Lesson 1 Dialogue 2 Grammar University of Michigan

Lesson 1 Dialogue 2 Grammar University of Michigan Flint Zhong, Yan

The Verb 是 (shì) n In Chinese, 是 (shì) is a verb which can be used to link two units that are in some way equivalent. n These two units can be nouns, pronouns, or noun phrases, e. g.

A: Nǐ shì lǎoshī ma? n 你是老师吗? n Are you a teacher? n B: Wǒ shì lǎoshī. n 我是老师。 n I am a teacher. n

Li You is a student. Lǐ Yǒu shì xuésheng. n 李友是学生。 n

是 (shì) is usually negated with 不 (bù). The original tone of 不 is a 4 th tone “bù”. n However, when followed by another 4 th tone syllable, 不 changes to 2 nd tone, as in 不是 (bú shì). n

Wang Peng is not American. Wáng Péng bú shì Měiguó rén. n 王朋不是美国人。 n

Questions Ending with 吗 (ma) When 吗 (ma) is added to the end of a declarative statement, that statement is turned into a question. n To answer the question in the affirmative, drop the 吗 (ma) from the end of the question; n to answer the question in the negative, drop the 吗 (ma), and insert a negative adverb— usually 不 (bù)—before the verb. n

Question Are you a teacher? n N ǐ shì lǎoshī ma? n 你是老师吗？ n

Affi rmative answer: I am a teacher. n Wǒ shì lǎoshī. n 我是老师。 n

Negative answer: I am not a teacher. n W ǒ bú shì lǎoshī. n 我不是老师。 n

Question: Is your family name Wang? ) n N ǐ xìng Wáng ma? n 你姓王吗？ n

Answers: Affirmative: n My family name is Wang. n W ǒ xìng Wáng. n 我姓王。 n Negative: n My family name is not Wang. n W ǒ bú xìng Wáng. n 我不姓王。 n

The Negative Adverb 不 (bù) n In Chinese there are two main negative adverbs. One of the two, 不 (bù), occurs in this lesson.

I am not from Beijing. Wǒ bú shì Běijīng rén. n 我不是北京人。 n

Li You is not Chinese. Lǐ Yǒu bú shì Zhōngguó rén. n 李友不是中国人。 n

The teacher’s surname is not Wang. Lǎoshī bú xìng Wáng. n 老师不姓王。 n

My name is not Li Zhong. Wǒ bú jiào Lǐ Zhōng. n 我不叫李中。 n

The Adverb 也 (yě) The adverb 也 (yě) basically means “too” or “also. ” n In Chinese, adverbs, especially one syllable adverbs, normally appear after subjects and in front of verbs. n They usually cannot precede subjects or follow verbs. n The adverb 也 (yě) cannot be put before the subject or at the very end of a sentence. n

I’m a student, too. Wǒ yě shì xuésheng. n 我也是学生。 n

Wang Peng is a student. Li You is a student, too. Wáng Péng shì xuésheng, Lǐ Yǒu yě shì xuésheng. n 王朋是学生，李友也 是学生。 n

You are Chinese. I am Chinese, too. Nǐ shì Zhōngguó rén, wǒ yě shì Zhōngguó rén. n 你是中国人，我也是 中国人。 n

n When the adverb 也 (yě) is used together with the negative adverb 不 (bù), 也 (yě) is placed before 不 (bù), e. g.

Wang Peng is not a teacher. Li You is not a teacher, either. Wáng Péng bú shì lǎoshī, Lǐ Yǒu yě bú shì lǎoshī. n 王朋不是老师，李友 也不是老师。 n

You are not from New York. I am not from New York, either. Nǐ bú shì Niǔyuē rén, wǒ yě bú shì Niǔyuē rén. n 你不是纽约人，我也 不是纽约人。 n

谢谢 再见 University of Michigan Flint Zhong, Yan