Difference between revisions of "Alternative existential sentences"

 
(36 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{stub}}
 
 
{{Grammar Box}}
 
{{Grammar Box}}
  
[[Category:**URGENT**]]
+
Expressing something's existence in a certain place or location is not just limited to 在 (zài) and 有 (yǒu). The word order may be a little different from what you are used to, but 着 (zhe) and 是 (shì) are also ways to make everyday statements such as, "There is a book lying on the desk."
  
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."
+
== Pattern with 着 ==
  
== Existential Sentences with 着 ==
+
Verbs that are paired with 着 are usually [[stative verb]]s. So unlike with [[action verb]]s, you're going to be describing an action that is kind of like just sitting there. It could be standing there, lying there, sitting there hanging there... the point is it isn't actively expending energy ''doing'' anything.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
+
Place + Verb + + [Noun Phrase]
Location Word + Verb + 着/了+ [Noun Phrase]
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Line 20: Line 17:
 
<div class= "liju">
 
<div class= "liju">
  
*桌子 上 放 <em>着</em> 一 本 书。<span class="pinyin">Zhūozi shàng fàng <em>zhe</em> yī běn shū.</span><span class="trans">There is a book lying on the table.</span>
+
*桌子 上 放 <em>着</em> 一 本 书 。<span class="pinyin">Zhuōzi shàng fàng <em>zhe</em> yī běn shū .</span><span class="trans">There is a book on the desk.</span>
*公园 的 椅子 上 坐 <em>着</em>几 个 人。<span class="pinyin">Gōngyuán de yǐzi shàng zuò <em>zhe</em> jǐ gè rén.</span><span class="trans">Some people are sitting in the chairs in park.</span>
+
*大厅 里 站 <em>着</em> 一些 警察 。<span class="pinyin">Dàtīng lǐ zhàn <em>zhe</em> yīxiē jǐngchá.</span><span class="trans">There are several policemen standing in the hall.</span>
*柜子 <em>着</em> 一些 衣服。<span class="pinyin">Guìzi guà <em>zhe</em> yīxiē yīfu.</span><span class="trans">There are some clothes hanging inside the closet.</span>
+
*教室 <em>着</em> 两 百 多 个 学生 。<span class="pinyin">Jiàoshì zuò <em>zhe</em> liǎng bǎi duō gè xuéshēng.</span><span class="trans">There are more than two hundred students sitting in the classroom.</span>
*楼下 停 <em></em> 几 辆 车 。 <span class="pinyin">Lóuxià tíng <em>le</em> jǐ liàng chē.</span><span class="trans">A few cars are parking downstairs.</span>
+
*地下室 里 堆 <em></em> 很 多 旧 东西 。<span class="pinyin">Dìxiàshì lǐ duī <em>zhe</em> hěn duō jiù dōngxi.</span><span class="trans">There is lots of old stuff piled up in the basement.</span>
*锅 里 煮 <em></em> 鸡汤 。<span class="pinyin">Guō lǐ zhǔ <em>le</em> jītāng.</span><span class="trans">I made chicken soup in the pot.</span>
+
*楼下 停 <em></em> 几 辆 车 。<span class="pinyin">Lóuxià tíng <em>zhe</em> jǐ liàng chē.</span><span class="trans">A few cars are parked downstairs.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Existential Sentences with 是 ==
+
Note that in English we sometimes use a verb in its "-ing" form, and sometimes use the passive "-ed" form of the verb.
  
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,""后面的宾语是这个处所范围内唯一的事物。
+
== Pattern with ==
 +
 
 +
The subject in the 是 sentence pattern indicates the location or area. The object that comes after 是 is the only thing (worth mentioning) in that area. It's worth noting that there's no real time indication for most sentences like this. It could be setting a scene in a story (in the past), or it could be describing the current state of things (in the present).
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
+
Place + 是 + [Noun Phrase]
Location Word + Verb + 是 + [Noun Phrase]
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Line 44: Line 41:
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*洗衣机 里 <em>是</em> 一些 脏 衣服 。<span class="pinyin">Xǐyījī lǐ <em>shì</em> yīxiē zāng yīfu.</span><span class="trans">Inside the washing machine are some dirty clothes.</span>
+
*洗衣机 里 <em>是</em> 一些 脏 衣服 。<span class="expl">There is nothing in the washing machine other than the dirty clothes.</span><span class="pinyin">Xǐyījī lǐ <em>shì</em> yīxiē zāng yīfu.</span><span class="trans">There are dirty clothes inside the washing machine.</span>
*袋子 里 <em>是</em> 我 的 午饭 。<span class="pinyin">Dàizi lǐ <em>shì</em> wǒ de wǔfàn.</span><span class="trans">There is my lunch in the bag.</span>
+
*袋子 里 <em>是</em> 我 的 午饭 。<span class="expl">The only thing in the bag is my lunch.</span><span class="pinyin">Dàizi lǐ <em>shì</em> wǒ de wǔfàn.</span><span class="trans">My lunch is in the bag.</span>
*墙 上 都 <em>是</em> 他 家人 的 照片 。<span class="pinyin">Qiáng shàng dōu <em>shì</em> tā jiārén de zhàopiàn.</span><span class="trans">On the wall are all his family's pictures.</span>
+
*墙 上 都 <em>是</em> 他 家人 的 照片 。<span class="expl">His family's photos are all over the wall, and nothing else is on he wall.</span><span class="pinyin">Qiáng shàng dōu <em>shì</em> tā jiārén de zhàopiàn.</span><span class="trans">His family's photos are hanging on the wall.</span>
*行李箱 里 <em>是</em> 我 给 朋友 买 的 礼物 。<span class="pinyin">Xínglixiāng lǐ <em>shì</em> wǒ gěi péngyou mǎi de lǐwù.</span><span class="trans">In my suitcase are the gifts that I bought for my friends.</span>
+
*盒子 里 <em>是</em> 的 礼物 。<span class="expl">Other than your gift, there is nothing else in the box.</span><span class="pinyin">Hézi lǐ <em>shì</em> de lǐwù.</span><span class="trans">Your gift is in the box.</span>
*桌子 上 <em>是</em> 孩子们 昨天 。<span class="pinyin">Zhuōzi shàng <em>shì</em> háizi men zuótiān huà de huà.</span><span class="trans">On the desk are the pictures the kids drew yesterday.</span>
+
*桌子 上 <em>是</em> 昨天 没 吃完 <span class="expl">The food that was left over from yesterday is the only thing on the table.</span><span class="pinyin">Zhuōzi shàng <em>shì</em> zuótiān méi chī wán de cài.</span><span class="trans">The food that was left over from yesterday is on the table.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Note that 是 is used to describe a singular, or one object existing somewhere while 有 can refer to multiple objects/ people.
+
Note that 是 is used to describe a singular object existing somewhere, while 有 can refer to multiple objects/people.
  
