Back to collection

An Introduction to Chinese Grammar 汉语语法入门

单句 Simple Sentences

Click on any word to see more details.

Sentences are formed from words and phrases using grammatical rules to express a complete idea. In general, simple sentences are composed of a subject and a predicate. Sentences can also be classified as either subject-predicate sentences or non subject-predicate sentences. Subject-predicate sentences use a subject section and a predicate section. For example,

1. 他 学习物理学。 (He studies physics.) “他”是主语部分，“学习物理学”是谓语部分。 (他 is the subject section and 学习物理学 is the predicate section.)
2. 图书馆 很安静。 (The library is very quiet.) “图书馆”是主语部分，“很安静”是谓语部分。 (图书馆 is the predicate section and 很安静 is the predicate section.)

Subject-predicate sentences can be divided into those with a verbal predicate, those adjectival predicate, those with a nominal predicate, and those with a subject-predicate phrase as the predicate.

Non subject-predicate sentences can be classified as subjectless sentences, one word sentences, and elliptical sentences. For example,

1. 夏雨了。 (It's raining.)
2. 看！ (Watch out!)

Simple sentences can also be classified by their use. Simple sentences can be classified as declarative sentences, interrogative sentences, imperative sentences, or exclamatory sentences.

动词谓语句 Sentences with a Verbal Predicate

Sentences with a verbal predicate use a verb as the predicate to state what the subject does. In general, sentences with a verbal predicate have three forms:

1. Subject + predicate (verb)
   1. 咱们商量。 Let's talk it over. (咱们 is the subject section and 商量 is the predicate section, which is a verb.)
   2. 我走。 I am going. (The subject section is 我 and the predicate section is 走了, which uses the verb 走.)
2. Subject + predicate (transitive verb) + object
   1. 我买菜。 I am buying vegetables. (我 is the subject, 买 is the predicate and is a transitive verb, and 菜 is the object.)
   2. 他学习英文。 He studies English. (他 is the subject, 学习 is the predicate and also a transitive verb, and 英文 is the object.)
3. Subject + predicate (transitive verb) + indirect object + direct object
   1. 老师教我们英语。 The teacher is teaching us English. (老师 is the subject, 教 is the predicate and also a transitive verb, 我们 is an indirect object, and 英语 is a direct object.)
   2. 我给你钱。 I will give you the money. (我 is the subject, 给 is the predicate and also a transitive verb, 你 is an indirect object, and 钱 is a direct object.)

Use the negating adverb 不 before the predicate adverb to express "never in the future", "not often", "not willing", etc. If the predicate verb is 有 then use the negating adverb 没. If the action has not yet occured or not yet been completed use the negative adverb 没 or 没有. For example,

1. 孩子不吃饭。 The child is not eating. (The adverb 不 expresses that the child is not willing to eat.)
2. 我没有车。 I have not got a car. (The predicate verb is 有.)
3. 我还没去。 I haven't gone yet. (The action has not yet taken place.)

Sentences with an Adjectival Predicate

Sentences with an adjectival predicate use an adjective to describe what the subject is like. Its basic forms are:

1. [Affirmative form] Subject + predicate (adjective)
   1. 人多。 There are a lot of people. (人 is the subject, 多 is the predicate and is an adjective.)
   2. 天气热。 The weather is hot. (天气 is the subject, 热 is the predicate and is an adjective.)
2. [Negative form] Subject + adverbial adjunct (adverb 不) + predicate (adjective)
   1. 汽车不新。 The car is not new. (汽车 is the subject, 新 is the predicate and is an adjective.)
   2. 他不聪明。 He is not clever. (他 is the subject, 聪明 is the predicate and is an adjective.)

The adverb 很 is often used before the predicate adverb, acting as an adverbial adjunct but does not generally express degree. If the adverb 很 is not used then a comparison is usually meant. The adverbs 真、太、最、更、比较、十分、相当、特别、非常 are often used to express degree. For example,

1. 他很高。 He is tall. (The adverb 很 does not express degree.)
2. 他高。 He is taller. (Without 很 a comparison is meant.)
3. 他特别高。 He is extremely tall. (The adverb 特别 expresses degree.)

Sentences with a Nominal Predicate

Sentences with nominal predicates use a noun or a nominal endocentric phrase to express a sum of money, a festival, a profession, a solar term, a date, or a person's age. Sentences with nominal predicates are usually short and simple. For example,

1. 明天初一。 Tomorrow is the first day of the lunar month. (The noun 初一 acts as the predicate.)
2. 爷爷九十多岁。 Grandfather is over ninety years old. (The numeral-measure word phrase 九十多岁 acts as the predicate.)
3. 这些橙子多少钱？ How much are these oranges? (The nominal endocentric phrase 多少钱 acts as the predicate.)
4. 现在八点。 It's eight o'clock. (The numeral-measure word phrase 八点 acts as the predicate.)

Sentences with a Subject-Predicate Phrase as the Predicate

These sentences use a subject-predicate phrase as the predicate. For example,

1. 他身体健康。 He is healthy. (The pronoun他 is the subject and the subject-predicate phrase 身体健康 is the subject.)
2. 这个学校水平很高。 The standards at this school are very high. (这个学校 is the subject and the subject-predicate phrase 水平很高 is the subject.)

Subjectless Sentences

Subjectless sentences do not have a subject section. In this type of sentence there is either no clear subject or the subject does not need to be articulated. For example,

1. 刮风了。 It's windy. (No need to articulate 天 as the subject.)
2. 下课了。 School's out. (No subject is needed.)
3. 买单。 Check, please. (No need to use 我 as the subject.)

One Word Sentences

One word sentences include only a single word or a single endocentric phrase. They are used to express time or place, praise, a discovery, a warning, to address someone, agreement, opposition, or a question. For example,

1. 危险！Danger! (a warning)
2. 怎么？ How is that? (a question)
3. 好球！ Good shot! (admiration)
4. 好的。 That's fine. (agreement)

Elliptical Sentences

In an elliptical sentence only a part of the whole sentence is spoken because the meaning can be understood from the context. Elliptical sentences are often used in conversation. For example,

1. （你买不买？）（我）不买。(The subject is ommitted.)
2. （你想吃什么？）（我想吃）饺子。 (What would you like to eat?) (I would like to eat) Dumplings. (The subject and predicate are omitted.)
3. （谁去？）我（去）。 (Who is going?) Me. (I am going) (The predicate is omitted.)

Dictionary cache status: not loaded

Glossary and Other Vocabulary