Grammar: Asking a question

ASKING A QUESTION

_THIS IS A TESTING BETA VERSION OF THE SITE_

3 WAYS TO ASK A QUESTION

CAREFUL: THESE WAYS CAN’T BE COMBINED

1. QUESTION PARTICLE

We place the question particle at the end of the sentence

Question particle is mostly 吗 /ma/

EXAMPLES

Do you need anything more?

你们还需要别的东西吗？

Nǐmen hái xūyào bié de dōngxi ma?

Is everything right?

一切顺利吗？

Yīqiè shùnlì ma?

Is the teacher in the classroom yet?

老师已经在教室吗？

Lǎoshī yǐjīng zài jiàoshì ma?

WORDS 经 TO BE / 在

I have bought two, do you want one?

我买了两个，你要一个吗？

Wǒ mǎile liǎng gè, nǐ yào yīge ma?

2. VERB - NEGATION - VERB

For instance 是不是 /shì-bu-shi/ IS or ISN’T = IS IT?

When the verb is based of 2 syllables, like 可以 /kěyǐ/ TO BE POSSIBLE, the construction looks like this:

可不可以 /kě-bù-kěyǐ/ IS IT POSSIBLE?

EXAMPLES

Is there a bathroom here?

这里有没有洗手间？

Zhè li yǒu méiyǒu xǐshǒujiān?

TO BE / 有间 SPACE

Do you have Chinese friends?

你有没有中国朋友？

<Nǐ yǒu-mei-you Zhōngguó péngyǒu?>

Could you give it to me a bit cheaper?

你能不能给我便宜？

Nǐ néng bùnéng gěi wǒ piányi?

EXPENSIVE - CHEAP

3. USING A QUESTION WORD

COMPLETE LIST OF QUESTION WORDS HERE

For instance: 什么 /shénme/ WHAT

谁 /shéi/ WHO

EXAMPLES

Who's clothes is this?

这是谁的衣服？

Zhè shì shéi de yīfu?

谁 / WHO?

What beer do you have?

你有什么啤酒？

Nǐ yǒu shénme píjiǔ?

What beer will you (do you want to) drink?

你要喝什么啤酒？

<Nǐ yào hē shénme píjiǔ?>