If sentences are sorted by tone or mood, there are 4 main sentence types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Declarative sentence \u9648\u8ff0\u53e5<\/a> (ch\u00e9n sh\u00f9 j\u00f9)<\/li>
- Interrogative sentences \u7591\u95ee\u53e5<\/a> (y\u00ed w\u00e8n j\u00f9)<\/li>
- Imperative sentence \u7948\u4f7f\u53e5<\/a> (q\u00ed sh\u01d0 j\u00f9)<\/li>
- Exclamatory sentence \u611f\u53f9\u53e5<\/a> (g\u01cen t\u00e0n j\u00f9)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s a more detailed look at these four sentence types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u9648\u8ff0\u53e5 (ch\u00e9n sh\u00f9 j\u00f9) Declarative sentences<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Declarative sentences \u9648\u8ff0\u53e5<\/a> (ch\u00e9n sh\u00f9 j\u00f9) describe or explain a fact with an indicative tone. Declarative sentences end, similarly to English with an \u201c\u3002\u201d. This sentence type can sometimes end with a modal particle such as \u7684\u3001\u4e86\u3001\u5462\u3001\u561b\u3001\u7f62\u4e86\u3001\u554a, etc<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Examples:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u4ed6\u5df2\u7ecf\u56de\u5bb6\u4e86<\/a>\u3002<\/a> (t\u0101 y\u01d0 j\u012bng hu\u00ed ji\u0101 le.) = He has already gone home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4ed6\u8bf4\u4e86\u4f1a\u53bb\u7684\u3002<\/a> (t\u0101 shu\u014d le hu\u00ec q\u00f9 de.) = He said he would go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the sentence indicates fact, there will be a positive or negative response. For an negative sentence, we commonly use a negative adverb like \u201c\u4e0d\u201d, \u201c\u6ca1\u6709\u201d, \u201c\u65e0\u201d, \u201c\u975e\u201d, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"negativesentences\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/negativesentences-e1456127289953.png?resize=399%2C399\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nExample<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u6211\u4e0d\u77e5\u9053\u5462<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 b\u00f9 zh\u012b dao ne.) = I do not know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And we will also use double negation to express an affirmative such as \u201c\u4e0d…\u4e0d…\u201d, \u201c\u6ca1\u6709…\u4e0d…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Examples<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u4ed6\u4e0d\u5f97\u4e0d\u53bb<\/a>\u3002(t\u0101 b\u00f9 d\u00e9 b\u00f9 q\u00f9.) = He has to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u6ca1\u6709\u4eba\u4e0d\u53c2\u52a0\u8fd9\u4e2a\u5bb4\u4f1a\u7684\u3002<\/a>(m\u00e9i y\u01d2u r\u00e9n b\u00f9 c\u0101n ji\u0101 zh\u00e8 ge y\u00e0n hu\u00ec de.) = No one will not take part in the party = Everyone will attend the party<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u7591\u95ee\u53e5 Interrogative sentences<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
According to form and structure, there are 4 kinds of interrogative sentence. Interrogative sentences are usually questions that force a response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1) \u662f\u975e\u95ee\u53e5 (sh\u00ec f\u0113i w\u00e8n j\u00f9) yes-no sentence.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For \u662f\u975e\u95ee\u53e5<\/a> (sh\u00ec f\u0113i w\u00e8n j\u00f9) sentences, we can simply use an imperative tone or add a question particle, such as \u5417 or \u5427.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Examples<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u4f60\u660e\u5929\u56de\u6765\u5417\uff1f<\/a> (n\u01d0 m\u00edng ti\u0101n hu\u00ed lai ma?) = Will you come back tomorrow?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u8fd9\u4ef6\u8863\u670d\u662f\u4f60\u7684\u5427\uff1f<\/a> (zh\u00e8 ji\u00e0n y\u012b fu sh\u00ec n\u01d0 de ba?) This is your clothing, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4f60\u6628\u5929\u8fdf\u5230\u4e86\uff1f<\/a> (n\u01d0 zu\u00f3 ti\u0101n ch\u00ed d\u00e0o le?) = Were you late yesterday?