Emphasis and contrast structures:
“chính… mới… / chỉ… mới… / không những… mà còn…”
🟩 1. “chính… mới…” — “it is exactly / precisely … that …”
🔹 Meaning:
In English, it is similar to:
-
It is … that …
-
It was … who …
-
Exactly / precisely … that …
🔹 Structure:
Chính + [noun / pronoun / phrase] + mới + [verb phrase / clause]
🔹 Examples:
-
Chính anh ấy mới là người hiểu tôi nhất.
→ It is exactly him who understands me the best.
(= No one else understands me like he does.) -
Chính hôm nay tôi mới gặp cô ấy.
→ It was today that I met her.
(= Not before, not after — today is the exact day.) -
Chính vì trời mưa nên tôi không đi.
→ It’s precisely because it rained that I didn’t go.
🔹 Notes:
-
The word “chính” gives a strong emphasis — it marks something as the main point, true cause, or exact person/time.
-
Common collocations:
-
Chính anh ấy / chính cô ấy / chính hôm nay / chính vì…
-
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In speech, stress is often placed on “chính” to sound emphatic.
🟦 2. “chỉ… mới…” — “only … can / only when … then …”
🔹 Meaning:
This structure emphasizes limitation or exclusivity — it means that only one person, time, or condition can make something possible.
It’s similar to English expressions:
-
Only … can …
-
Only when … then …
🔹 Structure:
Chỉ + [noun / pronoun / condition] + mới + [verb phrase / result]
🔹 Examples:
-
Chỉ anh ấy mới giúp được tôi.
→ Only he can help me.
(= No one else can help.) -
Chỉ khi tôi ở bên bạn, tôi mới thấy hạnh phúc.
→ Only when I’m with you do I feel happy. -
Chỉ có chăm chỉ học, bạn mới giỏi được.
→ Only by studying hard can you become good.
🔹 Notes:
-
“chỉ” = only → expresses limitation
-
“mới” = then / can / really / just → emphasizes that the action or result only happens under that condition
-
The clause often has a conditional or exclusive meaning.
🟪 3. “không những… mà còn…” — “not only … but also …”
🔹 Meaning:
This structure is used to add information and show contrast or increase.
It means that something is true, and something even more significant is also true.
Equivalent to:
-
Not only … but also …
-
Both … and … (with emphasis)
🔹 Structure:
Không những + [clause 1] + mà còn + [clause 2]
🔹 Examples:
-
Không những học giỏi mà còn chăm chỉ.
→ Not only is he good at studying, but he is also hardworking. -
Cô ấy không những xinh đẹp mà còn thông minh.
→ She is not only beautiful but also intelligent. -
Tôi không những đến đúng giờ mà còn mang quà cho bạn.
→ I not only came on time but also brought you a gift.
🔹 Notes:
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The second part (after “mà còn”) usually describes something equal or stronger than the first part.
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It’s often used to praise, emphasize, or intensify meaning.
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In writing, the pattern can also appear as:
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Không chỉ… mà còn…
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Không những… mà…
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Vietnamese comparison and degree structures:
“hơn / nhất / bằng / kém / càng… càng…”
🟩 1. “hơn” = “more… than”
🔹 Meaning:
Used for comparative sentences — to say that one thing has a higher degree of a quality than another.
🔹 Structure:
A + [adjective/adverb] + hơn + B
🔹 English equivalent:
= “A is more [adj] than B.”
🔹 Examples:
-
Tôi cao hơn anh ấy.
→ I am taller than him. -
Hà Nội lạnh hơn TP.HCM.
→ Hanoi is colder than Ho Chi Minh City. -
Cô ấy nói tiếng Việt tốt hơn tôi.
→ She speaks Vietnamese better than I do.
🔹 Notes:
-
The adjective or adverb always appears before “hơn”.
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“hơn” means more / -er (comparative marker).
-
Sometimes “so với” (compared with) is added for emphasis:
→ Tôi cao hơn so với anh ấy.
🟦 2. “nhất” = “the most / -est”
🔹 Meaning:
Used for superlative sentences — to describe something that has the highest degree of a quality among others.
🔹 Structure:
A + [adjective/adverb] + nhất + (trong / ở + group)
🔹 English equivalent:
= “A is the most [adj] (in group).”
🔹 Examples:
-
Cô ấy đẹp nhất lớp.
→ She is the most beautiful girl in the class. -
Anh ấy học chăm nhất trong nhóm.
→ He studies the hardest in the group. -
Đây là món ăn ngon nhất tôi từng thử.
→ This is the most delicious dish I’ve ever tried.
🔹 Notes:
-
“nhất” always goes after the adjective.
-
“trong” or “ở” + noun specifies the group of comparison.
🟨 3. “bằng” = “as… as”
🔹 Meaning:
Used to show equality — two things are at the same level in degree or quality.
🔹 Structure:
A + [adjective/adverb] + bằng + B
🔹 English equivalent:
= “A is as [adj] as B.”
🔹 Examples:
-
Tôi cao bằng anh ấy.
→ I am as tall as him. -
Giá của chiếc áo này bằng giá của chiếc kia.
→ The price of this shirt is the same as that one. -
Cô ấy nói nhanh bằng giáo viên.
→ She speaks as fast as the teacher.
🔹 Notes:
-
For negative comparison, say:
A không + [adj] + bằng + B
→ A is not as [adj] as B.
→ Tôi không cao bằng anh ấy. (I’m not as tall as him.)
🟧 4. “kém” = “less… than / not as… as”
🔹 Meaning:
Used to express that one thing is inferior or weaker in quality or degree compared to another.
It’s more formal or softer than “không… bằng”.
🔹 Structure:
A + [adjective/adverb] + kém + B
🔹 English equivalent:
= “A is less [adj] than B.”
