Shì, yǒu and zài
是 for saying what something is, 有 and 没有 for having and for "there is" and "there are", and 在 for where someone or something is.
Learn
Shì, yǒu and zài, explained point by point
Everything the GCSE specification expects you to be able to do, and how to actually do it - the same lesson a signed-in student studies from.
Say what someone or something is, or is not, with 是
是 links two nouns, like am, is or are: 我是学生。 她是我的老师。 It never changes, for one person or many, now or in the past. Put 不 in front for is not: 我不是中国人。
Leave 是 out before an adjective
An adjective works as the verb on its own, usually with 很 in front: 我很忙。 今天很冷。 Adding 是 here, the way English adds is, is one of the commonest slips in Chinese.
Say what you have with 有, and what you don't with 没有
有 means have: 我有一个哥哥。 Its negative is always 没有, never 不: 我没有哥哥。 In the negative the number and measure word usually drop out, leaving just the noun.
Say there is or there are with 有
Put the place first, then 有, then what is there: 桌子上有一本书。 (There is a book on the table.) 我们学校有一个图书馆。 means our school has a library, or there is a library at our school. English opens with "there is"; Chinese opens with the place.
Say where someone or something is with 在
Put the person or thing first, then 在, then the place: 我妈妈在家。 银行在邮局旁边。 在 already does the work of is, so no 是 goes with it. The negative is 不在, and to ask where, use 在哪儿: 你的手机在哪儿？
Choose between 有 and 在
有 brings in something new: 我家附近有一个公园。 (There's a park near my home.) 在 says where something already known is: 公园在我家附近。 (The park is near my home.) A quick check: with 有 the place comes first, and with 在 the thing does.
Say what is in a place with 是
是 can name what fills a spot: 学校前边是一个公园。 (In front of the school is a park.) Use it when you are saying what the thing there is, often the only one; 有 simply says there is one.
Insist that something is so with 是 before an adjectiveHigher only
A stressed 是 before an adjective means really is: 这儿的饺子是很好吃，可是太贵了。 (The dumplings here really are tasty, but they're too expensive.) It answers a doubt, so a but often follows.
Shì, yǒu and zài key terms
The words the specification and the mark schemes use, each defined the way an examiner wants it.
- 是
- To be, linking two nouns: 我是学生. It never changes, and it doesn't go before an adjective.
- 不是
- Is not, am not or are not: 他不是老师.
- 有
- To have, and also there is or there are: 我有一只猫, 桌子上有一本书.
- 没有
- Don't have, or there isn't. It is the only negative of 有.
- 在
- To be in or at a place: 我在家. Before a place and a verb, it says where an action happens.
- 在哪儿
- Where is or where are, after the person or thing you are asking about: 你家在哪儿 asks where your home is.
- Adjective as verb
- An adjective doing the work of the verb, with no 是: the 忙 in 我很忙.
- 是 for emphasisHigher only
- A stressed 是 before an adjective, meaning really is: 饺子是很好吃.
Common mistakes in Shì, yǒu and zài
The slips that cost marks year after year, and what to do instead.
Making 有 negative with 不, as in 我不有时间.
The negative of 有 is always 没有: 我没有时间, 这儿没有银行.
Putting 是 before an adjective, as in 我是累.
An adjective needs no 是: 我很累. Use 很 where English has am or is.
Adding 是 to 在, as in 我妈妈是在家 for my mum is at home.
在 already means is at: 我妈妈在家. Keep 是 for linking two nouns.
Using 在 where 有 belongs, as in 桌子上在一本书 for there's a book on the table.
For there is, put the place first, then 有: 桌子上有一本书.
Keeping the number in the negative, as in 我没有一个哥哥.
After 没有, drop the number and measure word: 我没有哥哥. With them left in, it sounds like not a single one.
Practice
Try a Shì, yǒu and zài question
A GCSE-style original question from this topic. Have a go before you open the working - deciding on an answer first is what makes the working stick.
Which word completes the sentence? 学校旁边___一个公园。 (Next to the school there is a park.)
- 在
- 去
- 有
- 住
Show the answer and the working
Answer: 有
After a place, 有 means there is: 学校旁边有一个公园.
- 学校旁边: next to the school.
- 有: there is.
- 一个公园: a park.