A1 · Débutant Chapitre 15

First Sentences

6 Règles totales
56 exemples
5 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Unlock the logical simplicity of Chinese sentences and start expressing yourself today.

  • Construct basic sentences using the intuitive Subject-Verb-Object structure.
  • Identify yourself and others using the essential verb 是 (shì).
  • Express possession and existence while mastering the two ways to say 'not'.
Simple logic, powerful sentences.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Ready to speak your first sentences in Chinese? This chapter is your perfect starting point! Forget complicated grammar – Chinese sentence structure is super logical and easy to grasp. You'll dive straight into the foundational Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, which is way simpler than you might think, especially since Chinese verbs don't change forms! We'll show you how to set the scene, telling people *who* and *what* before the action happens. You'll master the versatile verb 是 (shì), which acts like a friendly equals sign to link two nouns – perfect for introducing yourself and others (e.g., I am John or

She is a student
). Want to say no or not? We'll teach you 不 (bù), your go-to word for simple negation in the present and future, placed right where you need it before a verb or adjective. Plus, you'll learn all about 有 (yǒu) – the magic word for possession (
I have a book
) and expressing existence (There is water). Just a little heads-up: 有 (yǒu) has its own special way to say "don't have" with 没 (méi)! By the end of this chapter, you won't just understand these rules; you'll be actively using them. Imagine confidently telling someone
I am a student
in Chinese, or asking
Do you have coffee?
You'll be building proper, basic sentences, introducing yourself, stating facts, and even negating things like a pro. This is where your Chinese journey truly begins – easy, practical, and exciting!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Build a basic SVO sentence using common verbs like 吃(chī) and 喝(hē).
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Introduce your profession and nationality using 是(shì).
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: Correctly negate actions and states using 不(bù) and 没(méi).

Guide du chapitre

Overview

Welcome to your very first steps in mastering A1 Chinese grammar! This chapter, First Sentences, is designed to get you speaking and understanding basic Chinese right away. Forget the intimidating reputation of learning a new language – Chinese sentence structure is incredibly logical and, in many ways, simpler than English.
We're focusing on the foundational elements that will allow you to build clear, concise sentences from day one. You’ll learn how to introduce yourself, state simple facts, and express possession, all without grappling with complex verb conjugations or tricky tenses.
This guide will demystify the core patterns of basic Chinese sentence structure, giving you the confidence to form proper sentences. We'll explore the essential Chinese word order that underpins almost all communication, making it easy to predict where words go. By understanding these fundamental rules, you’ll not only be able to construct your own sentences but also recognize and interpret what others are saying.
This chapter is your gateway to conversational Chinese, equipping you with practical tools to start your language journey.
By the end of this section, you'll be able to confidently introduce yourself, describe people and things, and express basic needs. This isn't just about memorizing rules; it's about empowering you to actively use Chinese in real-world scenarios. Get ready to build your first proper sentences and experience the excitement of communicating in Chinese!

