陈述句 for Statements: Saying What Is and What Isn’t
A declarative sentence (陈述句) tells a fact in normal word order and ends with 。; make it negative with 不 or 没, and add 吗 to turn it into a question.
Pattern
subject + (time / place) + 不 / 没 + verb / adjective (+ object)。
A statement tells something and ends with a full stop. Use 不 for “not” with 是, adjectives, habits and plans; use 没 (有) for what didn’t happen and for “don’t have.”
他昨天没来学校。
When to use 陈述句 for Statements: Saying What Is and What Isn’t
A declarative sentence (陈述句) simply tells something: a fact, an event, a plan or an opinion. It uses normal word order (subject + time or place + verb or adjective + object), ends with a full stop 。 in writing, and is said with a falling voice. A statement can be affirmative (我是学生) or negative. For the negative, put 不 before 是, before adjectives, and before habits or plans (我不喝咖啡); put 没 or 没有 before an action that didn’t happen (他昨天没来) and use 没有 for “don’t have” (我没有哥哥).
我是学生。
I am a student.
我不是老师。
I’m not a teacher.
我没有哥哥。
I don’t have an older brother.
今天星期五。
Today is Friday.
Common traps
- Negate 有 with 没, not 不: 我没有哥哥, not 我不有哥哥.
- For something that didn’t happen, use 没, not 不: 他昨天没来.
- Turning a statement into a 吗 question doesn’t change the word order: 你是学生吗？, not 是你学生吗？
Targeted drill
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