Grammar frames
Sentence patterns
Reusable beginner frames with examples in Simplified Chinese, pinyin, and English.
- 01 是 linking sentences Identify people and things with Subject + 是 + Noun. Open
- 02 有 for have / there is Possession and existence share 有; negate with 没有. Open
- 03 在 for location and progressive Say where someone/something is, or mark an ongoing action. Open
- 04 吗 and question words Yes/no with 吗; content questions keep normal order. Open
- 05 不 and 没 negation Choose 不 vs 没/没有 for accurate beginner negation. Open
- 06 Measure words Count and point to nouns with Number/Demonstrative + Measure + Noun. Open
- 07 的 particle Mark possession and modifiers before nouns. Open
- 08 了 intro Meet 了 for completed action and change-of-state at beginner level. Open
- 09 想 and 要 Express desire and intention with 想 / 要. Open
- 10 会 and 能 Talk about learned skill (会) vs capability/possibility (能). Open
- 11 在…呢 progressive feel Emphasize an ongoing action with 在…呢. Open
- 12 Beginner word order Lock Subject + Time + Place + Verb + Object as your default. Open
- 13 喜欢 and 觉得 Say what you like and give a short opinion without inserting 是. Open
- 14 了 for a new situation Mark “it’s now the case” with 了, without turning every English past tense into 了. Open
- 15 过 for “have you ever” Ask and answer about life experience without mixing 过 into this morning’s errands. Open
- 16 Verb-not-verb questions Ask 是不是, 要不要, 好不好 without stacking a second 吗. Open
- 17 因为…所以… Give a reason and a result without stacking English “because so.” Open
- 18 吧 for suggestions Soften a plan with 吧: 我们走吧, 喝水吧, 下次吧. Open