🧩 Grammar basics
Grammar notes
Short rules with examples you can hear
1Word order: like English
Chinese uses Subject + Verb + Object, just like English: “I eat apples”.
2是 — to be
是 (shì) joins two nouns: “I 是 student” = I am a student.
3不 — not
Put 不 (bù) before a verb or adjective to say “not”. Before a 4th-tone sound it becomes bú: 不是 (bú shì).
4吗 — making a question
Add 吗 (ma) to the end of a sentence to turn it into a yes/no question.
5个 — counting words
Between a number and a noun you need a counting word. 个 (ge) works for most things. For “two”, use 两 (liǎng), not 二.
6的 — 's (belonging)
的 (de) shows who something belongs to: 我的书 = my book.
7Verbs never change
Good news: Chinese verbs don't change for I, you, he or for past and future. 吃 is always 吃.