The verb 是 (to be), 有 (to have), basic sentence patterns, question particles and aspect markers. Chinese grammar is simpler than you think!
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是 shì — to be (identity)
是 links a subject to an identity, profession, nationality or category. It does NOT describe adjectives!
我是学生 wǒ shì xuéshēng
· woh shih shweh-shuhng
I am a student
他是老师 tā shì lǎoshī
· tah shih low-shih
he is a teacher
她是中国人 tā shì zhōngguó rén
· tah shih johng-gwoh ren
she is Chinese
这是什么 zhè shì shénme
· juh shih shun-muh
what is this?
不是 bú shì
· boo shih
is not
我不是日本人。
是的 shì de
· shih duh
yes (affirmation)
是的，我是学生。
是 is NOT used with adjectives! Don't say 我是高 (I am tall). Say 我很高 (I am tall). For adjectives, use 很 (hěn) instead of 是.
Wǒ shì xuéshēng, bú shì lǎoshī.
I'm a student, not a teacher.
Zhè shì shénme? — Zhè shì wǒ de shū.
What is this? — This is my book.
有 yǒu — to have / there is
有 expresses possession and existence. Its negative is 没有 (méiyǒu), never 不有.
我有一个哥哥 wǒ yǒu yī ge gēge
· woh yoh ee guh guh-guh
I have one older brother
你有手机吗 nǐ yǒu shǒujī ma
· nee yoh show-jee mah
do you have a phone?
这里有咖啡 zhèlǐ yǒu kāfēi
· juh-lee yoh kah-fay
there is coffee here
我没有钱 wǒ méiyǒu qián
· woh may-yoh chyen
I don't have money
有没有 yǒu méiyǒu
· yoh may-yoh
is there or not?
有没有WiFi？
To negate 有, use 没有 méiyǒu, NEVER 不有. This is one of the few absolute rules in Chinese grammar. 有没有 is a common way to ask yes/no questions.
Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu gēge? — Wǒ méiyǒu gēge.
Do you have a brother? — I don't have a brother.
Zhèlǐ yǒu méiyǒu cèsuǒ? 这里有没有厕所？
Is there a bathroom here?
Basic Sentence Structure: SVO
Chinese word order is Subject-Verb-Object, just like English. But time and place come BEFORE the verb.
我吃饭 wǒ chī fàn
· woh chih fahn
I eat (rice/food)
Subject + Verb + Object
我今天吃面条 wǒ jīntiān chī miàntiáo
· woh jin-tyen chih myen-tyow
I eat noodles today
Time before verb
我在家吃饭 wǒ zài jiā chī fàn
· woh dzai jyah chih fahn
I eat at home
Place before verb
我不喝酒 wǒ bù hē jiǔ
· woh boo huh jyow
I don't drink alcohol
不 before verb
你喜欢吗 nǐ xǐhuan ma
· nee shee-hwahn mah
do you like it?
吗 for yes/no questions
Chinese word order rule: Subject + Time + Place + Verb + Object. 我昨天在学校学中文 (I yesterday at school studied Chinese). Time and place always come before the verb!
Wǒ jīntiān zài jiā chī zhōngguó cài.
Today I eat Chinese food at home.
Nǐ míngtiān qù nǎlǐ? 你明天去哪里？
Where are you going tomorrow?
Particles: 了, 的, 吗, 呢
Particles are the glue of Chinese grammar. They add tense, possession, questions and more.
了 le
· luh
completed action / change
我吃了 — I ate
的 de
· duh
possession / description
我的书 — my book
吗 ma
· mah
yes/no question
你好吗？— Are you okay?
呢 ne
· nuh
and you? / continuation
你呢？— And you?
在 zài
· dzai
ongoing action (now)
我在学习 — I'm studying
过 guò
· gwoh
experience (ever done)
我去过中国 — I've been to China
了 is the most complex particle — it can mean 'completed action' (我吃了 I ate) OR 'change of state' (下雨了 it started raining). 的 is like English 'of' or "'s": 我的 = my/mine.