Learn Chinese: grammar of Unit 7

In this unit, we cover demonstrative pronouns, classifiers and other essential grammatical tools for pointing out, identifying and asking questions.

Demonstrative pronouns 这 and 那

Chinese has two main demonstrative pronouns:

这 refers to something near the speaker (like “this, this one” in English), whereas 那 refers to somethingfar (like “that, that one”).

When used with a noun, they must be followed by a classifier :

这本书 zhè běn shū — this book (near)
那件衣服 nà jiàn yīfu — that garment (far)

They can also be used alone as subjects:
这是我的。 Zhè shì wǒ de. — It's mine.
那不是我的。 Nà bú shì wǒ de. — It's not mine.

Locatives 这儿 and 那儿

By adding the suffix 儿 r to the demonstratives, we obtain locatives (words of place):

Examples taken from the dialogue:
那儿有很多书。 Nàr yǒu hěn duō shū. — There are many books over there.
这儿还有很多书。 Zhèr hái yǒu hěn duō shū. — Here, there are still many books.

The classifier 些 and its combinations

些 xiē means “a few” and is never used alone. It combines with other words to form various expressions:

一些 yìxiē — a few, a little (indefinite quantity)
这些 zhèxiē — these… (near plural)
那些 nàxiē — those… (far plural)
哪些 nǎxiē — which ones? (plural interrogative)
有些 yǒuxiē — some, a few (among a set)

Examples:
那些书不是我的。 Nàxiē shū bú shì wǒ de. — These books are not mine.
还有一些是哥哥的。 Hái yǒu yìxiē shì gēge de. — There are still a few that belong to my brother.
有些东西是我的。 Yǒuxiē dōngxi shì wǒ de. — Some things are mine.

Note: unlike 这本 or 那件, the combinations with 些 are used directly before the noun without another classifier : 这些书 (and not 这些本书).

Classifiers 本 and 件

Reminder: in Chinese, you cannot put a number or a demonstrative directly before a noun. You must always insert a classifier (also called a “specifier” or “measure word”).

In this unit, we learn two new classifiers:

本 běn — for books, notebooks, magazines (anything bound):
这本书 zhè běn shū — this book
这一本是我的。 Zhè yì běn shì wǒ de. — This one (this volume) is mine.

件 jiàn — for clothing (especially the upper body), belongings, events:
那几件衣服都是我的。 Nà jǐ jiàn yīfu dōu shì wǒ de. — These few garments are all mine.
你认不认识这件衣服？ Nǐ rèn bu rènshi zhè jiàn yīfu? — Do you recognise this garment?

Recall that the general classifier 个 gè, already learned, can replace most classifiers in everyday spoken language, but it is better to use the specific classifier when you know it.

The adverb 还 hái : “again, in addition”

还 hái is an adverb meaning “again, in addition, also”. Like any adverb in Chinese, it is placed before the verb.

Examples:
这儿还有很多书。 Zhèr hái yǒu hěn duō shū. — Here, there are still many books.
还有一些是哥哥的。 Hái yǒu yìxiē shì gēge de. — There are in addition a few that belong to my brother.

Be careful not to confuse it with 也 yě (also): 也 repeats an identical action for a different subject (“me too”), whereas 还 adds an extra element (“in addition, there is…”).

几 jǐ for “a few”

We have seen that 几 jǐ is used to ask “how many?” (for small numbers). But in an affirmative sentence, 几 can also mean “a few” (a small indefinite number).

Example:
那几件衣服都是我的。 Nà jǐ jiàn yīfu dōu shì wǒ de. — These few garments are all mine.

Note: 几 is always followed by a classifier: 几件, 几本, 几个, etc.

The affirmative-negative question with disyllabic verbs

We have already seen the affirmative-negative question (or V 不 V question) with monosyllabic verbs such as 是不是 shì bu shì. But what do we do when the verb has two syllables?

For a disyllabic verb such as 认识 rènshi (to know), we only repeat the first syllable :

Example taken from the dialogue:
你认不认识这件衣服？ Nǐ rèn bu rènshi zhè jiàn yīfu? — Do you recognise this garment?

Other examples with disyllabic verbs already learned:
你喜不喜欢？ Nǐ xǐ bu xǐhuan? — Do you like it?
你高不高兴？ Nǐ gāo bu gāoxìng? — Are you happy?

The use of 有的 yǒude

有的 yǒude means “some, certain ones” and is used to refer to a part of a set. It is often used in contrast with another 有的 or with another expression to express diversity:

有的是我的，还有一些是哥哥的。
Yǒude shì wǒ de, hái yǒu yìxiē shì gēge de.
Some are mine, and others belong to my brother.

有的 can function as the subject of the sentence. Note the difference with 有些 yǒuxiē : the latter is followed by a noun (有些东西 “certain things”), whereas 有的 is used alone as a pronoun (有的是我的 “some are mine”).