是(shì) vs 有(yǒu) vs 在(zài)

是(shì) vs 有(yǒu) vs 在(zài)

是 (shì)

• 是 sentence is a determinative sentence with “是”, indicating what someone or something equals or belongs to.

e.g.

她是老师。(Tā shì lǎoshī.) She is a teacher.

他是我爸爸。(Tā shì wǒ bàba.) He is my father.     

• 是 is used to illustrate the distinguishing feature or emphasize certain information. The pattern “是……的” is often used.

e.g.

A：你的花是什么颜色的？(Nǐ de huā shì shénme yánsè de?) What color are your flowers?

B：我的花是白色的。(Wǒ de huā shì báisè de.) My flowers are white.

 

A：你是什么时候开始学习汉语的？(Nǐ shì shénme shíhòu kāishǐ xuéxí hànyǔ de?) When did you start learning Chinese?

B: 我是去年开始学习汉语的。(Wǒ shì qùnián kāishǐ xuéxí hànyǔ de.) I started learning Chinese last year.

• 是 sentence can be used to indicate the existence of something or someone.

e.g.

公司前面是一个公园。(Gōngsī qiánmiàn shì yīgè gōngyuán.) In front of the company is a park.

你看！照片上，我的左边是一个美国人，右边是一个日本人。(Nǐ kàn! Zhàopiàn shàng, wǒ de zuǒbiān shì yīgè Měiguó rén, yòubiān shì yīgè Rìběn rén.) Look! In the photo, there is an American on my left side and a Japanese on my right side.

• The negative form: 不 + 是.

e.g.

她不是老师。(Tā búshì lǎoshī.) She is not a teacher.

我的花不是白色的。(Wǒ de huā búshì báisè de.) My flowers are not white.

公司前面不是一个公园。(Gōngsī qiánmiàn búshì yīgè gōngyuán.) In front of the company is not a park.

有 (yǒu)

• 有 can be used to express possession.

Subject + 有 + object.

e.g.

她有一个哥哥。(Tā yǒu yīgè gēge.) She has an older brother.

我有三个公司。(Wǒ yǒusān gè gōngsī.) I have three companies.

你有时间吗？(Nǐ yǒu shíjiān ma?) Do you have the time?

• 有 can be used to express existence.

Place + 有 + object.

e.g.

门口有两个人。(Ménkǒu yǒu liǎng gèrén.) There are two people at the door.

超市旁边有个学校。(Chāoshì pángbiān yǒu gè xuéxiào.) There is a school next to the supermarket.

家里有三个卫生间。(Jiā lǐ yǒusān gè wèishēngjiān.) There are three bathrooms in the house.

• The negative form: 没 + 有. 有 could be omitted in negation sentences.

e.g.

我没(有)时间。(Wǒ méi (yǒu) shíjiān.) I do not have time.

超市旁边没(有)学校。(Chāoshì pángbiān méi (yǒu) xuéxiào.) There is no school near the supermarket.

在 (zài)

• 在 as a verb. When it is followed by a word of locality and acts as the predicate of a sentence, it indicates the location of somebody or something.

e.g.

我的同学在学校。(Wǒ de tóngxué zài xuéxiào.) My classmate is at school.

我在家。(Wǒ zài jiā.) I am home.

妈妈在后面。(Māma zài hòumiàn.) Mother is behind.

• 在 as a preposition. It is used before a word of the locality to introduce the place where an action or behaviour takes place.

e.g.

我的同学在学校打篮球。(Wǒ de tóngxué zài xuéxiào dǎ lánqiú.) My classmates play basketball at school.

我在家看书。(Wǒ zàijiā kànshū.) I read at home.

妈妈在后面跑步。(Māma zài hòumiàn pǎobù.) Mother is running behind.

• 在 as a preposition. It is used to suggest an action is in progress at a certain time.

在……（呢）

e.g.

我在看书(呢)。（Wǒ zài kàn shū ne.）I’m reading.

他们在工作(呢)。(Tāmen zài ɡōnɡzuò ne.) They are working.

你在干什么(呢)？(Nǐ zài ɡàn shénme ne?) What are you doing?