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Alternative existential sentences
=================================
[](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/ASGAC619)
-
Level
[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)
-
Similar to
- [Expressing actions in progress
(full form)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_actions_in_progress_(full_form)) (B1)
-
Used for
[Expressing
existence](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_existence)
-
Keywords
[着](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%9D%80),
[是](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%98%AF)
[{width="300"
height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-zhe.jpg)
Contents
--------
[hide]([# "wikilink")\]
- [1 Pattern with
着](#Pattern_with_.E7.9D.80 "wikilink")
- [1.1
Structure](#Structure "wikilink")
- [1.2
Examples](#Examples "wikilink")
- [2 Pattern with
是](#Pattern_with_.E6.98.AF "wikilink")
- [2.1
Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink")
- [2.2
Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink")
- [3 See
also](#See_also "wikilink")
- [4 Sources and
Further Reading](#Sources_and_Further_Reading "wikilink")
- [4.1
Books](#Books "wikilink")
Place + Verb + 着 + \[Noun Phrase\]
### Examples
- 桌子 上 放 *着* 一 本 书 。There is a book on the
desk.
- 大厅 里 站 *着* 一些 警察 。There are several
policemen standing in the hall.
- 教室 里 坐 *着* 两 百 多 个 学生 。There
are more than two hundred students sitting in the classroom.
- 地下室 里 堆 *着* 很 多 旧 东西 。The basement
is piled with lots of old stuff.
- 楼下 停 *着* 几 辆 车 。A few cars are parked
downstairs.
Pattern with 是
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The subject in the 是 sentence pattern indicates the location or area.
The object behind 是 is the only thing in this area.
### Structure
Place + 是 + \[Noun Phrase\]
### Examples
- 洗衣机 里 *是* 一些 脏 衣服 。There is nothing in
the washing machine other than the dirty
clothes.There are dirty clothes inside the
washing machine.
- 袋子 里 *是* 我 的 午饭 。The only thing in the
bag is my lunch.My lunch is in the bag.
- 墙 上 都 *是* 他 家人 的 照片 。His family's
photos are all over the wall, and nothing else is on he
wall.His family's photos are hanging
on the wall.
- 盒子 里 *是* 你 的 礼物 。Other than your gift,
there is nothing else in the box.Your gift is in the
box.
- 桌子 上 *是* 昨天 没 吃完 的 菜 。The food that
was left over from yesterday is the only thing on the
table.The food that was left over
from yesterday is on the table.
Note that 是 is used to describe a singular object existing somewhere,
while 有 can refer to multiple objects/people.
See also
-------------------------------------------------------
- [Indicating location with "zai" before
verbs](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Indicating_location_with_%22zai%22_before_verbs)
- [Special cases of "zai" following
verbs](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special_cases_of_%22zai%22_following_verbs)
- [Expressing existence in a place with
"zai"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_existence_in_a_place_with_%22zai%22)
Sources and Further Reading
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
### Books
- [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
(3rd ed)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed)) (pp.
128) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2xe9H5W)
- [Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part
1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_1) (pp.
191) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2fdV2l3)
- [Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part
2](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2) (pp.
264, 325) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2ftpILV)
- [New Practical Chinese Reader
4 (新实用汉语课本4)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_4_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC4)) (pp.
40-1, 164-5, 185)
[→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192)
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