CHINESE AUXILIARY VERBS




Definition: As a general rule, auxiliary verbs are a subcategory of verbs; these verbs are widely known as modal verbs by Chinese people. However, these kinds of verbs come before main verbs in Chinese language. Auxiliary verbs are very different from adverbs, since this grammar category occurs before verbs, but auxiliary verbs occur before main verbs.

The most common auxiliary verbs are:

English Chinese Pinyin
to be 是 Shì
have 已 Yǐ
can/may 能 Néng
must 必須 Hissu
should 应 Yīng



To Be - (是) - (Shì)

  • Chinese people use the verb "to be" to connect the subject with a subjective complement which could be a noun, an adjective or a pronoun. One may use adverbs as a subjunctive complement occasionally.

  • The rule to forma a sentence with the auxiliary verb "To be" is:
    • Subject + Auxiliary Verb "To Be" + Main verb + Complement.

Examples:
  • Chinese characters are used by people to write something.
  • 漢字是用來寫東西的人.
  • Hànzì shì yòng lái xiě dōng xī de rén.

  • The ink was invented by the Chinese people.
  • 墨水是由中華民族發明.
  • Mòshuǐ shì yóu zhōnghuá mínzú fāmíng.

  • The Chinese Wall was built over a long period of time.
  • 在中國長城建於一長一段是間.
  • Zài zhōngguó cháng chéngjiàn yú yī cháng yīduàn shíjiān.

  • This book was made in China.
  • 這本書是在中國.
  • Zhè běnshū shì zài zhōngguó.

  • Fireworks were developed in Asia.
  • 煙花是在亞洲開發.
  • Yānhuā shì zài yàzhōu kāifā.




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