我以为他很聪明 = "I thought he was smart" (turns out he isn't) 我认为他很聪明 = "I think he is smart" (I believe it's true) Here is a case where English uses the past tense, without further details, to indicate that the situation is now different. Since Chinese doesn't really have verb tenses, this is handled differently. … Another case is with using 本来. 我本来应该参加会议 = "I was supposed to attend the meeting" (but I didn't) 我应该参加会议 = "I'm supposed to attend the meeting" (I may or may not go) … I don't know if there are other cases like this.
verb + 过 sometimes plays the same role For example: "我想过要学弹钢琴，但是太忙了。" (Wǒ xiǎng guò yào xué tán gāngqín, dànshì tài máng le.) - I considered learning to play the piano, but I was too busy.
今天的天气别提多糟糕了 = "The weather today is indescribably lousy" I find that 别提 is often used in the expression 别提多…了. This can be quite confusing until we realize that, when 多 is followed by an adjective, it doesn't mean "many", it means "how" ("to what extent"). So, this expression literally means : "do not mention how (good/bad/etc.) … Maybe we need a lesson on the different uses of 多. 🙂
我以为他很聪明 = "I thought he was smart" (turns out he isn't)
我认为他很聪明 = "I think he is smart" (I believe it's true)
Here is a case where English uses the past tense, without further details, to indicate that the situation is now different. Since Chinese doesn't really have verb tenses, this is handled differently.
…
Another case is with using 本来.
我本来应该参加会议 = "I was supposed to attend the meeting" (but I didn't)
我应该参加会议 = "I'm supposed to attend the meeting" (I may or may not go)
…
I don't know if there are other cases like this.
verb + 过 sometimes plays the same role
For example: "我想过要学弹钢琴，但是太忙了。" (Wǒ xiǎng guò yào xué tán gāngqín, dànshì tài máng le.) - I considered learning to play the piano, but I was too busy.
今天的天气别提多糟糕了 = "The weather today is indescribably lousy"
I find that 别提 is often used in the expression 别提多…了.
This can be quite confusing until we realize that, when 多 is followed by an adjective, it doesn't mean "many", it means "how" ("to what extent"). So, this expression literally means :
"do not mention how (good/bad/etc.)
…
Maybe we need a lesson on the different uses of 多. 🙂
It would be a good idea to make a separate video about different uses of 多. I'll keep it in mind. 👍Thank you!