Beginner Grammar
Four sentence patterns that cover most basic Chinese conversations. Learn these and you can start forming real sentences.
是 The verb "to be"
Used to link a subject to a noun—saying what someone or something is. Not used with adjectives.
Subject + 是 + Noun
我是学生。
Wǒ shì xuéshēng.
I am a student.
她是老师。
Tā shì lǎoshī.
She is a teacher.
这是我的书。
Zhè shì wǒ de shū.
This is my book.
他不是医生。
Tā bù shì yīshēng.
He is not a doctor.
Watch out: Don't use 是 with adjectives. "I am busy" is 我很忙 (wǒ hěn máng), not 我是忙.
Action verbs
The basic sentence structure: someone does something. Chinese word order matches English here.
Subject + Verb + Object
我吃饭。
Wǒ chī fàn.
I eat.
她喝茶。
Tā hē chá.
She drinks tea.
我们学中文。
Wǒmen xué Zhōngwén.
We study Chinese.
我不喝咖啡。
Wǒ bù hē kāfēi.
I don't drink coffee.
Negation: Put 不 (bù) before the verb. Subject + 不 + Verb + Object.
给 Two uses
给 works as both a verb meaning "to give" and a preposition meaning "for/to someone." These are different patterns.
As a verb: Subject + 给 + Person + Thing
我给你一本书。
Wǒ gěi nǐ yì běn shū.
I give you a book.
请给我一杯水。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ.
Please give me water.
As a preposition: Subject + 给 + Person + Verb
妈妈给我做饭。
Māma gěi wǒ zuò fàn.
Mom cooks for me.
他给我打电话。
Tā gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.
He calls me.
Key difference: When 给 is the main action (giving something), the thing given comes after the person. When another verb is the main action, 给 marks who benefits.
Asking questions
Two ways: add 吗 for yes/no questions, or use a question word where the answer goes.
Statement + 吗？
你是学生吗？
Nǐ shì xuéshēng ma?
Are you a student?
你忙吗？
Nǐ máng ma?
Are you busy?
Question word in place
你叫什么名字？
Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
What's your name?
他是谁？
Tā shì shéi?
Who is he?
你住在哪里？
Nǐ zhù zài nǎlǐ?
Where do you live?
Key difference: Question words stay in place. "Where do you live?" keeps the word order of "You live where?"