Learn Hardcore Chinese: Wǒ hé tā yìbiān liáotiān, yìbiān fùxí, lián shíjiān dōu wàngjì le. - She and I were chatting while reviewing and even forgot the time.

It means doing two actions at the same time. Structure: Subject + 一边 + V1 (+ O1)，一边 + V2 (+ O2). Both actions share the same subject. Here, the subject is 我和她, and the two actions are 聊天 and 复习.

Do I have to repeat 一边 before both verbs?

Yes. The standard pattern repeats it: 一边V1，一边V2. Without repeating, it sounds incomplete. A shorter alternative is 边V1边V2 (more colloquial).

Can I use something else instead of 一边…一边…?

Yes:

边V1边V2 (colloquial)
一面V1，一面V2 (more written)
V1 的同时 V2 or 同时 V1，V2 (more formal)
Progressive marker alternative: 在 V1 的同时也在 V2

What does 连…都… add to the sentence?

It adds “even…,” highlighting something surprising or unexpected. Pattern: 连 + X + 都/也 + Verb Phrase. Here, 连时间都忘记了 emphasizes that time itself was forgotten—stronger than just “forgot the time.”

Does 都 here mean “both/all” because the subject is plural?

No. In 连…都…, 都 is part of the emphasis pattern and does not mean “both/all.” If you want “both,” you’d say 我和她都忘了时间 or 我们俩都忘了时间.

Can I use 也 instead of 都 in 连…也…?

Yes. 连…都… and 连…也… often interchangeable. Many speakers feel:

都 is very common and neutral: 连时间都忘记了.
也 can sound slightly more like “even”: 连时间也忘记了. Both are correct here.

Where can the 连…都… phrase go relative to the subject?

Flexible, as long as 都/也 stays before the verb phrase:

我们连时间都忘记了。
连时间我们都忘记了。
In your sentence, the subject is understood from context: 连时间都忘记了。

Why is there a 了 at the end? What does it mark?

That 了 is the perfective aspect marker attached to the verb (忘记了 = “forgot”). It signals a completed event. It’s not the sentence-final “change-of-state” 了; it’s the verb-suffix 了 marking completion.

What’s the difference between 忘记, 忘了, and 忘掉?

忘记: neutral “forget,” slightly more formal than 忘.
忘了: colloquial; 了 marks completion (“forgot”).
忘掉: stronger, “forget completely / get rid of from memory.” All three can take 时间 as the object: 忘记了时间 / 忘了时间 / 忘掉了时间.

Is 时间 a natural object for 忘记?

Yes. 忘了时间 is idiomatic (“lost track of time”). You don’t need to say “the passage of time.” Variants: 把时间忘了, 忘了看时间 (forgot to check the time).

Why not use 和 between the two verbs, like 聊天和复习?

和 links nouns, not verbs/clauses. To coordinate two actions, use 一边…一边…, 边…边…, 同时, etc. So 一边聊天，一边复习 is correct; 聊天和复习 (as a verb phrase) is not.

Can I replace 和 with 跟 or 与 in 我和她?

Yes:

跟: very colloquial (spoken).
和: neutral, common.
与: formal/written. So 我跟她, 我和她, 我与她 all work as “she and I.”

Is 我和她 the most natural subject, or should I use 我们?

Both are fine. 我们 is simpler and very natural: 我们一边聊天，一边复习，连时间都忘记了。 Use 我和她 if you need to highlight the two specific people.

Should I put the other person first, like 她和我, for politeness?

Both 我和她 and 她和我 are acceptable. Some contexts prefer “others before self,” but everyday speech freely uses either. There’s no strong rule here.

Does 复习 need an object (what we reviewed)?

It can, but it’s optional if the context is clear. With an object: 复习功课 / 复习汉语. Without one, it just means “review (our material).”

Can I add 一起 to emphasize doing it together?

Usually unnecessary because 我和她 already implies together, and 一边…一边… already pairs the actions. 我和她一起一边聊天，一边复习 sounds redundant. If you drop 一边…一边…, then 一起聊天 is fine.

Can I combine 一边…一边… with the progressive marker 在?

They overlap in meaning, so don’t stack them directly. Prefer either:

我们一边聊天，一边复习。
我们在聊天的同时也在复习。

Could I say 我们都一边聊天，一边复习?

Avoid this. 都 would quantify the subject, but with 一边…一边… it adds no useful meaning and can sound awkward. Just say 我们一边聊天，一边复习.

Is the comma necessary between the two halves?

In writing, it’s standard to separate the two 一边 clauses with a comma: 一边V1，一边V2. In speech the pause is natural; in short sentences omitting the comma is just a punctuation choice, not a grammar change.

What’s the nuance difference between 聊天 and 说话?

聊天: “to chat,” casual, social conversation.
说话: “to speak/talk,” more general. Here 聊天 fits better for casual chatting while reviewing.

Why is 她 used? Would 他 be wrong?

In writing, 她 refers to a female person; 他 is male or generic. In speech they’re both pronounced tā, so only context (or characters in writing) tells you which one. Here, 她 just specifies “she.”