The basic and simple Chinese grammar points are very important for the students who just begin to study Mandarin Chinese to learn because most of them are related to expressions applied to the daily communication. For example, 不怎么样is an expression means not good or no good , showing dissatisfaction. Another important language point is the structure adjective + 了（一）点儿like 颜色深了一点儿, meaning the color is a litter too dark. Usually speaking, this structure is applied to indicate the inappropriateness in degree when being compared with a criterion. It often shows the tone of dissatisfaction. For example, 这条裤子长了一点儿.

别提了is also frequently used in daily life which has the similar meaning with don’t mention it (to me) in English. It is often said when the speaker feels that someone or something is very unpleasant and does not want to mention him or it again. Sometimes, it is used with an exclamatory tone. The following dialogue is a typical example to understand the meaning. A: 你怎么了？B：嗨，别提了，昨天又拉肚子了.

Let’s move our attention to the pattern 差（一）点儿which is an adverb function as adverbial in a sentence. It usually means something is close to happen. However, the foreign students should pay attention to two points when they study in volunteer programs in China. If the thing referred to is undesirable, this phrase is used to indicate that it nearly happened but didn’t actually happen, and connotes a tone of being fortunate. The verbs that follow may use either the affirmative or the negative forms. But the meanings are the same, indicating something did not happen. For examples, you can say both今天早上我差点儿吃到and今天早上我差点儿没迟到.

On the contrary, if it is something desirable, either the affirmative or the negative form of the verb may be used. The negative form indicates that something did happen finally and connotes a rejoicing tone. The affirmative form indicates something did not happen eventually and connotes regret and pity. For instance, 到我这儿正好卖完，我差点儿就买到了.