To say that someone or something IS SOMEONE OR SOMETHING…

…we use the word 是 /shì/

// basic word order: subject – verb – object

我是人，你是人，他也是人。[mp3j flow=”y” track=”http://chineseffect.com/audio/0101MP3down/0101woshirennishirentayeshiren.mp3″ title=””]

<Wǒ shì rén, nǐ shì rén, tā yě shì rén.> 

I to be man (person), you to be man, he also to be man.

I AM A (HU)MAN, YOU ARE A (HU)MAN, HE IS ALSO A (HU)MAN.

// if there is a question word – such as 谁 <shéi> WHO – we don´t use 吗 <ma>

// the word order remains the same in question and normal sentence. More in questions

他是谁？[mp3j flow=”y” track=”http://chineseffect.com/audio/0101MP3down/0101tashishei.mp3″ title=””]

<Tā shì shéi?> 

He to be who?

WHO IS HE?

// A TEACHER / 老师 <lǎoshī>[mp3j flow=”y” track=”http://chineseffect.com/audio/SLOVA/lao3shi1.mp3″ title=””]

// lit. meaning is OLD MASTER 

他是老师。[mp3j flow=”y” track=”http://chineseffect.com/audio/0101MP3down/0101tashilaoshi.mp3″ title=””]

<Tā shì lǎoshī.> 

He to be a teacher.

HE IS A TEACHER.

你是中国人吗？[mp3j flow=”y” track=”http://chineseffect.com/audio/0103/0103nishizhongguorenma.mp3″ title=””]

<Nǐ shì Zhōng-guó-rén ma?>  

You to_be Chinese question_ma? 

ARE YOU CHINESE?

// for negation we use 不 <bù> [mp3j flow=”y” track=”http://chineseffect.com/audio/SLOVA/bu4.mp3″ title=””]

// if 不 <bù> is followed by a word in a FOURTH TONE, <bù> changes to SECOND tone <bú>

by TINGANGO, more HERE

不，我不是中国人。[mp3j flow=”y” track=”http://chineseffect.com/audio/0103/0103buwobushizhongguoren.mp3″ title=””]

<Bù, wǒ búshì Zhōngguórén.> 

No, I not to be Chinese.

NO, I AM NOT CHINESE.

When we talk about quality, for instance that CHINA IS BIG…

…we use 很 <hěn>  plus the “verb-adjective”

// (TO BE) MANY / 多 <duō> [mp3j flow=”y” track=”http://chineseffect.com/audio/SLOVA/duo1.mp3″ title=””]

// however, we need to connect it with 很 …

// …without 很 … 多 would mean (TO BE) MORE

// it’s the same with other “verb-adjectives”

中国人很多。[mp3j flow=”y” track=”http://chineseffect.com/audio/GramSlovByt/zhongguorenhenduo.mp3″ title=””] 

<Zhōngguórén hěn duō.>   

Chinese (to be) many.

CHINESE PEOPLE ARE MANY.

老师很老。[mp3j flow=”y” track=”http://chineseffect.com/audio/random/laoshihenlao.mp3″ title=””]   

<Lǎoshī hěn lǎo.>   

Teacher (to be) old.

THE TEACHER IS OLD.

How will you say: CHINA IS BIG.

// (to be) BIG / 大 <dà> [mp3j flow=”y” track=”http://chineseffect.com/audio/SLOVA/da4.mp3″ title=””]

[expand title=”KEY”]

中国很大。

Zhōngguó hěn dà. [/expand]

Translate: YOU ARE FINE, WE ARE FINE AS WELL.

[expand title=”KEY”]  [/expand]

This is a part of Lesson 1.1