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

Existential sentences have three kinds of verbs: 有 (yǒu), 是 (shì), and verbs that express bodily gestures or actions like 拿 (ná).

Structure

Place Word/Phrase + Verb + 了／着 + Numeral + Measure Word + Noun

Examples

• 洗衣机 里 是 一些 衬衫。Xǐyījī lǐ shì yīxiē chènshān.Inside the washing machine are some shirts.
• 桌 上 有 一 个 手机。Zhuō shàng yǒu yī gè shǒujī.There is a cell phone on the desk.

Note when using existential sentences, you are describing an object's existence in some place or location. Also, when using 有 and 是, 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