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。
<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？
<Tā shì shéi?>
He to be who?
WHO IS HE?
// A TEACHER / 老师 <lǎoshī>
// lit. meaning is OLD MASTER
他是老师。
<Tā shì lǎoshī.>
He to be a teacher.
HE IS A TEACHER.
你是中国人吗？
<Nǐ shì Zhōng-guó-rén ma?>
You to_be Chinese question_ma?
ARE YOU CHINESE?
// for negation we use 不 <bù>
// 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。
<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>
// 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。
<Zhōngguórén hěn duō.>
Chinese (to be) many.
CHINESE PEOPLE ARE MANY.
老师很老。
<Lǎoshī hěn lǎo.>
Teacher (to be) old.
THE TEACHER IS OLD.
How will you say: CHINA IS BIG.
// (to be) BIG / 大 <dà>
KEY 中国很大。 Zhōngguó hěn dà.
Translate: YOU ARE FINE, WE ARE FINE AS WELL.
KEY
This is a part of Lesson 1.1
