Difference between revisions of "Alternative existential sentences"
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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.
 
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.
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==See Also==
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*[[Indicating location with "zai" before verbs]]
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*[[Special cases of "zai" following verbs]]
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*[[Expressing existence in a place with "zai"]]
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==Sources and Further Reading==
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===Books===
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* [[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]
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* [[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]
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* [[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]
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* [[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]
  
 
{{Basic Grammar|Existential Sentences|B1|grammar point|ASGVYIZT}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|Existential Sentences|B1|grammar point|ASGVYIZT}}
 
{{Used for| Describing the existence of an object in a certain location or place}}
 
{{Used for| Describing the existence of an object in a certain location or place}}
 
{{POS|Prepositional Phrase}}
 
{{POS|Prepositional Phrase}}

Revision as of 08:02, 29 September 2016

This article is a stub. Editors can help the Chinese Grammar Wiki by expanding it.

Existential sentences are used to express an object's existence in a certain place or location. The word order is a little different from that of a regular Chinese sentence, but this is still a pretty useful grammar point as existential sentences express everyday things, like "there is a book lying on the desk," and similar phrases.

Typically, Chinese sentences contain the SVO or STPVO word order, but existential sentences have their own order.

Structure

Place word/phrase + verb + 了／着 + numeral + measure word + noun

Examples

  • 桌子上着一本书。Zhūo zi shàng zhe yī běn shū. There is a book lying on the table.
  • 在电影院的椅子上坐着几个人。Zaì dìanyǐngyuàn de yǐzi shàng zuò zhe jǐ ge rén. Some people are sitting in the chairs in the movie theater.
  • 在柜子里挂着一些衣服。Zaì guìzi lǐ guà zhe yī xiē yīfu. There are some clothes hanging inside the closet.

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

Examples

  • 洗衣机里有一些衬衫。Xǐyījī lǐ yǒu yī xiē chènshān.There are some shirts inside the washing machine.
  • 书桌上是一个手机。Shū zhūo shàng shì yī ge shǒujī.On the desk is a cellphone.

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

Sources and Further Reading

Books

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