Alternative existential sentences

It's not just 在 and 有 that can be used to form existential sentences, expressing something's existence in a certain place or location. The word order may be a little different from what you are used to, but these are still fairly ways to make everyday statements such as, "there is a book lying on the desk."

Existential Sentences with 着

Structure

Location Word + Verb + 着／了+ [Noun Phrase]

Examples

• 桌子 上 放 着 一 本 书。Zhūozi shàng fàng zhe yī běn shū.There is a book lying on the table.
• 公园 的 椅子 上 坐 着几 个 人。Gōngyuán de yǐzi shàng zuò zhe jǐ gè rén.Some people are sitting in the chairs in park.
• 柜子 里 挂 着 一些 衣服。Guìzi lǐ guà zhe yīxiē yīfu.There are some clothes hanging inside the closet.
• 楼下 停 了 几 辆 车 。 Lóuxià tíng le jǐ liàng chē.A few cars are parking downstairs.
• 锅 里 煮 了 鸡汤 。Guō lǐ zhǔ le jītāng.I made chicken soup in the pot.

Existential Sentences with 是

表示对一种存在的判断，主语必须是表示方位或处所意义的词语。是字句对事物的判断具有排他性，"是"后面的宾语是这个处所范围内唯一的事物。

Structure

Location Word + Verb + 是 + [Noun Phrase]

Examples

• 洗衣机 里 是 一些 脏 衣服 。Xǐyījī lǐ shì yīxiē zāng yīfu.Inside the washing machine are some dirty clothes.
• 袋子 里 是 我 的 午饭 。Dàizi lǐ shì wǒ de wǔfàn.There is my lunch in the bag.
• 墙 上 都 是 他 家人 的 照片 。Qiáng shàng dōu shì tā jiārén de zhàopiàn.On the wall are all his family's pictures.
• 行李箱 里 是 我 给 朋友 买 的 礼物 。Xínglixiāng lǐ shì wǒ gěi péngyou mǎi de lǐwù.In my suitcase are the gifts that I bought for my friends.
• 桌子 上 是 孩子们 昨天 画 的 画 。Zhuōzi shàng shì háizi men zuótiān huà de huà.On the desk are the pictures the kids drew yesterday.

Note that 是 is used to describe a singular, or one object existing somewhere while 有 can refer to multiple objects/ people.

See Also

• Indicating location with "zai" before verbs
• Special cases of "zai" following verbs
• Expressing existence in a place with "zai"

Sources and Further Reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 128) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (p. 191) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 264, 325)→buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 40-1, 164-5, 185) →buy