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

Adverbs 大概, 好像, 一定, 必须, 差不多, 几乎

Show how sure you are with 好像, 大概 and 一定, say what must happen with 必须, and say “almost” with 差不多 and 几乎.

Pattern

subject + 好像/大概/一定/必须/几乎 + verb or adjective; 差不多/大概 + number

好像 is a guess, 大概 is a fair bet, 一定 is a sure thing, and 必须 is a rule.

外面好像要下雨了。

When to use Adverbs 大概, 好像, 一定, 必须, 差不多, 几乎

These adverbs go before the verb or adjective and show how sure the speaker is. 好像 “it seems” is a guess from what you see or hear, 大概 “probably” is a fair bet, and 一定 “surely, must be” is a confident conclusion: 你一定很累吧. 大概 also means “about” before a number: 大概十分钟. Unlike 一定, the other two can also stand at the start of the sentence.

他大概不来了。

He’s probably not coming.

我大概十分钟以后到。

I’ll be there in about ten minutes.

你忙了一天，一定很累吧。

You’ve been busy all day; you must be tired.

明天考试，你必须早点儿到。

The exam is tomorrow; you have to get there early.

Common traps

  • For “don’t have to”, say 你不用来 or 你不必来, not 你不必须来.
  • 他不一定来 means “he may not come”; for “he definitely won’t come”, say 他一定不来.
  • 差不多 can be an adjective but 几乎 cannot: say 这两个差不多, not 这两个几乎.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

明天会下雪

Maybe it will snow tomorrow; it is only a possibility
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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