The Basic Sentence Structure in Chinese

 

In Chinese, sentences do not change the morphology, or form of words, to show person, tense, gender, number, or case. Instead, sentence structure is used to convey different meanings. Here is a list of basic Chinese sentence structures:

• Declarative Sentence Structures
  • Sentences with “是”
  • Sentences with “有”
  • Sentences with an adjective predicate
  • Sentences with a verbal predicate
  • Sentences with a nominal predicate
  • Sentences with serial verbs
  • Comparative Sentences with “比”
  • Sentences with a subject-predicate predicate
  • Sentences with double objects
• Question Sentence Structures
  • General Questions 吗(ma) and 呢(ne)
  • Yes-No Questions and Affirmative-Negative Questions in Chinese
  • A Summary of Wh-Questions in Chinese

Declarative Sentence Structures

1. Sentences with “是”

This sentence structure has the verb “是” (to be) as the key predicate. The negative form is “不” before “是”.

Subject + 是 + Other Elements

e.g.

他是老师。(Tā shì lǎoshī.) He is teacher.

这是我的书。(Zhè shì wǒ de shū.) This is my book.

他们不是中国人。(Tāmen bú shì Zhōnɡɡuó rén.) They are not Chinese.

Subject	Negation	是	Other Elements
他		是	老师
这		是	我的书
他们	不	是	中国人

2. Sentences with “有”

This sentence structure has the verb “有” (to have) as the key predicate. The negative form is “没” before “有”.

Subject + 有 + Other Elements

e.g.

他有书。(Tā yǒu shū.) He has books.

我们有中文课。(Wǒmen yǒu Zhōnɡwén kè.) We have Chinese class.

爸爸没有苹果。(Bàbɑ méi yǒu pínɡɡuǒ.) Dady doesn’t have apple.

Subject	Negation	有	Other Elements
他		有	书
我们		有	中文课
爸爸	没	有	苹果

3. Sentences with an adjective predicate

Chinese adjectives can be complete predicates. Adverbs like “很,” “也,” and “都” can modify these sentences. To make a negative sentence, “不” is placed before the adjective that is the predicate.

Subject + Adjective Predicate

e.g.

我忙。（Wǒ máng.）I`m busy.

我很忙。（Wǒ hěn máng.）I`m very busy.

我不忙。（Wǒ bù máng.）I`m not busy.

我们都很忙。（Wǒmen dōu hěn máng.）We are all very busy.

Subject	Predicate
	Adverb	Adjective
我		忙
我	很	忙
我	不	忙
我们	都很	忙

4. Sentences with a verbal predicate

Verbs are the main part of these sentences, and the object typically comes after the verb. To make a sentence negative, “不” or “没” is placed before the verb. But “不” and “没” are not interchangeable – certain verbs use “不,” while others use “没.”

Subject + (Adverb) + Verb + (Object)

(S-V-O)

e.g.

我爱你。（Wǒ ài nǐ.）I love you.

我们都喜欢汉语。（Wǒmen dōu xǐhuān hànyǔ.）We all like the Chinese language.

你在哪儿？（Nǐ zài nǎr?）Where are you?

我不知道。（Wǒ bù zhīdào.）I don`t know.

Subject	Verbal Predicate		Object
	Adverb	Verb
我		爱	你
我们	都	喜欢	汉语
你		在	哪儿
我	不	知道

5. Sentences with a nominal predicate

Nominal words or phrases can serve as the predicate in Chinese, but only for limited topics like time, age, date, weather, nationality, price, etc. The negative form uses “不是” before the nominal word or phrase.

Subject +Nominal Predicate

e.g.

今天三月五号。(Jīntiān sān yǜe wǔ hào.) Today is March 5th.

我八岁。(Wǒ bā sùi.) I’m eight years old.

今天晴天。(Jīntiān qíngtiān.) It’s sunny today.

他中国人。(Tā Zhōngguó rén.) He is Chinese.

昨天不是星期五。(Zuótiān bú shì xīngqī wǔ.) Yesterday wasn’t Friday.

Subject	Negation Form	Nominal Predicate
今天		三月五号
我		八岁
今天		晴天
他		中国人
昨天	不是	星期五

6. Sentences with serial verbs

These sentences have multiple verbs to indicate a sequence of actions, purposes, methods, etc. The negative form is usually “不” or “没” before the first verb.

Subject + Verb1 + (Object1) + Verb2 + (Object2)

e.g.

他打开门走进教室。(Tā dǎkāi mén zǒujìn jiàoshì.) He opens the door and enters the classroom.

他去图书馆看书。(Tā qù túshū ɡuǎn kàn shū.) He goes to the library for read.

我用筷子吃饭。(Wǒ yònɡ kuàizi chī fàn.) I eat with chopsticks.

他不去上海玩。(Tā bú qù Shànɡhǎi wán.) He won’t go to Shanghai to have fun.

我们没有时间休息。(Wǒmen méi yǒu shíjiān xiūxi.) We don’t have time to rest.

Subject	Negation	Verb1	(Object1)	Verb2	(Object2)
他		打开	门	走进	教室
他		去	图书馆	看	书
我		用	筷子	吃	饭
我	不	去	上海	玩
我们	没	有	时间	休息

7. Comparative Sentences with “比”

You can use “比” in sentences to compare degrees or states between two objects. The negative form uses “没有” without changing the basic meaning expressed by the speaker.

A + 比 + B + Adjective/Verbal Phrase

→ B + 没有 + A + Adjective/Verbal Phrase

e.g.

他比我高。(Tā bǐ wǒ ɡāo.) He is taller than me.

我没有他高。(Wǒ méi yǒu tā ɡāo.) I’m shorter than him.

