Difference between revisions of "Interrogative pronouns"
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Interrogative pronouns are the pronouns you use to ask questions. The [[placement of question words]] is actually a little easier than it is in English, because Chinese doesn't move them around like English does. Instead, the question words stay "in-situ," that is, where the answer to the question will go.
  
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{{Grammar box}}
 
  
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== Notes ==
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==The Pronouns==
  
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疑问代词
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These are the main interrogative pronouns, often called "WH-words" in English because most of them start with those letters.
  
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AKA: question words, wh-words
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<div class="liju">
  
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* Chinese word order: "in-situ" question words. Unlike in English, the word order doesn't change because the sentence is a question.
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{| class="wikitable"
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* Interrogative pronouns for quantity: 多少 and 几
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|+Question words
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** 多少 is a versatile interrogative pronoun and can cover any number; 几 is generally used for numbers 1 - 9.
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|-
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** 几 must have a measure word, whereas 多少 can occur alone or with a measure word.
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! English !! Chinese !! Pinyin
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*Interrogative pronouns can also mean "anything", "anyone", "something" or "someone" e.g. 谁都喜欢中国菜.
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|-
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| who || 谁 || shéi
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|-
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| what || 什么 || shénme
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|-
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| where || 哪里 || nǎlǐ
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|-
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| when || 什么时候 || <span class="spaced">shénme shíhou</span>
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|-
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| why || 为什么 || wèishénme
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|-
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| how || 怎么 || zěnme
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|}
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</div>
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The words to ask about quantity are 多少 and 几. 多少 is a versatile interrogative pronoun and can cover any number, but 几 is generally used for numbers 1 - 9. Additionally, 几 requires a measure word, but 多少 doesn't need one. Interrogative pronouns can act as indefinite references meaning "anything," "anyone," "something" or "someone." e.g. 谁都喜欢中国菜.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==

Latest revision as of 04:03, 25 April 2017

Interrogative pronouns are the pronouns you use to ask questions. The placement of question words is actually a little easier than it is in English, because Chinese doesn't move them around like English does. Instead, the question words stay "in-situ," that is, where the answer to the question will go.


The Pronouns

These are the main interrogative pronouns, often called "WH-words" in English because most of them start with those letters.

Question words
English Chinese Pinyin
who 谁 shéi
what 什么 shénme
where 哪里 nǎlǐ
when 什么时候 shénme shíhou
why 为什么 wèishénme
how 怎么 zěnme

The words to ask about quantity are 多少 and 几. 多少 is a versatile interrogative pronoun and can cover any number, but 几 is generally used for numbers 1 - 9. Additionally, 几 requires a measure word, but 多少 doesn't need one. Interrogative pronouns can act as indefinite references meaning "anything," "anyone," "something" or "someone." e.g. 谁都喜欢中国菜.

Sources

Retrieved from "https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Interrogative_pronouns&oldid=32470"