Existential sentences in Chinese: "there is" with 有, 是 and 着
To say "there is" in Chinese, put the place first and then 有: 桌子上有一本书 (Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yì běn shū, there is a book on the table). Chinese grammar calls this an existential sentence, 存现句. The same frame, place then verb then the thing, also works with 着, 是 and verbs of appearing, 7 patterns in all from HSK 1 to HSK 5.
| Pattern | Use | HSK | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Place + 有 + thing | there is, there are | 1 | 桌子上有一本书。 Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yì běn shū. There is a book on the table. |
| Place + 没有 + thing | there is no, there are no | 1 | 房间里没有人。 Fángjiān lǐ méiyǒu rén. There is nobody in the room. |
| Thing + 在 + place | where a known thing is | 1 | 我的书在桌子上。 Wǒ de shū zài zhuōzi shàng. My book is on the table. |
| Place + verb 着 + thing | what is placed, hanging or standing there | 2 | 墙上挂着一张照片。 Qiáng shàng guàzhe yì zhāng zhàopiàn. A photo is hanging on the wall. |
| Place + 是 + thing | what occupies the place, when you identify it | 4 | 银行旁边是一家咖啡馆。 Yínháng pángbiān shì yì jiā kāfēiguǎn. Next to the bank is a café. |
| Place + verb + direction + thing | something appears or leaves | 5 | 前面走过来一个人。 Qiánmiàn zǒu guòlái yí ge rén. A person came walking over from up ahead. |
| Place + 写有 / 印有 + thing | what is written or printed there (formal) | 5 | 门上写有“禁止入内”四个字。 Mén shàng xiě yǒu “jìnzhǐ rùnèi” sì ge zì. The door has the words "No Entry" written on it. |
The thing after the verb is new
In every row but the third, the thing named after the verb is new to the listener, so it usually carries a number and measure word: 一本书, 一张照片, 两个人. Something the listener already knows goes first instead, with 在: 我的书在桌子上. Mixing the two orders is the most common mistake with these sentences.
Choosing 有, 着 or 是
有 only says the thing is there. 着 after a verb of position adds how it is there: 门口站着两个人, two people are standing at the door. 是 names what fills the place: 银行旁边是一家咖啡馆. The pages that go deeper are existential sentences with 着, 有, 是 and 着 compared and 了, 过 and 着.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "there is" in Chinese?
Start with the place and use 有: 桌子上有一本书 (there is a book on the table). The negative is 没有, never 不有: 房间里没有人 (there is nobody in the room).
What is the difference between 有 and 在?
有 introduces something new in a place: 桌子上有一本书. 在 says where something already known is: 我的书在桌子上. The new thing comes after the verb; the known thing comes first.
What is the difference between 有 and 是 in an existential sentence?
有 says something is there, possibly among other things. 是 identifies what is there: 银行旁边是一家咖啡馆 tells you what the spot next to the bank is. Use 是 when you are answering "what is that place".
Why do Chinese existential sentences use 着?
Verb + 着 tells you the state the thing is in, not only that it exists: 墙上挂着一张照片 says the photo is hanging. Verbs that work here describe a position or placement, such as 放, 挂, 站, 坐, 躺 and 贴.
Can a Chinese existential sentence start with 在?
Learners often write 在桌子上有一本书, but the usual sentence starts with the place itself: 桌子上有一本书. An ordinary noun also needs a place word after it, such as 上 or 里: 桌子上, 房间里. A place name does not: 北京有很多公园.
Which existential patterns are in which HSK level?
Place + 有 and Thing + 在 are HSK 1. Place + verb 着 is HSK 2. Place + 是 is taught as part of the full existential set at HSK 4. Appearance sentences such as 前面走过来一个人 and the formal 写有 come at HSK 5.
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