How This Grammar Works

At the heart of Chinese word order lies the incredibly consistent Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) pattern. This is often just like English: 我 吃 苹果 (Wǒ chī píngguǒ - I eat apple). The best part?
Chinese verbs don't change form based on who is doing the action or when it happens – no conjugations! This makes the Basic Subject-Verb-Object Sentence structure remarkably straightforward.
You'll quickly master the versatile verb 是 (shì), which acts like an equals sign to link two nouns. This is your go-to for introductions and definitions. For example, 我 是 学生 (Wǒ shì xuéshēng - I am a student) or 她 是 老师 (Tā shì lǎoshī - She is a teacher).
是 (shì) is crucial for stating identities and facts.
For negation in Chinese, specifically saying 'not', you'll use 不 (bù). This handy word always comes *before* the verb or adjective it negates. So, to say
I am not a student,
you'd say 我 不 是 学生 (Wǒ bù shì xuéshēng).
If you want to say not good, it's 不 好 (bù hǎo). 不 (bù) is your primary tool for simple negative statements in the present and future.
Finally, we introduce 有 (yǒu), a powerful word for expressing possession (to have) and existence (there is). To say
I have a book,
you'd use 我 有 一本书 (Wǒ yǒu yī běn shū). To express there is water, it's 有 水 (Yǒu shuǐ).
However, 有 (yǒu) has its own special negation: 没 (méi). You *never* use 不 (bù) with 有 (yǒu). So, "I don't have money" becomes 我 没有 钱 (Wǒ méiyǒu qián).
Understanding these core elements will unlock countless everyday expressions.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 我 学生。(Wǒ xuéshēng.)
✓ Correct: 我 是 学生。(Wǒ shì xuéshēng.)
*Explanation:* In Chinese, when linking two nouns (like I and student), you almost always need the verb 是 (shì). It acts like am/is/are. Omitting it is a common beginner mistake.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 我 不 有 钱。(Wǒ bù yǒu qián.)
✓ Correct: 我 没有 钱。(Wǒ méiyǒu qián.)
*Explanation:* The verb 有 (yǒu) (to have/there is) has a unique negation. Instead of 不 (bù), you must use 没 (méi) before 有 (yǒu) to say "don't have or there isn't."
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 不 我 是 老师。(Bù wǒ shì lǎoshī.)
✓ Correct: 我 不 是 老师。(Wǒ bù shì lǎoshī.)
*Explanation:* The negation word 不 (bù) always comes directly *before* the verb or adjective it negates. In this case, it negates 是 (shì), so it should be placed right before 是 (shì), not at the beginning of the sentence.

Real Conversations

A

A

你 是 学生 吗？(Nǐ shì xuéshēng ma? - Are you a student?)
B

B

是 的，我 是 学生。(Shì de, wǒ shì xuéshēng. - Yes, I am a student.)
A

A

你 有 咖啡 吗？(Nǐ yǒu kāfēi ma? - Do you have coffee?)
B

B

我 没有 咖啡。(Wǒ méiyǒu kāfēi. - I don't have coffee.)
A

A

她 是 老师 吗？(Tā shì lǎoshī ma? - Is she a teacher?)
B

B

她 不 是 老师，她 是 医生。(Tā bù shì lǎoshī, tā shì yīshēng. - She is not a teacher, she is a doctor.)

Quick FAQ

Q

Why is Chinese word order considered easy for beginners?

Chinese primarily uses a simple Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure, similar to English, and verbs do not conjugate for tense or person, simplifying sentence construction significantly for A1 Chinese grammar learners.

Q

How do I say not in Chinese for most situations?

For most verbs and adjectives, you use 不 (bù) placed directly before the word you want to negate, for example, 不 吃 (bù chī - not eat) or 不 好 (bù hǎo - not good).

Q

Is 是 (shì) always used as to be like in English?

While 是 (shì) often translates to to be, its primary function is to link two nouns or noun phrases, establishing identity or classification (e.g.,

I am a student
). It's not used to describe adjectives (e.g., you wouldn't say 我 是 饿 for I am hungry).

Q

What's the main difference between 不 (bù) and 没 (méi) for negation?

不 (bù) is a general negator used with most verbs and adjectives, indicating present or future negation. 没 (méi) (or 没有 (méiyǒu)) is specifically used to negate the verb 有 (yǒu) (to have or there is), and also for past tense negation of other verbs (which you'll learn later!).

Cultural Context

These basic sentence patterns are the bedrock of everyday communication in China. When introducing yourself or others, using 是 (shì) is standard and polite. The directness of Chinese word order means that statements are often clear and unambiguous.
While regional accents vary, the fundamental grammar structures like SVO, 是 (shì), 不 (bù), and 有 (yǒu) are universally understood across all Mandarin-speaking regions. Mastering these simple building blocks allows for effective and respectful interaction in a multitude of daily scenarios, from ordering food to making new friends.

