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The Basic Sentence Structure in Chinese

 

In Chinese, sentences do not change the morphology, or form of words, to show person, tense, gender, number, or case. Instead, sentence structure is used to convey different meanings. Here is a list of basic Chinese sentence structures:

Declarative Sentence Structures

1. Sentences with “是”

This sentence structure has the verb “是” (to be) as the key predicate. The negative form is “不” before “是”.

Subject + 是 + Other Elements

e.g.

他是老师。(Tā shì lǎoshī.) He is teacher.

这是我的书。(Zhè shì wǒ de shū.) This is my book.

他们不是中国人。(Tāmen bú shì Zhōnɡɡuó rén.) They are not Chinese.

SubjectNegationOther Elements
老师
我的书
他们中国人

2. Sentences with “有”

This sentence structure has the verb “有” (to have) as the key predicate. The negative form is “没” before “有”.

Subject + 有 + Other Elements

e.g.

他有书。(Tā yǒu shū.) He has books.

我们有中文课。(Wǒmen yǒu Zhōnɡwén kè.) We have Chinese class.

爸爸没有苹果。(Bàbɑ méi yǒu pínɡɡuǒ.) Dady doesn’t have apple.

SubjectNegationOther Elements
我们中文课
爸爸苹果

3. Sentences with an adjective predicate

Chinese adjectives can be complete predicates. Adverbs like “很,” “也,” and “都” can modify these sentences. To make a negative sentence, “不” is placed before the adjective that is the predicate.

Subject + Adjective Predicate

e.g.

我忙。(Wǒ máng.)I`m busy.

我很忙。(Wǒ hěn máng.)I`m very busy.

我不忙。(Wǒ bù máng.)I`m not busy.

我们都很忙。(Wǒmen dōu hěn máng.)We are all very busy.

SubjectPredicate
AdverbAdjective
我们都很

4. Sentences with a verbal predicate

Verbs are the main part of these sentences, and the object typically comes after the verb. To make a sentence negative, “不” or “没” is placed before the verb. But “不” and “没” are not interchangeable – certain verbs use “不,” while others use “没.”

Subject + (Adverb) + Verb + (Object)

(S-V-O)

e.g.

我爱你。(Wǒ ài nǐ.)I love you.

我们都喜欢汉语。(Wǒmen dōu xǐhuān hànyǔ.)We all like the Chinese language.

你在哪儿?(Nǐ zài nǎr?)Where are you?

我不知道。(Wǒ bù zhīdào.)I don`t know.

Subject

Verbal Predicate

Object

AdverbVerb 
我们喜欢汉语
哪儿
知道

5. Sentences with a nominal predicate

Nominal words or phrases can serve as the predicate in Chinese, but only for limited topics like time, age, date, weather, nationality, price, etc. The negative form uses “不是” before the nominal word or phrase.

Subject +Nominal Predicate

e.g.

今天三月五号。(Jīntiān sān yǜe wǔ hào.) Today is March 5th.

我八岁。(Wǒ bā sùi.) I’m eight years old.

今天晴天。(Jīntiān qíngtiān.) It’s sunny today.

他中国人。(Tā Zhōngguó rén.) He is Chinese.

昨天不是星期五。(Zuótiān bú shì xīngqī wǔ.) Yesterday wasn’t Friday.

SubjectNegation FormNominal Predicate
今天 三月五号
八岁
今天晴天
中国人
昨天不是星期五

6. Sentences with serial verbs

These sentences have multiple verbs to indicate a sequence of actions, purposes, methods, etc. The negative form is usually “不” or “没” before the first verb.

Subject + Verb1 + (Object1) + Verb2 + (Object2)

e.g.

他打开门走进教室。(Tā dǎkāi mén zǒujìn jiàoshì.) He opens the door and enters the classroom.

他去图书馆看书。(Tā qù túshū ɡuǎn kàn shū.) He goes to the library for read.

我用筷子吃饭。(Wǒ yònɡ kuàizi chī fàn.) I eat with chopsticks.

他不去上海玩。(Tā bú qù Shànɡhǎi wán.) He won’t go to Shanghai to have fun.

我们没有时间休息。(Wǒmen méi yǒu shíjiān xiūxi.) We don’t have time to rest.

SubjectNegationVerb1(Object1)Verb2(Object2)
打开走进教室
图书馆
筷子
上海
我们时间休息

7. Comparative Sentences with “比”

You can use “比” in sentences to compare degrees or states between two objects. The negative form uses “没有” without changing the basic meaning expressed by the speaker.

A + 比 + B + Adjective/Verbal Phrase

→ B + 没有 + A + Adjective/Verbal Phrase

e.g.

他比我高。(Tā bǐ wǒ ɡāo.) He is taller than me.

我没有他高。(Wǒ méi yǒu tā ɡāo.) I’m shorter than him.

我比他跑得快。(Wǒ bǐ tā pǎo de kuài.) I run faster than him.

他没有我跑得快。(Tā méi yǒu wǒ pǎo de kuài.) He runs slower than me.

ABAdjective/Verbal Phrase
跑得快
B没有AAdjective/Verbal Phrase
没有
没有跑得快

8. Sentences with a subject-predicate predicate

This sentence structure has a subject-predicate predicate. It has two related subjects.

