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HSK 2.0 Level 1+ HSK 3.0 Level 1+ 5 min read

桌子上有一本书 for “There Is” with 有 and 是

Start with the place, then use 有 + number + measure word + noun to say what is there, or 是 + noun to name what fills that spot.

Pattern

place + 有 + number + measure word + noun / place + 是 + noun

Place + 有 introduces something new that is there: 桌子上有一本书. Place + 是 names what is in that spot: 前边是我们学校. The negative is 没有.

教室里有二十个学生。

When to use 桌子上有一本书 for “There Is” with 有 and 是

To say what is in a place, start with the place, often a location phrase such as 桌子上 or 学校前边, then 有 or 是, then the thing. Place + 有 + number + measure word + noun means “there is / there are”: 桌子上有一本书. The thing after 有 is new to the listener, so it usually has a number and measure word, not 这 or 我的. Place + 是 + noun tells what is in that spot, naming it: 学校前边是一个商店 “in front of the school is a shop.” 是 also works with a thing the listener already knows: 前边是我们学校. The negative of 有 is 没有: 房间里没有人.

桌子上有一本书。

There is a book on the table.

学校前边是一个商店。

In front of the school is a shop.

你看，前边是我们学校。

Look, that’s our school up ahead.

包里有什么？

What’s in the bag?

Common traps

  • With 有, the place comes first and the thing last: 桌子上有一本书, not 一本书有桌子上.
  • Don’t start this pattern with 在: say 桌子上有一本书, not 在桌子上有一本书.
  • Use 在 for a known thing (我的书在桌子上) and 有 for a new one (桌子上有一本书).

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

房间里 人，大家都出去了

There’s nobody in the room; everyone has gone out
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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