Difference between revisions of "Topic-comment sentences"
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | In a topic-comment sentence, the usual [[word order]] is rearranged a bit in order to emphasize a certain part of a sentence. The part that is to be emphasized becomes the topic | + | In a topic-comment sentence, the usual [[word order]] is rearranged a bit, in order to emphasize a certain part of a sentence. The part that is to be emphasized becomes the topic and moves to the beginning of the sentence, with the comment on the topic coming after the topic has been stated. |
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
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*不 好意思 ，<em>咖啡</em> ，我 都 喝完 了 。<span class="pinyin">Bù hǎoyìsi, <em>kāfēi</em>, wǒ dōu hē wán le.</span><span class="trans">I'm sorry. I finished all the coffee.</span> | *不 好意思 ，<em>咖啡</em> ，我 都 喝完 了 。<span class="pinyin">Bù hǎoyìsi, <em>kāfēi</em>, wǒ dōu hē wán le.</span><span class="trans">I'm sorry. I finished all the coffee.</span> | ||
*你好 ，<em>票</em> ，还有 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐhǎo, <em>piào</em>, háiyǒu ma?</span><span class="trans">Hello. Are there any tickets left?</span> | *你好 ，<em>票</em> ，还有 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐhǎo, <em>piào</em>, háiyǒu ma?</span><span class="trans">Hello. Are there any tickets left?</span> | ||
| − | *<em>这个 问题 </em> | + | *<em>这个 问题 </em> ，你 一个人 没办法 解决 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zhège wèntí</em>, nǐ yīgèrén méi bànfǎ jiějué.</span><span class="trans">There is no way that you can solve this problem all by yourself.</span> |
| − | *<em>那 部 电影 </em> ，看 过 的 人 都 喜欢 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nà bù diànyǐng</em>, kàn guo de rén dōu xǐhuan.</span><span class="trans"> | + | *<em>那 部 电影 </em> ，看 过 的 人 都 喜欢 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nà bù diànyǐng</em>, kàn guo de rén dōu xǐhuan.</span><span class="trans">All the people that have watched that movie like it.</span> |
| − | *<em>这个 新 项目</em> ，公司 打算 让 我 来 负责 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zhège xīn xiàngmù</em>, gōngsī dǎsuàn ràng wǒ lái fùzé.</span><span class="trans">The company plans to let me | + | *<em>这个 新 项目</em> ，公司 打算 让 我 来 负责 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zhège xīn xiàngmù</em>, gōngsī dǎsuàn ràng wǒ lái fùzé.</span><span class="trans">The company plans to let me take charge of this new project.</span> |
| − | *<em>你 借 我 的 钱</em> ，还没 还 吧 ？<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǐ jiè wǒ de qián</em>, hái méi | + | *<em>你 借 我 的 钱</em> ，还没 还 吧 ？<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǐ jiè wǒ de qián</em>, hái méi huán ba?</span><span class="trans">You haven't returned the money you borrowed from me, right?</span> |
| − | *<em>他 的 事</em> ，我 不 想 管 那么 多 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Tā de shì</em>, wǒ bù xiǎng guǎn nàme duō.</span><span class="trans">I don't want to be so | + | *<em>他 的 事</em> ，我 不 想 管 那么 多 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Tā de shì</em>, wǒ bù xiǎng guǎn nàme duō.</span><span class="trans">I don't want to be so involved in his business.</span> |
| − | *<em>明天 下午 要 开会</em> ，你 记得 吧 ？<span class="pinyin"><em>Míngtiān xiàwǔ yào kāi huì</em>, nǐ jìde ba?</span><span class="trans">You have a meeting tomorrow afternoon. You remember | + | *<em>明天 下午 要 开会</em> ，你 记得 吧 ？<span class="pinyin"><em>Míngtiān xiàwǔ yào kāi huì</em>, nǐ jìde ba?</span><span class="trans">You have a meeting tomorrow afternoon. You remember, don't you?</span> |
*<em>我 的 笔</em> ，弟弟 弄坏 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Wǒ de bǐ</em>, dìdi nòng huài le.</span><span class="trans">My younger brother broke my pen.</span> | *<em>我 的 笔</em> ，弟弟 弄坏 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Wǒ de bǐ</em>, dìdi nòng huài le.</span><span class="trans">My younger brother broke my pen.</span> | ||
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Marking a topic with "de hua"]] |
| + | * [[Marking a topic with "ma"]] | ||
== Sources and further reading == | == Sources and further reading == | ||
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]] | [[Category:B1 grammar points]] | ||
| − | {{Basic Grammar|none|B1|Topic，Comment| | + | {{HSK|HSK0}} |
| + | {{Basic Grammar|none|B1|Topic，Comment|<em>那 部 电影 </em> ，看 过 的 人 都 喜欢 。|grammar point|ASG5KNWW}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Marking a topic with "de hua"}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Marking a topic with "ma"}} | ||
{{Used for|Marking a topic}} | {{Used for|Marking a topic}} | ||
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}} | {{Structure|Sentence Patterns}} | ||
Latest revision as of 08:46, 24 April 2019
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
In a topic-comment sentence, the usual word order is rearranged a bit, in order to emphasize a certain part of a sentence. The part that is to be emphasized becomes the topic and moves to the beginning of the sentence, with the comment on the topic coming after the topic has been stated.
Structure
Topic ，Comment
Examples
Just make sure to put a comma after the topic if you are writing the sentence down!
- 水果 ，我 最爱 吃 草莓 。Fruit, I like strawberries best.
- 不 好意思 ，咖啡 ，我 都 喝完 了 。I'm sorry. I finished all the coffee.
- 你好 ，票 ，还有 吗 ？Hello. Are there any tickets left?
- 这个 问题 ，你 一个人 没办法 解决 。There is no way that you can solve this problem all by yourself.
- 那 部 电影 ，看 过 的 人 都 喜欢 。All the people that have watched that movie like it.
- 这个 新 项目 ，公司 打算 让 我 来 负责 。The company plans to let me take charge of this new project.
- 你 借 我 的 钱 ，还没 还 吧 ？You haven't returned the money you borrowed from me, right?
- 他 的 事 ，我 不 想 管 那么 多 。I don't want to be so involved in his business.
- 明天 下午 要 开会 ，你 记得 吧 ？You have a meeting tomorrow afternoon. You remember, don't you?
- 我 的 笔 ，弟弟 弄坏 了 。My younger brother broke my pen.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 149-50) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 260) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 83-4) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 353-4) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