Exemples clés (8)

1

{我|wǒ}{是|shì}{老师|lǎoshī}。

Je suis professeur.

Le verbe 'Être' (Identité) : 是 (shì)
2

{她|tā}{不是|bú shì}{我的|wǒ de}{女朋友|nǚpéngyou}。

Elle n'est pas ma petite amie.

Le verbe 'Être' (Identité) : 是 (shì)
3

我不是美国人。

Je ne suis pas Américain.

Négation avec 不 (bù) : Dire « Ne... pas » en chinois
4

我的手机不贵。

Mon téléphone n'est pas cher.

Négation avec 不 (bù) : Dire « Ne... pas » en chinois
5

{我|Wǒ} {喝|hē} {茶|chá}。

Je bois du thé.

Ordre des mots en chinois : la phrase de base Sujet-Verbe-Objet
6

{他|Tā} {昨天|zuótiān} {看|kàn} {了|le} {一个|yí ge} {电影|diànyǐng}。

Il a regardé un film hier.

Ordre des mots en chinois : la phrase de base Sujet-Verbe-Objet
7

你看看这个。

Take a look at this.

Verb Reduplication: Try It and Just a Bit (看看, 想想, 走一走)
8

让我想想。

Let me think about it.

Verb Reduplication: Try It and Just a Bit (看看, 想想, 走一走)

Conseils et astuces (4)

⚠️

La zone sans 'Bu'

Si tu dis «{不有|bù yǒu}», on te comprendra mais ça sonne bizarre. Utilise toujours «{没有|méiyǒu}» pour avoir l'air d'un pro.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Possession et existence : 'Avoir' et 'Il y a' ({有|yǒu})
⚠️

Le piège de l'adjectif

Ne dis jamais 'je suis fatigué' avec 是. Si c'est un adjectif, oublie 是 et utilise 很 (hěn) à la place : «我很累。»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le verbe 'Être' (Identité) : 是 (shì)
💡

Écoute bien le changement de ton

Ouvre l'oreille ! Quand le mot après 不 a aussi un ton descendant (4ème ton), 不 se transforme en bú. C'est le cas dans «不是». Essaie de l'imiter pour avoir l'air d'un vrai pro !
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Négation avec 不 (bù) : Dire « Ne... pas » en chinois
💡

Le décor avant l'action

Prépare toujours la scène avant de dire ce qu'il se passe. Qui, quand, où... ET ENFIN quoi. «我明天喝茶。»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Ordre des mots en chinois : la phrase de base Sujet-Verbe-Objet

Vocabulaire clé (8)

我(wǒ) I / me 是(shì) to be (am, is, are) 有(yǒu) to have / there is 不(bù) not / no 没(méi) not (used with 有) 喝(hē) to drink 咖啡(kāfēi) coffee 书(shū) book

Real-World Preview

coffee

At a Cafe

users

Meeting a New Friend

Review Summary

  • Subject + Verb + Object
  • S + 是 (shì) + Noun
  • S + 不 (bù) + Verb/Adj
  • S + 有 (yǒu) + O / S + 没 (méi) + 有 (yǒu) + O
  • Verb + Verb

Erreurs courantes

Do not use 是(shì) to link a subject to an adjective. Use 很(hěn) instead.

Wrong: 我是高兴 (wǒ shì gāoxìng)
Correct: 我很高兴 (wǒ hěn gāoxìng)

有(yǒu) is special and can only be negated with 没(méi). Never use 不(bù) with 有(yǒu).

Wrong: 我不有书 (wǒ bù yǒu shū)
Correct: 我没有书 (wǒ méiyǒu shū)

Keep the SVO order strict at this level. The subject must come first.

Wrong: 书我有 (shū wǒ yǒu)
Correct: 我有书 (wǒ yǒu shū)

Next Steps

You've just built the most important foundation in Chinese grammar. Every sentence from here on uses these patterns. Keep practicing, and you'll be fluent in no time!