🔹 Examples:
-
Tôi hát kém anh ấy.
→ I sing worse than him. -
Thành phố này phát triển kém hơn thành phố kia.
→ This city is less developed than the other one. -
Cô ấy thông minh không kém ai.
→ She’s no less intelligent than anyone.
🔹 Notes:
-
“kém” can be used positively:
không kém ai = not inferior to anyone.
🟪 5. “càng… càng…” = “the more…, the more…”
🔹 Meaning:
Shows a parallel increase or decrease between two things.
When one thing changes, another changes in the same direction.
🔹 Structure:
Càng + [clause/phrase 1], càng + [clause/phrase 2]
🔹 English equivalent:
= “The more…, the more…”
🔹 Examples:
-
Càng học nhiều, càng hiểu rõ hơn.
→ The more you study, the better you understand. -
Càng uống cà phê, tôi càng thấy tỉnh táo.
→ The more coffee I drink, the more awake I feel. -
Trời càng mưa, đường càng trơn.
→ The more it rains, the slipperier the road becomes.
🔹 Notes:
-
Each “càng” introduces one half of the relationship.
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Often both clauses share the same subject.
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In spoken language, the first “càng” clause can be shortened:
→ Càng nhiều, càng tốt! (The more, the better!)
Vietnamese grammar structure that expresses ability, obligation, permission, and advice
phải / nên / cần / có thể / không được / được phép.
🟩 1. phải → “must / have to”
🔹 Meaning:
Used to express strong obligation, necessity, or rule.
The speaker says something must be done, either because of rules, external necessity, or personal conviction.
🔹 Structure:
Subject + phải + Verb + (object/complement)
🔹 English equivalent:
= “must / have to”
🔹 Examples:
-
Tôi phải làm bài tập.
→ I must do my homework. -
Chúng ta phải đi học đúng giờ.
→ We have to go to school on time. -
Bạn phải mặc áo dài trong buổi lễ.
→ You must wear an áo dài during the ceremony.
🔹 Notes:
-
“phải” shows necessity, often strong or official.
-
Negative form: không phải = “don’t have to / not required to”
→ Tôi không phải đi làm hôm nay. → “I don’t have to go to work today.”
🟦 2. nên → “should / ought to”
🔹 Meaning:
Used to give advice or suggestion.
It expresses something recommended, not forced.
🔹 Structure:
Subject + nên + Verb + (object/complement)
🔹 English equivalent:
= “should / ought to”
🔹 Examples:
-
Bạn nên nghỉ ngơi nhiều hơn.
→ You should rest more. -
Chúng ta nên học tiếng Việt mỗi ngày.
→ We should study Vietnamese every day. -
Anh ấy nên xin lỗi cô ấy.
→ He should apologize to her.
🔹 Notes:
-
“nên” = polite advice.
-
Negative form: không nên = “should not”
→ Bạn không nên nói như vậy. → “You shouldn’t say that.”
🟨 3. cần → “need to / have to (mild)”
🔹 Meaning:
Used to express necessity, but softer and more neutral than “phải”.
Often about practical needs or requirements.
🔹 Structure:
Subject + cần + Verb + (object/complement)
🔹 English equivalent:
= “need to / need”
🔹 Examples:
-
Tôi cần mua một cái áo mới.
→ I need to buy a new shirt. -
Bạn cần học chăm hơn.
→ You need to study harder. -
Chúng ta cần nói chuyện.
→ We need to talk.
🔹 Notes:
-
“cần” expresses what is necessary but not an external rule.
-
Negative: không cần = “don’t need to”
→ Bạn không cần lo lắng. → “You don’t need to worry.”
🟧 4. có thể → “can / may / be able to”
🔹 Meaning:
Used to express ability or possibility.
It can also mean permission, depending on the context.
🔹 Structure:
Subject + có thể + Verb + (object/complement)
🔹 English equivalent:
= “can / may / be able to”
🔹 Examples:
-
Tôi có thể nói tiếng Việt.
→ I can speak Vietnamese. -
Bạn có thể giúp tôi không?
→ Can you help me? -
Ngày mai trời có thể mưa.
→ It may rain tomorrow.
🔹 Notes:
-
Expresses either ability (I can swim) or possibility (It might rain).
-
Negative: không thể = “cannot / can’t / impossible”
→ Tôi không thể đi hôm nay. → “I can’t go today.”
🟥 5. không được → “must not / not allowed to”
🔹 Meaning:
Used to express prohibition — something is forbidden or not permitted.
🔹 Structure:
Subject + không được + Verb
🔹 English equivalent:
= “must not / not allowed to”
🔹 Examples:
-
Tôi không được hút thuốc ở đây.
→ I must not smoke here. / Smoking is not allowed here. -
Học sinh không được nói chuyện trong lớp.
→ Students must not talk in class. -
Bạn không được quên làm bài tập.
→ You must not forget to do your homework.
🔹 Notes:
-
“không được” is stronger than “không nên”.
-
It shows a rule, law, or strict order, not advice.
🟪 6. được phép → “be allowed to / may”
🔹 Meaning:
Used to express permission — someone has the right or is allowed to do something.
🔹 Structure:
Subject + được phép + Verb
🔹 English equivalent:
= “be allowed to / may”
🔹 Examples:
-
Sinh viên được phép sử dụng thư viện.
→ Students are allowed to use the library. -
Tôi được phép nghỉ 3 ngày.
→ I’m allowed to take 3 days off. -
Bạn được phép vào trong.
→ You may go inside.
🔹 Notes:
-
“được phép” is formal, used in written or official speech.
-
In casual speech, Vietnamese often just say “được + Verb”:
→ Tôi được nghỉ hôm nay. → I’m allowed to have a day off today.
