Alternative existential sentences
Revision as of 09:47, 19 July 2017 by ChenShishuang (talk | contribs)
| This article is a stub. Editors can help the Chinese Grammar Wiki by expanding it. |
-
Level
-
Similar to
-
Used for
-
Keywords
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."
Contents
Existential Sentences with 着
Structure
Location Word + Verb + 着／了+ [Noun Phrase]
Examples
- 桌子 上 放 着 一 本 书。There is a book lying on the table.
- 公园 的 椅子 上 坐 着几 个 人。Some people are sitting in the chairs in park.
- 柜子 里 挂 着 一些 衣服。There are some clothes hanging inside the closet.
- 楼下 停 了 几 辆 车 。 A few cars are parking downstairs.
- 锅 里 煮 了 鸡汤 。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 。Inside the washing machine are some dirty clothes.
- 袋子 里 是 我 的 午饭 。There is my lunch in the bag.
- 墙 上 都 是 他 家人 的 照片 。On the wall are all his family's pictures.
- 行李箱 里 是 我 给 朋友 买 的 礼物 。In my suitcase are the gifts that I bought for my friends.
- 桌子 上 是 孩子们 昨天 画 的 画 。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
