Grade 10 Mandarin Chinese Grammar – Word Classes Notes
Mandarin Chinese — Grammar: Word Classes (Pronouns, Adverbs, Sentence Tags)
Specific learning outcomes (By the end of this sub-strand the learner should be able to):
- Identify pronouns, adverbs, and sentence tags/structures in texts.
- Apply those pronouns, adverbs, and sentence structures correctly in sentences.
- Value the importance of accurate use of pronouns, adverbs and sentence questions for clear communication.
- Use demonstrative pronouns 这 (zhè) and 那 (nà) as attributives; use the adverb 都 (dōu); form yes/no question tags 是不是? (shì·bù·shì?) and 是吗? (shì ma?).
Quick reference (legend)
Pronoun: 我 / 你 / 他 / 她 / 它 / 我们...
Demonstrative (attributive): 这 / 那 + noun
Adverb: 都 (dōu)
Yes/no tags: 是不是? / 是吗?
1. Pronouns (代词)
Pronouns replace people, things or groups. Common personal pronouns:
我 (wǒ) — I / me
你 (nǐ) — you
他/她 (tā) — he / she
它 (tā) — it
我们 (wǒmen) — we
你们 / 他们 / 她们 — you (pl.) / they
Examples (with Pinyin and English):
我是学生。(Wǒ shì xuéshēng.) — I am a student.
你们去学校吗？(Nǐmen qù xuéxiào ma?) — Are you (pl.) going to school?
他在家。(Tā zài jiā.) — He is at home.
你们去学校吗？(Nǐmen qù xuéxiào ma?) — Are you (pl.) going to school?
他在家。(Tā zài jiā.) — He is at home.
2. Demonstrative pronouns 这 and 那 (as attributives)
这 (zhè) = this; 那 (nà) = that. When used as attributives they come before a noun: 这 + noun / 那 + noun.
Examples:
这本书 (zhè běn shū) — this book
那个人 (nà ge rén) — that person
这里的茶很好喝。(Zhèlǐ de chá hěn hǎo hē.) — The tea here is very nice to drink.
Note: For spoken Mandarin people often add 个 (ge) between demonstrative and noun: 这个人 / 那个书 (but for 书 we usually say 这本书 because 本 is the measure word for books).
那个人 (nà ge rén) — that person
这里的茶很好喝。(Zhèlǐ de chá hěn hǎo hē.) — The tea here is very nice to drink.
Kenyan context examples:
这是那本关于内罗毕 (Nairobi) 的书。(Zhè shì nà běn guānyú NèiLuóbǐ de shū.) — This is that book about Nairobi.
那辆自行车是约翰的。(Nà liàng zìxíngchē shì Yuēhàn de.) — That bicycle is John's.
那辆自行车是约翰的。(Nà liàng zìxíngchē shì Yuēhàn de.) — That bicycle is John's.
3. Adverb 都 (dōu)
都 means "all" or "both". It usually follows a subject (including plural pronouns) and comes before the verb.
Examples:
我们都喜欢足球。(Wǒmen dōu xǐhuan zúqiú.) — We all like football.
他和她都去市场。(Tā hé tā dōu qù shìchǎng.) — He and she both go to the market.
她们都在家。(Tāmen dōu zài jiā.) — They are all at home.
Important points:
他和她都去市场。(Tā hé tā dōu qù shìchǎng.) — He and she both go to the market.
她们都在家。(Tāmen dōu zài jiā.) — They are all at home.
- 都 is for groups/combined items — "all / both / every".
- With negatives, you typically use 都 + 不/没 for "all do not / all did not": 他们都不来 (Tāmen dōu bù lái) — They all will not come.
4. Yes/no question tags: 是不是? and 是吗?
Both are used to form yes/no questions, but their tone and common uses differ:
- 是不是? (shì·bù·shì?) — a direct tag asking "Is it or isn't it?" Often used to confirm information you think might be true. It can be attached as a tag after a statement: 你是不是学生？(Nǐ shì bù shì xuéshēng?) — "Are you a student or not?" Or in colloquial speech: 他很高，是不是？(Tā hěn gāo, shì bù shì?) — "He's tall, right?"
- 是吗? (shì ma?) — softer, often expresses surprise or asks for confirmation (like "Really?" or "Is that so?"). It is placed at the end of the sentence: 他是老师，是吗？(Tā shì lǎoshī, shì ma?) — "He is a teacher, is that so?"