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u660e\u5929\u6211\u4eec\u53bb\u770b\u7535\u5f71\uff0c\u600e\u4e48\u6837\uff1f<\/a> (m\u00edng ti\u0101n w\u01d2 men q\u00f9 k\u00e0n di\u00e0n y\u01d0ng, z\u011bn me y\u00e0ng?) = Shall we go and see a film tomorrow?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To answer this kind of question, you can use \u5bf9, \u662f\u7684, \u55ef, \u597d\u7684, etc to agree, or \u4e0d, \u6ca1\u6709, etc if you disagree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2) \u7279\u6307\u95ee\u53e5 (t\u00e8 zh\u01d0 w\u00e8n j\u00f9) Specific interrogation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u7279\u6307\u95ee\u53e5<\/a> (t\u00e8 zh\u01d0 w\u00e8n j\u00f9) includes an interrogative pronoun such as \u8c01 who, \u4ec0\u4e48 what, \u54ea\u513f where or \u600e\u4e48\u6837 how. The commonly used modal particles in the end of the sentence is \u5462 or \u554a. The reply should be the exact answer of the question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"specificquestion\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/specificquestion-e1456128206310.png?resize=399%2C399\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nExamples:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u8c01\u5728\u90a3\u5531\u6b4c\uff1f<\/a> (sh\u00e9i z\u00e0i n\u00e0 ch\u00e0ng g\u0113?) = Who is that singing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4f60\u559c\u6b22\u4ec0\u4e48\u6837\u7684\u7535\u5f71\u5462\uff1f<\/a>(n\u01d0 x\u01d0 huan sh\u00e9n me y\u00e0ng de di\u00e0n y\u01d0ng ne?) = What kind of movies do you like?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes, we can omit the interrogative pronoun but use the modal particles, such as \u5462 and \u554a for specific interrogation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"questioningpronoun\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/questioningpronoun-e1456127421666.png?resize=399%2C399\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nExamples:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u6211\u7684\u4e66\u5462\uff1f= \u6211\u7684\u4e66\u5728\u54ea\u91cc\uff1f<\/a> (w\u01d2 de sh\u016b ne? = w\u01d2 de sh\u016b z\u00e0i n\u01ce l\u01d0?) = Where is my book?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u6211\u559c\u6b22\u559d\u8336\uff0c\u4f60\u5462\uff1f= \u4f60\u559c\u6b22\u559d\u4ec0\u4e48\uff1f<\/a> (w\u01d2 x\u01d0 huan h\u0113 ch\u00e1, n\u01d0 ne? = n\u01d0 x\u01d0 huan h\u0113 sh\u00e9n me?) = I like to drink tea, and you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, we will use \u591a+ adj to ask length, area, time, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Examples:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u4f60\u5bb6\u5230\u516c\u53f8\u6709\u591a\u8fdc\uff1f<\/a>(n\u01d0 ji\u0101 d\u00e0o g\u014dng s\u012b y\u01d2u du\u014d yu\u01cen?) = How long is it from your home to the company?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4f60\u7a7f\u591a\u5927\u7684\u8863\u670d\uff1f<\/a> (n\u01d0 chu\u0101n du\u014d d\u00e0 de y\u012b fu?) = What size clothes do you wear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3) \u9009\u62e9\u95ee\u53e5 (xu\u01cen z\u00e9 w\u00e8n j\u00f9) Alternative question<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For \u9009\u62e9\u95ee\u53e5 <\/a> (xu\u01cen z\u00e9 w\u00e8n j\u00f9) we will use (\u662f)…\u8fd8\u662f… to connect two or more than two options, and ask others to choose one of them to answer. The commonly used modal particles in the end of this kind of sentence are \u5462 and \u554a.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"2options\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/2options-e1456127477293.png?resize=399%2C399\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nExamples:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u559d\u8336\u8fd8\u662f\u5496\u5561\uff1f<\/a> (h\u0113 ch\u00e1 h\u00e1i sh\u00ec k\u0101 f\u0113i?) Tea or coffee?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4f60\u4eca\u5929\u53bb\u56fe\u4e66\u9986\u8fd8\u662f\u660e\u5929\u53bb\uff1f<\/a> (n\u01d0 j\u012bn ti\u0101n q\u00f9 t\u00fa sh\u016b gu\u01cen h\u00e1i sh\u00ec m\u00edng ti\u0101n q\u00f9?) = Will you go to the library today or tomorrow?