Chinese Language Lesson Plans: Mandarin Grammar - Chinese Word Order
Written by: Sujanti Djuanda • Edited by: Rebecca Scudder
Updated Jul 12, 2010 • Related Guides: Sentence Structure
Updated Jul 12, 2010 • Related Guides: Sentence Structure
Basically, Chinese and English have the same word order of subject – verb – object but it doesn’t mean that all Chinese sentences have the same structure as English. If you are new in teaching Chinese, here is a Chinese language lesson plan: how to teach Chinese word order.
Chinese language lesson plans:
1. Explain Subject + Verb + Object Order (SVO Order) with examples
2. Explain Negative Sentences with examples
3. Explain WH-Questions with examples
4. Explain Yes-No Questions with examples
5. Explain Position of Chinese Adverbials with examples
I. Subject + Verb + Object Order (SVO Order)
Word Order in Chinese
Basically Chinese uses the same word order for sentences as English, - Subject - Verb - Object. However, some Chinese sentences use different structures for some types of sentences. Here ask students to look at Chinese sentences and phrases which use the structure they are familiar with in English, and then some of the exceptions.
Example 1:
I + learn + Mandarin
我 【wǒ=I】 + 学 【xué=learn】+ 中 文 【zhōngwén=Chinese, Mandarin】。
我 + 学 + 中 文 。
Example 2:
We + go to + the library
我 们 【wǒmén=we】+ 去【qù=go】+ 图 书 馆【túshūguǎn=library】。
我 们 + 去 + 图 书 馆。
Example 3:
I + like + chocolate
我 【wǒ=I】 + 喜 欢 【xǐhuān=like】 + 巧 克 力 【qiǎokèlì=chocolate】。
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我 + 喜 欢 + 巧 克 力。
Example 4:
I + have + two pieces of cake
我 【wǒ=I】 + 有 【yǒu=have】 + 两 【liǎng=two】 块 【kuài= pieces, a measure word for cake(s)】 糕 【gāo=cake】。
我 + 有 + 两 块 糕。
Ask students to give the other similar examples.
Measure words used with numbers, 'this' and 'that'
Description:
Chinese uses measure words more widely than English. Chinese measure words must be used whenever the noun is used with a numeral or after ‘this’ or ‘that’.
Example 1:
Two pieces of cake
两 【liǎng=two】 块 【kuài= pieces】 糕 【gāo=cake】
两 块 糕
Example 2:
A cup of tea
一杯 【yībēi=a cup】 茶 【chá=tea】
一杯 茶
Example 3:
A sheet of paper
一张 【yīzhāng=a sheet】 纸 【zhǐ=paper】
一张纸
Example 4:
That towel
那 【nà=that】 条 【tiáo= a measure word for towel(s)】 毛 巾 【máojín=towel】
那 条 毛 巾
Description:
There is no measure word for towel in English.
Example 5:
This pen
这 【zhè=this】 支 【zhī=a measure word for pen(s)】 笔 【bǐ=pen】
这 支 笔
Description:
There is no measure word for pen in English.
Ask students to give the other examples.
II. Negative Sentences
Example 1:
She is not a doctor.
她 【tā=she】 不 【bù=not】 是 【shì=is】 医 生 【yīshēng=doctor】 。
Literally means: “She not is doctor”.
她 不 是 医 生 。
Example 2:
I don’t like exams.
我 【wǒ=I】 不 【bù=not】 喜 欢 【xǐhuān=like】 考 试 【kǎoshì=exams】。
我 不 喜 欢 考 试。
Ask students to give the other similar examples.
III. WH-Questions
In Chinese, the question words What, Who, Where and How about are put at the end of the sentence.
Subject + Verb + (What, Who, Where, How about)
However
The question words Why, How, When and Which one, or Which can be placed at the beginning of the sentence or after the subject.
(Why, How, When, Which, Which one) + Subect + Verb
Subject + (Why, How, When, Which, Which one) + Verb
In Chinese, the question word (such as 什 么 【shénme=what】 , 谁 【shéi=who】 , 哪 里 【nǎli=where】 , 怎 么 样 【zěnmeyàng=how about】) is at the end of the sentence.
However, 为 什 么 【wèishénme=why】 , 怎 样 【zěnyàng=how】 , 什 么 时 候 【shénme shíhòu=when】and 哪 一 个 【nǎyīge=which one, which】are placed at the beginning of the sentence or after the subject.
Example 1:
What do you say?
你 【nǐ=you】 说 【shuō=say】 什 么 【shénme=what】 ？
Literally means: “You say what?”
你 说 什 么？
Example 2:
Who is he?
他 【tā=he】 是 【shì=is】 谁 【shéi=who】？
Literally means: “He is who?”
他 是 谁？
Example 3:
Where do you go?
你 【nǐ=you】 去 【qù=go】 哪 里 【nǎli=where】？
Literally means: “You go where?”
你 去 哪 里 ？
Example 4:
Why you like him?
为 什 么 【wèishénme=why】 你 【nǐ=you】 喜 欢 【xǐhuān=like】 他 【tā=him】？
为 什 么 你 喜 欢 他 ？
Or you can say,” 你 【nǐ=you】 为 什 么 【wèishénme=why】 喜 欢 【xǐhuān=like】 他 【tā=him】？
Literally means: “You why like him?”
你 为 什 么 喜 欢 他 ？
Example 5:
When do you come?
什 么 时 候 【shénme shíhòu=when】 你 【nǐ=you】 来 【lái=come】 ？
什 么 时 候 你 来 ？
Or you can say,” 你 【nǐ=you】 什 么 时 候 【shénme shíhòu=when】 来 【lái=come】 ？”
Literally means: “You when come?”
你 什 么 时 候 来 ？
Example 6:
Which one is cheaper?
哪 一 个 【nǎyīge=which one, which】 比 较 【bǐjiào=more】 便 宜 【piányi=cheap】 ?
Literally means: “Which one more cheap?”
哪 一 个 比 较 便 宜 ？
Example 7:
How about recently?
最 近 【zuìjìn=recently】 怎 么 样 【zěnmeyàng=how about】 ？
Literally means: “Recently how about?”
最 近 怎 么 样 ？
Example 8:
How can he succeed?
怎 样 【zěnyàng=how】 他 【tā=he】 会 【huì=can】 成 功 【chénggōng=success】 ？
Literally means: “How he can succeed?”
怎 样 他 会 成 功 ？
Or you can say,” 他 【tā=he】 怎 样 【zěnyàng=how】 会 【huì=can】 成 功 【chénggōng=success】 ？”
Literally means: “He how can succeed?”
他 怎 样 会 成 功 ？
