1.6 Sentence Structure

1.1 Sentence Structures

Here’s an updated explanation with added notes on when to use each word in Chinese:

1. 姓 (xìng) – to be surnamed
   

• • Meaning: Used to talk about someone’s surname. It is common when introducing yourself or asking about someone’s last name.
  • When to use:
    • Use 姓 when you specifically want to focus on the surname, not the full name.
  • Example:
    • 我姓王。(Wǒ xìng Wáng.) → My surname is Wang.
    • 您贵姓？(Nín guì xìng?) → What is your honorable surname?
      (Polite way to ask for someone’s surname)

2. 叫 (jiào) – to be called or to call

• • Meaning: Used to introduce your full name or given name.
  • When to use:
    • Use 叫 when giving your full name or first name during introductions.
    • It can also be used when calling someone or something by a name.
  • Examples:
    • 我叫李华。(Wǒ jiào Lǐ Huá.) → I am called Li Hua.
    • 这只狗叫小黑。(Zhè zhī gǒu jiào Xiǎohēi.) → This dog is called Little Black.

3. 是 (shì) – to be

• • Meaning: The verb “to be” is used to link the subject to a noun or identity.
  • When to use:
    • Use 是 to describe what someone is or to state facts, such as professions, nationalities, or relationships.
    • Do not use it with adjectives (e.g., “I am good” in Chinese is我很好 – Wǒ hěn hǎo , not “我是好”).
  • Examples:
    • 他是老师。(Tā shì lǎoshī.) → He is a teacher.
    • 我是中国人。(Wǒ shì Zhōngguó rén.) → I am Chinese.

4. 不 (bù) – not / no

• • Meaning: Used to negate verbs or statements, including “是”.
  • When to use:
    • Use 不 before a verb to form a negative statement.
    • Do not use it for past actions (use 没 méi instead).
  • Examples:
    • 我不是学生。(Wǒ bù shì xuéshēng.) → I am not a student.
    • 他不喜欢打球。(Tā bù xǐ huān dǎ qiú.) → He does not like playing ball.

5. 也 (yě) – also / too

• • Meaning: Used to show that someone shares the same situation or action.
  • When to use:
    • Use 也 before the verb to indicate similarity.
    • Make sure it comes after the subject but before the verb.
  • Examples:
    • 他是老师，我也是老师。(Tā shì lǎoshī, wǒ yě shì lǎoshī.) → He is a teacher; I am also a teacher.
    • 她喜欢看书，我也喜欢看书。(Tā xǐhuān kàn shū, wǒ yě xǐhuān kàn shū.) → She likes reading; I also like reading.

6. 和 (hé) – and

• • Meaning: Used to connect nouns. It cannot connect verbs or sentences.
  • When to use:
    • Use 和 to link two or more nouns in a list.
    • Do not use it to connect verbs or phrases.
  • Examples:
    • 我和你是朋友。(Wǒ hé nǐ shì péngyǒu.) → You and I are friends.
    • 我喜欢做饭和游泳。(Wǒ xǐ huān zuò fàn hé yóu yǒng .) → I like cooking and swimming. （In this sentence, 做饭 and 游泳 function as nouns).

1. 2. Chat between Melissa and Jaden

1. 在 (zài) – to be (at/in); at, in, on

• • Meaning: Indicates location or existence. It can also function as the verb “to be (located at)” or “to be doing something.”
  • When to use:
    • Use 在 to describe where someone or something is located.
    • Use 在 + verb to indicate an ongoing action (similar to “-ing” in English).
  • Examples:
    • 我在学校。(Wǒ zài xuéxiào.) → I am at school.
    • 他在看书。(Tā zài kàn shū.) → He is reading a book.

2. 吗 (ma) – question particle

• • Meaning: Turns a statement into a yes/no question.
  • When to use:
    • Use 吗 at the end of a statement to turn it into a question.
  • Examples:
    • 你是学生吗？(Nǐ shì xuéshēng ma?) → Are you a student?
    • 他喜欢音乐吗？(Tā xǐhuān yīnyuè ma?) → Does he like music?

3. 哪儿 (nǎr) – where

• • Meaning: Asks for a location.
  • When to use:
    • Use 哪儿 in questions to ask “where” something or someone is.
  • Examples:
    • 你在哪儿？(Nǐ zài nǎr?) → Where are you?
    • 学校在哪儿？(Xuéxiào zài nǎr?) → Where is the school?

4. 呢 (ne) – question particle for context

• • Meaning: Used to ask about the current state or context, often in follow-up questions.
  • When to use:
    • Use 呢 after a noun or pronoun to ask about someone or something already mentioned.
  • Examples:
    • 我是学生，你呢？(Wǒ shì xuéshēng, nǐ ne?) → I am a student, and you?
    • 我的书在这里，你的呢？(Wǒ de shū zài zhèlǐ, nǐ de ne?) → My book is here; where’s yours?