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4f60\u559c\u6b22\u7ea2\u8272\uff0c\u84dd\u8272\u8fd8\u662f\u9ed1\u8272\uff1f<\/a> (n\u01d0 x\u01d0 huan h\u00f3ng s\u00e8, l\u00e1n s\u00e8 h\u00e1i sh\u00ec h\u0113i s\u00e8?) Which color do you prefer, red, blue or black?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4) \u6b63\u53cd\u95ee\u53e5 (zh\u00e8ng f\u01cen w\u00e8n j\u00f9) A-not-A question<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A-not-A question is made up of both the affirmative and negative answer. The response should be one or the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Examples:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u4f60\u6765\u4e0d\u6765?<\/a> (n\u01d0 l\u00e1i b\u00f9 l\u00e1i?) = Will you come or not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4f60\u5403\u996d\u4e86\u6ca1\u6709\uff1f<\/a> (n\u01d0 ch\u012b f\u00e0n le m\u00e9i y\u01d2u?) Have you eaten or not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u8fd9\u6761\u88d9\u5b50\u597d\u770b\u4e0d\uff1f<\/a> (zh\u00e8 ti\u00e1o q\u00fan zi h\u01ceo k\u00e0n b\u00f9?) Is the dress beautiful or not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4f60\u6ca1\u53bb\u8fc7\u6cf0\u56fd\uff0c\u662f\u4e0d\u662f\uff1f<\/a> (n\u01d0 m\u00e9i q\u00f9 gu\u00f2 t\u00e0i gu\u00f3, sh\u00ec b\u00fa sh\u00ec?) You haven\u2019t been to Thailand, is that true?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Special Sentence Type: Rhetorical questions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Rhetorical questions use the form of Interrogative sentences and the rhetorical tone to express emphasis. Rhetorical questions often use the form of yes-no sentence and specific interrogation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Examples:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u4e0d\u662f…?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u8fd9\u672c\u4e66\u4e0d\u662f\u4e70\u8fc7\u4e86\u5417\uff1f= \u8fd9\u672c\u4e66\u5df2\u7ecf\u4e70\u8fc7\u4e86\u3002<\/a> (zh\u00e8 b\u011bn sh\u016b b\u00fa sh\u00ec m\u01cei gu\u00f2 le ma? = zh\u00e8 b\u011bn sh\u016b y\u01d0 j\u012bng m\u01cei gu\u00f2 le.) Hasn’t this book already been bought?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u54ea\u513f\/\u54ea\u91cc\/\u600e\u4e48 + \u80fd\/\u4f1a\/\u2026?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u521a\u521a\u8bf4\u8fc7\u7684\uff0c\u600e\u4e48\u4f1a\u5fd8\u8bb0\uff1f =\u4e0d\u5e94\u8be5\u5fd8\u8bb0\u3002<\/a> (g\u0101ng gang shu\u014d gu\u00f2 de, z\u011bn me hu\u00ec w\u00e0ng j\u00ec? = b\u00f9 y\u012bng g\u0101i w\u00e0ng j\u00ec.) = You have just been told, how could you have forgotten?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u96be\u9053…(\u5417)?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\u96be\u9053\u4f60\u6ca1\u6709\u544a\u4ed6\u5417\uff1f= \u4f60\u5e94\u8be5\u544a\u8bc9\u4e86\u4ed6\u5440\u3002<\/a> (n\u00e1n d\u00e0o n\u01d0 m\u00e9i y\u01d2u g\u00e0o t\u0101 ma? = n\u01d0 y\u012bng g\u0101i g\u00e0o su le t\u0101 ya) = Didn’t you tell him about it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u7948\u4f7f\u53e5 (q\u00ed sh\u01d0 j\u00f9) Imperative sentence<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
An imperative sentence \u7948\u4f7f\u53e5<\/a> (q\u00ed sh\u01d0 j\u00f9) requests another other to do or not to do something. There are two main types of imperative sentence:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1) Order or Ban<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Examples:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"No](\"v\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/No-Smokign.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\u7981\u6b62\u5438\u70df!<\/a> (j\u00ecn zh\u01d0 x\u012b y\u0101n) = No smoking!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"no](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/no-cameras-e1456127653662.png?resize=191%2C261\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\u4e0d\u8bb8\u62cd\u7167\u3002<\/a> (b\u00f9 x\u01d4 p\u0101i zh\u00e0o) = No cameras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u5feb\u53bb\u7761\u89c9\u3002<\/a> (ku\u00e0i q\u00f9 shu\u00ec ji\u00e0o) = Go to sleep..<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2) Ask or dissuade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Examples:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
