Miracle Mandarin: Basic Sentence structures in Chinese I

02/05/2016

I The most basic Chinese structure 汉语基本句型

Chinese sentences are usually made of three parts: the subject (S), the verb (V) and the object (O). Usually, it is like this: S+V+O.
汉语中，最基本的句子结构是“主语+谓语+宾语”。
Eg.
Wǒ jiào Màikè.
我叫麦克。
My name is Mike.

Zhè shì Hànyǔ shū.
这是汉语书。
This is Chinese book.

Wǒ rènshi tā.
我认识他。
I know him.

II Sentence with an adjective as the predicate 形容词谓语句
When an adjective functions as the predicate of a sentence, we call it a sentence with an adjective predicate. This type of sentences is used to describe or evaluate someone, something, or a state of affairs.
形容词作谓语常用来对事物进行描述和评价。

a) Adjectives in such sentences usually take an adverb before them.
形容词前面一般要带副词。
Eg.
Shànghǎi hěn dà.
上海很大。
Shanghai is very big.

b) If they don’t have an adverb, then meanings of the sentences will not be descriptive. Rather, they may imply a sense of comparison.
如不带副词，句子的意思将不再具有描述功能而带有比较的意味。
Eg.
Běijīnɡ dà, Shànɡhǎi yě dà.
北京大，上海也大。
Beijing is big, Shanghai is also big.

c) Negative form: “bù”+adjective
否定式：“不”+形容词
Eg.
Wǒ bù máng.
我不忙。
I’m not busy.
In a sentence with an adjectival predicate, “shì” can’t be inserted between the subject and the predicate.
这种句子的主语与谓语之间不加“是”。

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