Examples with translations and notes:
你是学生是不是？(Nǐ shì xuéshēng shì bù shì?) — "Are you a student or not?" (direct confirmation)
他住在内罗毕，是吗？(Tā zhù zài NèiLuóbǐ, shì ma?) — "He lives in Nairobi, is that so?" (a bit surprised / asking confirmation)
他住在内罗毕，是吗？(Tā zhù zài NèiLuóbǐ, shì ma?) — "He lives in Nairobi, is that so?" (a bit surprised / asking confirmation)
5. Identification practice (5 short tasks)
-
Read this sentence and underline the pronoun and the adverb:
我们都去图书馆。 (Wǒmen dōu qù túshūguǎn.) — We all go to the library.
-
Mark 这 or 那 in the correct place:
____本练习册是玛丽的。 (This/That exercise book is Mary's.)
-
Convert to a yes/no question using 是不是:
你是老师。 (Nǐ shì lǎoshī.) — You are a teacher.
-
Make a sentence using 都 with the subject "他们" and the verb "喜欢" + "足球".
(They all like football.)
-
Use 是吗? to ask for confirmation of: 她在学校。 (She is at school.)
(Form the question.)
Answers
1) Pronoun: 我们; Adverb: 都.
2) 这本练习册是玛丽的。 (Zhè běn liànxícè shì Mǎlì de.)
3) 你是不是老师？ (Nǐ shì bù shì lǎoshī?)
4) 他们都喜欢足球。 (Tāmen dōu xǐhuan zúqiú.)
5) 她在学校，是吗？ (Tā zài xuéxiào, shì ma?)
2) 这本练习册是玛丽的。 (Zhè běn liànxícè shì Mǎlì de.)
3) 你是不是老师？ (Nǐ shì bù shì lǎoshī?)
4) 他们都喜欢足球。 (Tāmen dōu xǐhuan zúqiú.)
5) 她在学校，是吗？ (Tā zài xuéxiào, shì ma?)
Suggested learning experiences (for teacher & class)
- Pair work — Identify and ask: Give each pair a short Kenyan-context paragraph (2–3 sentences) mentioning names, places and objects. Students underline pronouns and adverbs, then write two yes/no questions using 是不是? and 是吗? and ask their partner.
- Group activity — Demonstrative hunt: In small groups, students bring or draw 6 classroom items (book, phone, water bottle, bicycle picture). Each group writes sentences using 这/那 + noun and asks classmates to point to the correct item. Example: 这本书是谁的？
- Role-play — Market conversation: Two students simulate a Kenyan market: use pronouns, 都 and demonstratives: "这些芒果都怎么卖?" "那些香蕉是新的." Encourage using 是吗? to check facts.
- Listening & speaking: Teacher reads short statements; students respond with 是吗? or use 是不是? to confirm. Focus on intonation differences.
- Written practice / homework: Translate 8 short English sentences about school and family into Mandarin, using pronouns, 都, and 这/那 where appropriate. Then swap with a partner for peer correction.
Why accuracy matters (value for communication)
Using the correct pronoun, demonstrative and adverb helps listeners know who or what you mean. Correct use of tags like 是不是? and 是吗? avoids misunderstandings and shows respect for the speaker’s intention. In school, at home and in public (markets, transport), accurate grammar makes communication clearer and builds confidence when speaking Mandarin with friends or visitors in Kenya.
Short assessment rubric (for teacher)
- Identification (4 marks): correctly identifies pronouns/adverbs/demonstratives.
- Production (6 marks): forms correct sentences using 这/那, 都, and tags 是不是?/是吗?.
- Fluency & pronunciation (4 marks): clear pronunciation and appropriate intonation for question tags.
- Total: 14 marks. Pass threshold suggestion: 9/14.
- Production (6 marks): forms correct sentences using 这/那, 都, and tags 是不是?/是吗?.
- Fluency & pronunciation (4 marks): clear pronunciation and appropriate intonation for question tags.
- Total: 14 marks. Pass threshold suggestion: 9/14.
Classroom tips
- Model intonation for 是吗? (slightly rising) and 是不是? (neutral or slightly rising depending on emphasis).
- Use real Kenyan examples (names, places, objects) to make sentences meaningful.
- Encourage students to replace nouns with pronouns and demonstratives to practice economy of language.
Prepared for: Kenyan learners (age ~15). Focus: grammatical use of pronouns, demonstratives (这/那), adverb 都, and yes/no tags 是不是? / 是吗?.