Subject + Subject-Predicate Predicate

e.g.

他一句话也不说。(Tā yí jù huà yě bù shuō.) He doesn’t say one word.

这棵树叶子很多。(Zhè kē shù yèzi hěn duō.) There are many leaves on the tree.

他汉语很好。(Tā hànyǚ hěn hǎo.) He speaks Chinese very well.

SubjectSubject-Predicate Predicate
SubjectPredicate
一句话也不说
这棵树叶子很多
汉语很好

9. Sentences with double objects

This sentence structure has two objects, and only specific verbs like “给” (give), “问” (ask), “告诉” (tell) can be used. The negative form is “不” or “没” before the verb.

Subject + Verb + Object1 + Object2

e.g.

妈妈给我一块钱。(Māmɑ ɡěi wǒ yí kuài qián.) Mama gave me one yuan.

他问我一个问题。(Tā wèn wǒ yí ɡè wèntí.) He asks me a question.

他告诉我一件事。(Tā ɡàosu wǒ yí jiàn shì.) He tells me something.

SubjectVerbObject1Object2
妈妈一块钱
一个问题
告诉一件事

Question Sentence Structures

10. General Questions 吗(ma) and 呢(ne)

To form a yes-no question in Chinese, add “吗” to the end of a declarative sentence. For certain interrogative sentences, “呢” can be used at the end to indicate a question.

Sentence +

Interrogative Sentence +

e.g.

你是英国人吗?(Nǐ shì Yīnɡɡuó rén mɑ?) Are you British?

你有笔吗?(Nǐ yǒu bǐ mɑ?) Do you have a pen?

我叫小明,你呢?(Wǒ jiào Xiǎomínɡ, nǐ ne?) I’m Xiaoming, and you?

小明不是老师,小华呢?(Xiǎomínɡ bú shì lǎoshī, Xiǎohuá ne?) Xiaoming isn’t a teacher, how about Xiaohua?

SentenceElliptical Interrogative Sentence
你是英国人我叫小明,你
你有笔小明不是老师,小华

11. Yes-No Questions and Affirmative-Negative Questions in Chinese

Yes-No Questions

To form Yes-No questions in Chinese, you can use inflection when stating a declarative sentence, add “吗” at the end of a declarative sentence, or add “好吗” or “对吗” at the end of the sentence.

Sentence ? (with inflection)

Sentence + 吗?

Sentence, 好吗?/对吗?

e.g.

你是学生?(Nǐ shì xuéshenɡ?) You are a student?

这是你的杯子吗?(Zhè shì nǐ de bēizi mɑ?) Is this your cup?

我们一起去超市,好吗?(Wǒmen yìqǐ qù chāoshì, hǎo mɑ?) Let’s go to the supermarket together, is that ok?

这是你的本子,对吗?(Zhè shì nǐ de běnzi, duì mɑ?) This is your notebook, right?

Sentence
你是学生
Sentence吗 ?
这是你的杯子吗 ?
Sentence好吗/对吗 ?
我们一起去超市好吗 ?
这是你的本子对吗 ?

Affirmative-Negative Questions

Affirmative-Negative Questions are composed of the affirmative and the negative forms of the predicate, and the responder can choose between them. In this kind of sentence, “呢” can be put after the sentence while “吗” can’t.

Subject + Predicate + (Object) + (呢)

(Affirmative Form + Negative Form)

e.g.

你是不是学生?(Nǐ shì bu shì xuéshenɡ?) Are you a student or not?

他会不会游泳呢?(Tā huì bu huì yóuyǒnɡ ne?) Does he can swim or not?

你听没听见呢?(Nǐ tīnɡ méi tīnɡ jiàn ne?) Do you hear or not?

你们有没有尺子?(Nǐmen yǒu méi yǒu chǐzi?) Do you have ruler or not?

SubjectPredicateObject
Affirmative FormNegative Form
不是学生
不会游泳
没听见
你们没有尺子

12. A Summary of Wh-Questions in Chinese

To ask questions in Chinese using words like “who,” “when,” “where,” “what,” and “why,” you can use “谁,” “什么时候” (or “几点”), “哪,” “什么,” and “为什么.” These questions follow the same word order as declarative sentences.

Who→谁

When→什么时候/几点

Where→哪

What→什么

Why→为什么

e.g.

你是谁?(Nǐ shì shuí?) Who are you?

你什么时候回家?(Nǐ shénme shíhou huíjiā?) When will you back home?

现在几点?(Xiànzài jǐ diǎn?) What time is it?

你是哪国人?(Nǐ shì nǎ ɡuó rén?) Where are you from?

你在哪里?(Nǐ zài nǎlǐ?) Where are you?

这是什么?(Zhè shì shénme?) What’s this?

为什么不上课?(Wèi shénme bú shànɡ kè?) Why don’t you take classes?

Who你是?
When什么时候回家?

 

现在几点?

 

Where你是国人?

 

你在哪里?

 

What这是什么?
Why为什么不上课?

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This Post Has One Comment

  1. whenever i put in an individual word on google translate it is XYZ but then when i put that same word in a sentence it changes, why is this?
    if it is possible could you make a video on this

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