Chinese Grammar Notes

1. Basic Sentence Structure (SVO)

Chinese follows a Subject + Verb + Object structure.

• Example:

  • 我吃饭。→ Wǒ chī fàn. → I eat (a meal).

  • 我想喝果汁。→ Wǒ xiǎng hē guǒ zhī. → I want to drink juice.

2. Adjective Placement

Chinese uses adjectives after the verb "to be" (是), or directly before a noun.

• When describing a subject or object:

  • 很 is used as a neutral link between subject and adjective.

    • 我很饿。→ I’m very hungry.

    • 古老肉很好吃。→ Sweet and sour pork is delicious.

• Without 很, it implies comparison or contrast, not just a description.

  • 他高。→ He's tall (compared to someone).

  • 他很高。→ He's tall (neutral description).

3. Expressing Want: 想 + Verb

To express desire or intent:

• Structure: Subject + 想 + Verb/Object

  • 我想吃汉堡包。→ I want to eat a hamburger.

  • 你想喝什么？→ What do you want to drink?

4. Expressing Ability: 会 + Verb

Use 会 (huì) to say you can/know how to do something (skills/learned actions).

• Structure: Subject + 会 + Verb

  • 我会做中国菜。→ I can cook Chinese food.

  • 他不会拿筷子。→ He can’t use chopsticks.

To ask:

• 你会不会做中国菜？→ Can you cook Chinese food?
  (Yes/No structure in a single sentence)

5. Expressing Quantity: 一点儿 (a little bit)

Used after the verb when referring to “a little” of something.

• Example:

  • 我想喝一点儿水。→ I want to drink a little bit of water.

6. Expressing Ownership with 的 (de)

Used to connect a noun and a possessor or modifier.

• Example:

  • 我的朋友 → My friend

  • 他的牛奶 → His milk

7. Sequence and Time Words

To structure stories or actions in time order:

• 昨天 → yesterday

• 今天 → today

• 明天 → tomorrow

• 先…然后… → first… then…

Example:

• 昨天我在饭馆吃了面包。→ Yesterday I ate bread at a restaurant.

8. Using 了 (le) for Completed Actions

“了” indicates a completed action or change in state.

• Example:

  • 我吃了饺子。→ I ate dumplings.

  • 我喝了果汁。→ I drank juice.

9. Using 觉得 to Express Opinions

“觉得” means "to think/feel" (for opinions).

• Structure: Subject + 觉得 + Object/Clause

  • 我觉得柠檬鸡片很好吃。→ I think lemon chicken is delicious.

10. Conjunctions for Contrast or Addition

11. Asking Questions

a. Using 吗 (ma) for Yes/No

Add 吗 to the end of a statement to form a yes/no question.

• 你渴吗？→ Are you thirsty?

• 你会用筷子吗？→ Can you use chopsticks?

b. Using Question Words

Examples:

• 你想吃什么？→ What do you want to eat?

• 饭菜怎么样？→ How is the food?

12. Expressing Politeness and Encouragement

• 别客气 → Don’t be shy (encouragement)

• 太好了！→ That’s great!

• 真的啊！→ Really!

13. Measure Words (Simplified)

You need measure words between numbers and nouns.

14. 和 (hé) for "And" (between nouns only)

• 我喜欢牛奶和果汁。→ I like milk and juice.

Note: Don't use 和 between verbs or clauses. It's only for linking nouns.

15. Using 一起 (yìqǐ) to Express "Together"

Structure: Subject + 和 + Person + 一起 + Verb

• 我和朋友一起吃饭。→ I eat with my friend.

• 我想和你一起吃汉堡包。→ I want to eat hamburgers with you.

16. Expressing Reason: 因为…所以… (Because… Therefore…)

• Structure: 因为 A，所以 B

• Example:

  • 因为我饿，所以我吃饭。→ Because I’m hungry, I eat.