Topic-comment sentences

In a topic-comment sentence, the usual word order is rearranged a bit, in order to emphasize a certain part of a sentence. The part that is to be emphasized becomes the topic and moves to the beginning of the sentence, with the comment on the topic coming after the topic has been stated.

Structure

Examples

Just make sure to put a comma after the topic if you are writing the sentence down!

水果，我最爱吃草莓。 Shuǐguǒ, wǒ zuì ài chī cǎoméi. Fruit, I like strawberries best.
不好意思，咖啡，我都喝完了。 Bù hǎoyìsi, kāfēi, wǒ dōu hē wán le. I'm sorry. I finished all the coffee.
你好，票，还有吗？ Nǐhǎo, piào, háiyǒu ma? Hello. Are there any tickets left?
这个问题，你一个人没办法解决。 Zhège wèntí, nǐ yīgèrén méi bànfǎ jiějué. There is no way that you can solve this problem all by yourself.
那部电影，看过的人都喜欢。 Nà bù diànyǐng, kàn guo de rén dōu xǐhuan. People that have watched the movie like it.
这个新项目，公司打算让我来负责。 Zhège xīn xiàngmù, gōngsī dǎsuàn ràng wǒ lái fùzé. The company plans to let me take charge of this new project.
你借我的钱，还没还吧？ Nǐ jiè wǒ de qián, hái méi hái ba? You haven't returned the money you borrowed from me, right?
他的事，我不想管那么多。 Tā de shì, wǒ bù xiǎng guǎn nàme duō. I don't want to be so involved in his business.
明天下午要开会，你记得吧？ Míngtiān xiàwǔ yào kāi huì, nǐ jìde ba? You have a meeting tomorrow afternoon. You remember, don't you?
我的笔，弟弟弄坏了。 Wǒ de bǐ, dìdi nòng huài le. My younger brother broke my pen.

Topic-comment sentences

Contents

Structure

Examples

See also

Sources and further reading

Books