我比他跑得快。(Wǒ bǐ tā pǎo de kuài.) I run faster than him.

他没有我跑得快。(Tā méi yǒu wǒ pǎo de kuài.) He runs slower than me.

A	比	B	Adjective/Verbal Phrase
他	比	我	高
我	比	他	跑得快
B	没有	A	Adjective/Verbal Phrase
我	没有	他	高
他	没有	我	跑得快

8. Sentences with a subject-predicate predicate

This sentence structure has a subject-predicate predicate. It has two related subjects.

Subject + Subject-Predicate Predicate

e.g.

他一句话也不说。(Tā yí jù huà yě bù shuō.) He doesn’t say one word.

这棵树叶子很多。(Zhè kē shù yèzi hěn duō.) There are many leaves on the tree.

他汉语很好。(Tā hànyǚ hěn hǎo.) He speaks Chinese very well.

Subject	Subject-Predicate Predicate
	Subject	Predicate
他	一句话	也不说
这棵树	叶子	很多
他	汉语	很好

9. Sentences with double objects

This sentence structure has two objects, and only specific verbs like “给” (give), “问” (ask), “告诉” (tell) can be used. The negative form is “不” or “没” before the verb.

Subject + Verb + Object1 + Object2

e.g.

妈妈给我一块钱。(Māmɑ ɡěi wǒ yí kuài qián.) Mama gave me one yuan.

他问我一个问题。(Tā wèn wǒ yí ɡè wèntí.) He asks me a question.

他告诉我一件事。(Tā ɡàosu wǒ yí jiàn shì.) He tells me something.

Subject	Verb	Object1	Object2
妈妈	给	我	一块钱
他	问	我	一个问题
他	告诉	我	一件事

Question Sentence Structures

10. General Questions 吗(ma) and 呢(ne)

To form a yes-no question in Chinese, add “吗” to the end of a declarative sentence. For certain interrogative sentences, “呢” can be used at the end to indicate a question.

Sentence + 吗

Interrogative Sentence + 呢

e.g.

你是英国人吗？(Nǐ shì Yīnɡɡuó rén mɑ?) Are you British?

你有笔吗？(Nǐ yǒu bǐ mɑ?) Do you have a pen?

我叫小明，你呢？(Wǒ jiào Xiǎomínɡ, nǐ ne?) I’m Xiaoming, and you?

小明不是老师，小华呢？(Xiǎomínɡ bú shì lǎoshī, Xiǎohuá ne?) Xiaoming isn’t a teacher, how about Xiaohua?

Sentence	吗	Elliptical Interrogative Sentence	呢
你是英国人	吗	我叫小明，你	呢
你有笔	吗	小明不是老师，小华	呢

11. Yes-No Questions and Affirmative-Negative Questions in Chinese

Yes-No Questions

To form Yes-No questions in Chinese, you can use inflection when stating a declarative sentence, add “吗” at the end of a declarative sentence, or add “好吗” or “对吗” at the end of the sentence.

Sentence ? (with inflection)

Sentence + 吗？

Sentence, 好吗？/对吗?

e.g.

你是学生？(Nǐ shì xuéshenɡ?) You are a student?

这是你的杯子吗？(Zhè shì nǐ de bēizi mɑ?) Is this your cup?

我们一起去超市，好吗？(Wǒmen yìqǐ qù chāoshì, hǎo mɑ?) Let’s go to the supermarket together, is that ok?

这是你的本子，对吗？(Zhè shì nǐ de běnzi, duì mɑ?) This is your notebook, right?

Sentence	？
你是学生	？
Sentence	吗 ?
这是你的杯子	吗 ?
Sentence	好吗/对吗 ?
我们一起去超市	好吗 ？
这是你的本子	对吗 ？

Affirmative-Negative Questions

Affirmative-Negative Questions are composed of the affirmative and the negative forms of the predicate, and the responder can choose between them. In this kind of sentence, “呢” can be put after the sentence while “吗” can’t.

Subject + Predicate + (Object) + (呢）

(Affirmative Form + Negative Form)

e.g.

你是不是学生？(Nǐ shì bu shì xuéshenɡ?) Are you a student or not?

他会不会游泳呢？(Tā huì bu huì yóuyǒnɡ ne?) Does he can swim or not?

你听没听见呢？(Nǐ tīnɡ méi tīnɡ jiàn ne?) Do you hear or not?

你们有没有尺子？(Nǐmen yǒu méi yǒu chǐzi?) Do you have ruler or not?

Subject	Predicate		Object	呢
	Affirmative Form	Negative Form
你	是	不是	学生
他	会	不会	游泳	呢
你	听	没听见		呢
你们	有	没有	尺子

12. A Summary of Wh-Questions in Chinese

To ask questions in Chinese using words like “who,” “when,” “where,” “what,” and “why,” you can use “谁,” “什么时候” (or “几点”), “哪,” “什么,” and “为什么.” These questions follow the same word order as declarative sentences.

Who→谁

When→什么时候/几点

Where→哪

What→什么

Why→为什么

e.g.

你是谁？(Nǐ shì shuí?) Who are you?

你什么时候回家？(Nǐ shénme shíhou huíjiā?) When will you back home?

现在几点？(Xiànzài jǐ diǎn?) What time is it?

你是哪国人？(Nǐ shì nǎ ɡuó rén?) Where are you from?

你在哪里？(Nǐ zài nǎlǐ?) Where are you?

这是什么？(Zhè shì shénme?) What’s this?

为什么不上课？(Wèi shénme bú shànɡ kè?) Why don’t you take classes?

Who	你是谁?
When	你什么时候回家?
	现在几点?
Where	你是哪国人?
	你在哪里?
What	这是什么?
Why	为什么不上课?