 The person or thing is new information that the listener doesn’t know yet, so it comes after the verb, not at the start. For appearing, use 来 or a direction like 过来, 进来, 出来; for disappearing, use a result complement such as 走 or 掉 (飞走, 跑掉), or a verb that already means leaving or losing, such as 走 or 少.

前面走过来一个人。

Someone is walking towards us up ahead.

教室里跑进来一只小狗。

A little dog ran into the classroom.

我们班走了两个同学。

Two classmates have left our class.

楼上搬来了一家人。

A new family has moved in upstairs.

Common traps

  • Don’t start with 在: say 前面走过来一个人, not 在前面走过来一个人. The place itself begins the sentence.
  • Put the new arrival after the verb: 家里来了一位客人, not 一位客人家里来了.
  • Use a number + measure word for someone new: 楼上搬来了一家人. For a person you both know, put them first instead: 那家人搬走了, not 楼上搬走了那家人.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

门口 一个人

A person came to the doorway. Introduce an arrival
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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