5. 只 (zhǐ) – only

• • Meaning: Indicates “only” or “just.”
  • When to use:
    • Use 只 before a verb or noun to emphasize limitation.
  • Examples:
    • 我只有一块钱。(Wǒ zhǐ yǒu yí kuài qián.) → I only have one yuan.
    • 他只会说汉语。(Tā zhǐ huì shuō Hànyǔ.) → He can only speak Chinese.

6. 会 (huì) – can; will

• • Meaning: Indicates ability (can) or future actions (will).
  • When to use:
    • Use 会 to talk about skills someone has learned or future actions.
  • Examples:
    • 我会说英语。(Wǒ huì shuō Yīngyǔ.) → I can speak English.
    • 明天我会来。(Míngtiān wǒ huì lái.) → I will come tomorrow.

7. 都 (dōu) – all; both

• • Meaning: Indicates “all” or “both” in a sentence.
  • When to use:
    • Use 都 before a verb to emphasize that something applies to everyone/everything mentioned.
  • Examples:
    • 我们都是学生。(Wǒmen dōu shì xuéshēng.) → We are all students.
    • 他们都喜欢打篮球。(Tāmen dōu xǐhuān dǎ lánqiú.) → They all like playing basketball.

8. 跟 (gēn) – with; to follow

• • Meaning: Used to indicate “with” someone or to follow someone.
  • When to use:
    • Use 跟 to connect two people (like “with”).
    • Use it in phrases where “following” is implied.
  • Examples:
    • 我跟你一起去。(Wǒ gēn nǐ yìqǐ qù.) → I will go with you.
    • 他跟老师学中文。(Tā gēn lǎoshī xué Zhōngwén.) → He studies Chinese with the teacher.

1.3 Chat between Mei and Diego

1. 过 (guò) – to have done (something before); to pass

• • Meaning: Used to indicate past experience or that something has happened before.
  • When to use:
    • Use 过 after a verb to show that someone has experienced something.
    • It can also mean “to pass” (e.g., time, a place).
  • Usage:
    • Subject + Verb + 过 + Object
    • Verb + 过 → Indicates past experience.
  • Examples:
    • 我去过中国。(Wǒ qù guò Zhōngguó.) → I have been to China.
    • 你吃过北京烤鸭吗？(Nǐ chī guò Běijīng kǎoyā ma?) → Have you eaten Peking duck before?
    • 时间已经过了。(Shíjiān yǐjīng guò le.) → Time has passed.

2. 什么 (shénme) – what

• • Meaning: Used to ask what or refer to something unknown or unspecified.
  • When to use:
    • Use 什么 in questions to ask “what.”
    • It can also appear in statements to mean “something” or “anything.”
  • Usage:
    • Subject + Verb + 什么 + Object? → Question format.
    • Used as part of a statement.
  • Examples:
    • 你喜欢吃什么？(Nǐ xǐhuān chī shénme?) → What do you like to eat?
    • 这是什么？(Zhè shì shénme?) → What is this?
    • 他没说什么。(Tā méi shuō shénme.) → He didn’t say anything.

3. 哪 (nǎ) – which

• • Meaning: Used to ask “which” or “where.” It can also act as a question word.
  • When to use:
    • Use 哪 with a measure word (like 个) to ask “which one.”
    • Use 哪 + Place to ask “where.”
  • Usage:
    • 哪 + Measure Word + Noun? → “Which (one)?”
    • Subject + 在 + 哪 + Place? → “Where?”
  • Examples:
    • 你喜欢哪个？(Nǐ xǐhuān nǎ ge?) → Which one do you like?
    • 你从哪儿来？(Nǐ cóng nǎr lái?) → Where are you from?
    • 这本书是哪个老师的？(Zhè běn shū shì nǎ ge lǎoshī de?) → Which teacher’s book is this?

4. 可是 (kěshì) – but; however

• • Meaning: Used to express contrast or “but” in a sentence.
  • When to use:
    • Use 可是 to connect two clauses where the second part contrasts with the first.
    • Similar to 但是 (dànshì), but often used for emphasis in spoken Chinese.
  • Usage:
    • Clause 1, 可是 + Clause 2 → Shows contrast.
  • Examples:
    • 我想去旅游，可是没有时间。(Wǒ xiǎng qù lǚyóu, kěshì méiyǒu shíjiān.) → I want to travel, but I don’t have time.
    • 他很聪明，可是不努力。(Tā hěn cōngmíng, kěshì bù nǔlì.) → He is smart, but he doesn’t work hard.
    • 这个菜很好吃，可是太贵了。(Zhè ge cài hěn hǎochī, kěshì tài guì le.) → This dish is delicious, but it’s too expensive.