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 + 了/着 + [Noun Phrase]

Examples

  • 桌子 上 放 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 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 一些 衣服。Guìzi lǐ guà zhe yīxiē yīfu.There are some clothes hanging inside the closet.

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 一些 衬衫。Xǐyījī lǐ shì yīxiē chènshān.Inside the washing machine are some shirts.
  • 桌 上 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

Sources and Further Reading

Books