RealHSK

HSK 1Lesson 11 of 13 · 7 grammar points

Identity, existence and linked actions

是 identifies, 有 introduces possession or existence, and location-first sentences organize information differently from thing-first sentences. Serial verbs can express purpose or means; double objects distinguish a recipient from the thing transferred.

Learning goals (7)
  • Identity with 是.
  • Possession with 有.
  • Identifying what occupies a place.
  • Introducing existence.
  • Movement followed by purpose.
  • Means followed by action.
  • Two objects.

表示等同或类属

Identity with 是

Use 是 between a subject and a noun phrase identifying its category or identity. Negate it with 不是.

她是我的老师。

Tā shì wǒ de lǎo shī.

She is my teacher.

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Pitfall: Do not apply this noun-predicate pattern indiscriminately to adjectives.

表示领有

Possession with 有

Use possessor+有+thing to state possession. Negate with 没有.

我有一个妹妹。

Wǒ yǒu yī gè mèi mèi.

I have a younger sister.

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Pitfall: 我不是一个妹妹 means something entirely different from not having a sister.

所处+是+名词

Identifying what occupies a place

Place+是+noun identifies what is located there, often treating the location as the topic.

前面是学校。

Qián miàn shì xué xiào.

The school is ahead.

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Pitfall: Compare 前面有一所学校, which introduces a school's existence.

处所+有+数量短语+名词

Introducing existence

Place+有+number-classifier+noun introduces something at a location. The location, not the newly introduced thing, comes first.

桌子上有一本书。

Zhuō zi shàng yǒu yī běn shū.

There is a book on the table.

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Pitfall: A location-first existential sentence is different from 书在桌子上.

买水

Movement followed by purpose

With a shared subject, movement can precede the activity that motivates it. Chinese usually does not need an equivalent of to between these verbs.

我去商店买水。

Wǒ qù shāng diàn mǎi shuǐ.

I am going to the shop to buy water.

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Pitfall: The later verb gives the purpose, not a second independent subject.

前一动作是后一动作的方式

Means followed by action

The first action can specify how the next action is accomplished, as with transport or a tool.

我坐车去学校。

Wǒ zuò chē qù xué xiào.

I go to school by vehicle.

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Pitfall: 坐车 explains the means of going; it is not the destination.

我一本书

Two objects

Some verbs such as 给 take a recipient and a thing. The recipient commonly precedes the thing.

老师给我一本书。

Lǎo shī gěi wǒ yī běn shū.

The teacher gives me a book.

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Pitfall: Do not assume every transitive verb permits two objects.

Source details (official syllabus)

  • Identity with 是

    Syllabus item
    表示等同或类属
    Category
    “是”字句1
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L1-052
    PDF page
    387 (printed 384)

  • Possession with 有

    Syllabus item
    表示领有
    Category
    “有”字句1
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L1-053
    PDF page
    387 (printed 384)

  • Identifying what occupies a place

    Syllabus item
    （1）所处+是+名词
    Category
    存现句1
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L1-054
    PDF page
    387 (printed 384)

  • Introducing existence

    Syllabus item
    （2）处所+有+数量短语+名词
    Category
    存现句1
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L1-055
    PDF page
    387 (printed 384)

  • Movement followed by purpose

    Syllabus item
    （1）前后动作先后发生，后一动作是前一动作的目的
    Category
    连动句1
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L1-056
    PDF page
    387 (printed 384)

  • Means followed by action

    Syllabus item
    （2）前一动作是后一动作的方式
    Category
    连动句1
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L1-057
    PDF page
    387 (printed 384)

  • Two objects

    Syllabus item
    主语+动词+宾语1+宾语2
    Category
    双宾语句1
    Grammar ID
    grammar-L1-058
    PDF page
    387 (printed 384)