Difference between revisions of "Topic-comment sentences"

Revision as of 07:38, 21 June 2018

Level

B1 / HSK0
Level

B1
Level

HSK0
Similar to
- Marking a topic with "de hua" (B2)
- Marking a topic with "ma" (B2)
Similar to
- Marking a topic with "de hua" (HSK5)
- Marking a topic with "ma" (HSK5)
Used for

Marking a topic
Keywords

None

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。Shuǐguǒ, wǒ zuì ài chī cǎoméi.Fruit, I like strawberries best.
不好意思，咖啡，我都喝完了。Bù hǎoyìsi, kāfēi, wǒ dōu hē wán le.I'm sorry. I finished all the coffee.
你好，票，还有吗？Nǐhǎo, piào, háiyǒu ma?Hello. Are there any tickets left?
这个问题 ，你一个人没办法解决。Zhège wèntí, nǐ yīgèrén méi bànfǎ jiějué.There is no way that you can solve this problem all by yourself.
那部电影 ，看过的人都喜欢。Nà bù diànyǐng, kàn guo de rén dōu xǐhuan.People that have watched the movie like it.
这个新项目 ，公司打算让我来负责。Zhège xīn xiàngmù, gōngsī dǎsuàn ràng wǒ lái fùzé.The company plans to let me take charge of this new project.
你借我的钱 ，还没还吧？Nǐ jiè wǒ de qián, hái méi hái ba?You haven't returned the money you borrowed from me, right?
他的事 ，我不想管那么多。Tā de shì, wǒ bù xiǎng guǎn nàme duō.I don't want to be so involved in his business.
明天下午要开会 ，你记得吧？Míngtiān xiàwǔ yào kāi huì, nǐ jìde ba?You have a meeting tomorrow afternoon. You remember, don't you?
我的笔 ，弟弟弄坏了。Wǒ de bǐ, dìdi nòng huài le.My younger brother broke my pen.

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

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 *<em>你 借 我 的 钱</em> ，还没 还 吧 ？<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǐ jiè wǒ de qián</em>, hái méi hái 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 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 that, don't you?</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, 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>