ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B2.old/Grammar-wiki-B2-57.txt.html

<p>Adding 什么 (shénme) to the end of a verb can be used to change a sentence into a rhetorical question. This usage is often used with <a href="separable_verb" title="wikilink">separable verbs</a>.</p>
<h2 id="structure">Structure</h2>
<p>The most common structure you will see is:</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Verb + 什么 + Obj.</p>
</div>
<h2 id="examples">Examples</h2>
<p>This usage is best illustrated with examples:</p>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>这么 大 年纪 了，结 <em>什么</em> 婚啊！ <span class="expl">The speaker is implying that getting married at this age is a ridiculous notion.</span></li>
<li>道 <em>什么</em> 歉，又 不是 你 的 错。 <span class="expl">The speaker is implying that apologizing is completely unnecessary.</span></li>
<li>过 <em>什么</em> 年 啊，还 得 又 送 红包 又 送礼。 <span class="expl">The speaker is implying that celebrating Chinese New Year isn't economically feasible.</span></li>
<li>没有 钱 看 <em>什么</em> 电影。 <span class="expl">The speaker is implying that there's no money to watch a movie.</span></li>
<li>还 吃 <em>什么</em> 饭，要 迟到 了。 <span class="expl">The speaker is implying that there's no time to eat.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Note that the questions above would likely be between friends, or at least two people who are quite familiar with each other. Tone of voice and context is key.</p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="Challenging_an_Adjective_with_&quot;shenme&quot;" title="wikilink">Challenging an Adjective with &quot;shenme&quot;</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>
<p>    </p>
<p><a href="Category:_B2_grammar_points" title="wikilink">Category: B2 grammar points</a> <a href="Category:Verb_phrases" title="wikilink">Category:Verb phrases</a></p>