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Subject + Verb + Object

主谓宾 · 主謂賓

Level 1 · Sentence basics · 句型

The default sentence shape, same as English

The pattern

S + V + O
  • The core order is the same as English: Subject - Verb - Object. If you can say it in English without moving words around, the Chinese usually follows the same order.
  • Do not add 'do/does' or change the order for questions, questions just attach 吗 or swap in a question word (see the question lessons).

Examples

我吃饭。 我吃飯
wǒ chī fàn
I eat. / I am eating.
他喜欢汉语。 他喜歡漢語
tā xǐ huan hàn yǔ
He likes Chinese.
我们学习中文。 我們學習中文
wǒ men xué xí zhōng wén
We study Chinese.

Quick check

1. Which puts the words in the right order?
  1. 我喝茶。
  2. 茶喝我。
  3. 喝我茶。
Show answer 我喝茶。 — Subject 我, verb 喝, object 茶, SVO.
2. 'She reads books', pick the right sentence.
  1. 书读她。
  2. 她读书。
  3. 她书读。
Show answer 她读书。 — 她 S + 读 V + 书 O.
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