HSK 1Lesson 3 of 13 · 3 grammar points
People, questions and pointing
Pronouns replace recoverable people or things; demonstratives point to them; question words leave an information slot open. Keep that slot in its ordinary Chinese position. Written distinctions such as 他 and 她 are not audible distinctions.
Learning goals (3)
- Question words.
- Personal pronouns.
- Demonstratives.
什么
Question words
Keep 谁、什么、哪里 and other question words in the position of the missing information. 几 commonly asks a small number; 多少 is less restricted.
你想买什么？
What would you like to buy?
More
谁 asks who; 什么 what; 哪+classifier+noun which; 哪儿/哪里 where; 哪些 which ones; 几+classifier how many, often a small number; 多少 how many/much; 多+adjective how tall/old/far; 怎么 how; 怎么样 how something is or how a suggestion sounds. Examples: 你多大？你有几本书？这本书多少钱？我们明天去，怎么样？
Pitfall: Do not move 什么 to the front merely because English moves what.
我们
Personal pronouns
我、你、他 refer to participants; 您 is respectful. 他、她、它 share the pronunciation tā but differ in writing. 大家 already refers to a group.
我们都是学生。
We are all students.
More
Pitfall: 大家 normally does not need 们.
这本
Demonstratives
这 and 那 point to entities; 这里 and 那里 point to locations. Before a counted noun, use a classifier: 这本书. 有的 selects some members.
这本书是我的。
This book is mine.
More
这个/那个 indicate a counted entity; 这些/那些 a plural set; 这儿/那儿 and 这里/那里 locations. 有的、有些 select some members: 有的人喜欢茶，有的人喜欢咖啡. Do not insert an ordinary classifier after 每 or 这/那 without considering conventional forms such as 每天 and 这里.
Pitfall: Do not use 这里书 for this book.
Source details (official syllabus)
Question words
- Syllabus item
- 多、多少、几、哪、哪儿、哪里、哪些、什么、谁、怎么、怎么样
- Category
- 疑问代词
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L1-008
- PDF page
- 386 (printed 383)
Personal pronouns
- Syllabus item
- 我、你、您、他、她、我们、你们、他们、她们、它、它们、大家
- Category
- 人称代词
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L1-009
- PDF page
- 386 (printed 383)
Demonstratives
- Syllabus item
- 这、那、这儿、那儿、这里、那里、这些、那些、有的、这个、那个、有些
- Category
- 指示代词
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L1-010
- PDF page
- 386 (printed 383)
- 1FILL BLANK
你想买？
Choose the expression that completes the sentence.
“What would you like to buy?”
- 2FILL BLANK
书是我的。
Choose the expression that completes the sentence.
“This book is mine.”
- 3MATCH
Tap a sentence, then tap its meaning.
Tap a sentence, then tap its meaning.
- 4CHOOSE
Choose the normal question asking where someone lives.
- 5CHOOSE
A：你想喝什么？ B：____。Choose an answer to the information requested.
- 6ORDER
Tap the chunks to build the sentence.
“What would you like to buy?”
Tap the chunks in order. - 7ORDER
Tap the chunks to build the sentence.
“We are all students.”
Tap the chunks in order.
0 of 7 tasks answered.
Next lesson: Counting objects, time and age →什么Question words
- 今天天气怎么样？ The Weather Today · HSK 1
- 朋友说：“你想吃什么？” We Go to a Restaurant to Eat Rice and Dishes · HSK 1
- 我说：“这个苹果多少钱？” Buying Things · HSK 1
我们Personal pronouns
- 我们都很高兴。 I Love Drinking Tea · HSK 1
- 今天上午，我们有唱歌课。 Learning a Chinese Song · HSK 2
- 晚上，我们吃得很高兴。 Cooking Dinner · HSK 2
这本Demonstratives
- 这个饭店很好。 We Go to a Restaurant to Eat Rice and Dishes · HSK 1
- 我说：“这个苹果多少钱？” Buying Things · HSK 1
- 这个周末太好了。 My Weekend · HSK 1