1.6 Sentence Structure
1.1 Sentence Structures
Here’s an updated explanation with added notes on when to use each word in Chinese:
- 姓 (xìng) – to be surnamed
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- 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)
- 叫 (jiào) – to be called or to call
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- 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.
- 是 (shì) – to be
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- 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.
- 不 (bù) – not / no
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- 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.
- 也 (yě) – also / too
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- 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.
- 和 (hé) – and
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- 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
- 在 (zài) – to be (at/in); at, in, on
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- 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.
- 吗 (ma) – question particle
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- 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?
- 哪儿 (nǎr) – where
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- 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?
- 呢 (ne) – question particle for context
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- 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?
- 只 (zhǐ) – only
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- 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.
- 会 (huì) – can; will
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- 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.
- 都 (dōu) – all; both
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- 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.
- 跟 (gēn) – with; to follow
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- 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
- 过 (guò) – to have done (something before); to pass
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- 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.
- 什么 (shénme) – what
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- 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.
- 哪 (nǎ) – which
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- 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?
- 可是 (kěshì) – but; however
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- 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.