(\u60a8)\u8bf7\u5750<\/a> ((n\u00edn), q\u01d0ng zu\u00f2) = Take a sit, please.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u8bf7\u7b49\u4e00\u4e0b<\/a>(q\u01d0ng d\u011bng y\u012b xi\u00e0) = Please wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u6211\u4eec\u5f00\u59cb\u5427\u3002<\/a> (w\u01d2 men k\u0101i sh\u01d0 ba) = Let’s begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In some special situations, one noun words or noun phrases can also make up an imperative sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Examples:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u6c34\uff01(=\u7ed9\u6211\u6c34\uff01) <\/a> (shu\u01d0! = g\u011bi w\u01d2 shu\u01d0!) = Water! (= Give me water!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u611f\u53f9\u53e5 (g\u01cen t\u00e0n j\u00f9) Exclamatory sentence<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Exclamatory sentences \u611f\u53f9\u53e5 (g\u01cen t\u00e0n j\u00f9) are used to express strong feelings of emotion such as happiness, sadness, anger, fear or surprise). In spoken Chinese, expressions such as these are emphasised with a downward tone at the end of the sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1) Exclamatory sentence can be made up of interjection.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u54c7\uff01\u8fd9\u6735\u82b1\u771f\u7f8e\uff01<\/a> (w\u0101! zh\u00e8 du\u01d2 hu\u0101 zh\u0113n m\u011bi!) = Wow! These flowers are beautiful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u5509, \u771f\u7684\u522b\u65e0\u9009\u62e9\uff01<\/a> (\u0101i, zh\u0113n de bi\u00e9 w\u00fa xu\u01cen z\u00e9!) Well, there is no other choice!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2) Noun + \u554a\uff01<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Examples:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u5929\u554a\uff01<\/a>(ti\u0101n a!) My God!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3) Slogan or Congratulations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Examples:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u4e3a\u6211\u4eec\u7684\u5065\u5eb7\u5e72\u676f\uff01<\/a> (w\u00e8i w\u01d2 men de ji\u00e0n k\u0101ng g\u0101n b\u0113i!) = Let\u2019s cheers to our health!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use an Adverb or Modal Particle to end a Sentence.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes an adverb such as \u591a,\u591a\u4e48, \u597d, or \u771f can be used with a modal particle, such as \u4e86, \u554a and \u5440.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"expressemotions\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/expressemotions-e1456128373411.png?resize=399%2C399\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nExamples:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u592a\u597d\u4e86\uff01<\/a> (t\u00e0i h\u01ceo le) = Great!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u771f\u6ca1\u52b2\uff01<\/a> (zh\u0113n m\u00e9i j\u00ecn) = So boring!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u591a\u53ef\u7231\u7684\u5c0f\u5b69\u554a\uff01<\/a> (du\u014d k\u011b \u00e0i xi\u01ceo h\u00e1i a!) What a lovely kid!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u597d\u51b7\u7684\u5929\u6c14\u5440\uff01<\/a> (h\u01ceo l\u011bng de ti\u0101n q\u00ec ya!) It\u2019s so cold!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’ve got any questions or comments to make about this article please leave us a message below. Don’t forget to read our previous article about Chinese Sentence structure<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
- Interrogative sentences \u7591\u95ee\u53e5<\/a> (y\u00ed w\u00e8n j\u00f9)<\/li>