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

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】。

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?”