Master three advanced omission patterns in Chinese: verb “to be” omission, impersonal pronoun “it” omission, and article omission
Review & Introduction
Grammar Explanation: In our previous lesson on Omission in Chinese, we introduced the omission of subject, pronoun and conjunction in Chinese sentences. In this lesson, we will learn another 3 situations where words are omitted to make sentences flow more naturally.
These advanced omission patterns are key to achieving native-like fluency in Chinese.
Verb “To Be” Omission
The verb “to be” (是 – shì) is often omitted in questions about identity, time, age, and price
Example: 这个多少钱？
Impersonal “It” Omission
The impersonal pronoun “it” as subject or object is omitted in Chinese
Example: 下雨了。
Article Omission
Articles “a” and “the” are omitted as Chinese doesn’t have articles
Example: 你有电脑吗？
Why These Omissions Matter
These three omission patterns represent fundamental differences between Chinese and English grammar structures. Mastering them helps you:
- Avoid translating directly from English word-for-word
- Understand how Chinese expresses concepts without certain grammatical elements
- Speak more naturally by eliminating unnecessary words
- Think in Chinese rather than translating from English
1 Omission of Verb “To Be” (是 – shì)
Grammar Explanation: In English, we always use some form of the verb “to be” (is, am, are) in questions about identity, time, age, price, etc. In Chinese, the equivalent verb 是 (shì) is often omitted in these common question patterns.
This omission makes questions more concise and natural in Chinese.
Example Sentences
English Structure
Verb “to be” is REQUIRED
Key Point: English cannot omit “to be” in these constructions.
Chinese Structure
Verb 是 (shì) is OFTEN OMITTED
Key Point: 是 is optional in most question patterns.
When Can 是 (shì) Be Omitted?
Rule of thumb: In questions about price, time, age, and similar information, 是 can usually be omitted. In statements of identity or emphasis, keep 是.
Common Question Patterns Without 是
These question patterns are so common that Chinese speakers automatically understand the implied “是” without needing to say it.
2 Omission of Impersonal Pronoun “It”
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3 Omission of Articles “A” and “The”
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Practice Exercises
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