==See Also==
+
== See also ==
  
 
*[[Indicating location with "zai" before verbs]]
 
*[[Indicating location with "zai" before verbs]]
Line 60: Line 57:
 
*[[Expressing existence in a place with "zai"]]
 
*[[Expressing existence in a place with "zai"]]
  
==Sources and Further Reading==
+
== Sources and Further Reading ==
  
===Books===
+
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (p. 128) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
+
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|23}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (p. 191) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
+
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|128}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 264, 325)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]
+
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|191}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (pp. 40-1, 164-5, 185) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
+
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|264, 325}}
 +
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|40-1, 164-5, 185}}
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|着|B1|Location Word + Verb + 着/了+ [Noun Phrase]|桌子 上 放 <em>着</em> 一 本 书。|grammar point| ASGAC619}}
+
{{HSK|HSK3}}
{{Rel char|着}}
+
{{Basic Grammar|着|B1|Place + Verb + + Noun Phrase|桌子 上 放 <em>着</em> 一 本 书 。|grammar point|ASGAC619}}
 
{{Rel char|是}}
 
{{Rel char|是}}
{{Similar|Negative commands with "bie"}}
+
{{Similar|Aspect particle "zhe"}}
{{Similar|Negative commands with "buyao"}}
+
{{Similar|Using "zhe" when "verbing away"}}
{{Similar|Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings}}
+
{{Similar|Expressing actions in progress (full form)}}
{{POS|Prepositional Phrase}}
+
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
{{Used for|Describing the existence of an object in a certain location or place}}
+
{{Subprop|Basic/Simple Sentence Patterns}}
{{Translation|don't need to}}
+
{{Used for|Expressing existence}}

Latest revision as of 07:50, 4 March 2019

Expressing something's existence in a certain place or location is not just limited to 在 (zài) and 有 (yǒu). The word order may be a little different from what you are used to, but 着 (zhe) and 是 (shì) are also ways to make everyday statements such as, "There is a book lying on the desk."

Pattern with 着

Verbs that are paired with 着 are usually stative verbs. So unlike with action verbs, you're going to be describing an action that is kind of like just sitting there. It could be standing there, lying there, sitting there hanging there... the point is it isn't actively expending energy doing anything.

Structure

Place + Verb + 着 + [Noun Phrase]

Examples

  • 桌子 上 放 一 本 书 。Zhuōzi shàng fàng zhe yī běn shū .There is a book on the desk.
  • 大厅 里 站 一些 警察 。Dàtīng lǐ zhàn zhe yīxiē jǐngchá.There are several policemen standing in the hall.
  • 教室 里 坐 两 百 多 个 学生 。Jiàoshì lǐ zuò zhe liǎng bǎi duō gè xuéshēng.There are more than two hundred students sitting in the classroom.
  • 地下室 里 堆 很 多 旧 东西 。Dìxiàshì lǐ duī zhe hěn duō jiù dōngxi.There is lots of old stuff piled up in the basement.
  • 楼下 停 几 辆 车 。Lóuxià tíng zhe jǐ liàng chē.A few cars are parked downstairs.

Note that in English we sometimes use a verb in its "-ing" form, and sometimes use the passive "-ed" form of the verb.

Pattern with 是

The subject in the 是 sentence pattern indicates the location or area. The object that comes after 是 is the only thing (worth mentioning) in that area. It's worth noting that there's no real time indication for most sentences like this. It could be setting a scene in a story (in the past), or it could be describing the current state of things (in the present).

Structure

Place + 是 + [Noun Phrase]

Examples

  • 洗衣机 里 一些 脏 衣服 。There is nothing in the washing machine other than the dirty clothes.Xǐyījī lǐ shì yīxiē zāng yīfu.There are dirty clothes inside the washing machine.
  • 袋子 里 我 的 午饭 。The only thing in the bag is my lunch.Dàizi lǐ shì wǒ de wǔfàn.My lunch is in the bag.
  • 墙 上 都 他 家人 的 照片 。His family's photos are all over the wall, and nothing else is on he wall.Qiáng shàng dōu shì tā jiārén de zhàopiàn.His family's photos are hanging on the wall.
  • 盒子 里 你 的 礼物 。Other than your gift, there is nothing else in the box.Hézi lǐ shì nǐ de lǐwù.Your gift is in the box.
  • 桌子 上 昨天 没 吃完 的 菜 。The food that was left over from yesterday is the only thing on the table.Zhuōzi shàng shì zuótiān méi chī wán de cài.The food that was left over from yesterday is on the table.

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

See also

Sources and Further Reading

Books