Write 5 'I have' and 5 'I don't have' sentences.

Record yourself introducing yourself and your profession.

Continue to: Describing Your World

Pratique rapide (10)

Which sentence is correct?

Choose the correct one:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 看一看
No 'le' allowed.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verb Reduplication: Try It and Just a Bit (看看, 想想, 走一走)

Trouve l'erreur dans la phrase.

{他|tā}{不|bù}{有|yǒu}{书|shū}。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 他没有书。
{有|yǒu} est toujours nié avec {没|méi}, jamais avec {不|bù}.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Possession et existence : 'Avoir' et 'Il y a' ({有|yǒu})

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

我昨天不去商店。(Je n'ai pas été au magasin hier.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 我昨天没去商店。
Pour une action passée (hier), il faut utiliser 没 (méi) et non 不 (bù).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Négation avec 不 (bù) : Dire « Ne... pas » en chinois

Fill in the blank with the correct form.

我们去公园___吧。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 走走
AA pattern is correct.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verb Reduplication: Try It and Just a Bit (看看, 想想, 走一走)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans cette phrase : 'Il étudie le chinois.'

Find and fix the mistake:

{他|tā} {是|shì} {学|xué} {中文|zhōngwén}。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {他|tā} {学|xué} {中文|zhōngwén}。
En chinois, on n'utilise pas le verbe 'être' ({是|shì}) quand il y a déjà un verbe d'action comme 'étudier' ({学|xué}).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: L'ordre des mots en chinois : Sujet + Verbe + Objet

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

Choisis la bonne façon de dire 'Je suis fatigué'.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 我很累。
Tu ne peux pas utiliser 是 (shì) avec un adjectif comme 累 (lèi). Tu dois utiliser 很 (hěn) à la place.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le verbe 'Être' (Identité) : 是 (shì)

Correct the mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

他休息休息了。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 他休息休息。
Remove 'le'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verb Reduplication: Try It and Just a Bit (看看, 想想, 走一走)

Complète la phrase pour la mettre à la forme négative.

他 ___ 是学生。(Il n'est pas étudiant.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 不
Pour nier le verbe 是 (être), on utilise toujours 不. On dit donc 不是.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Négation avec 不 (bù) : Dire « Ne... pas » en chinois

Complète la phrase pour dire 'Tu regardes un film'.

{你|nǐ} ___ {电影|diànyǐng}。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {看|kàn}
{看|kàn} signifie 'regarder', ce qui correspond au contexte d'un film.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: L'ordre des mots en chinois : Sujet + Verbe + Objet

Remets les mots dans l'ordre pour dire 'As-tu du temps ?'

Ordonne ces mots :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 你有时间吗
L'ordre est Sujet ({你|nǐ}) + Verbe ({有|yǒu}) + Objet ({时间|shíjiān}) + Particule ({吗|ma}).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Possession et existence : 'Avoir' et 'Il y a' ({有|yǒu})

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

Non ! Le chinois est génial pour ça. Que ce soit «{我|wǒ}» (je) ou «{他|tā}» (il), on utilise toujours «{有|yǒu}».
C'est une règle historique. Retiens juste que «{有|yǒu}» et «{没|méi}» sont mariés ; «{不|bù}» n'est pas invité à la fête.
Non. Les verbes chinois ne changent jamais, peu importe le sujet. «我们是» utilise le même mot que «我是».
On utilise toujours 是. On ajoute juste un mot de temps comme hier (昨天) ou avant (以前) dans la phrase.
C'est ton mot pour dire 'ne pas'. Tu le places devant un verbe ou un adjectif, comme pour transformer «好» (bien) en «不好» (pas bien).
Presque toujours juste avant le mot que tu veux nier. Par exemple : «我不喜欢» (Je n'aime pas).
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Emphasizing the Extreme
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Describing Your World
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