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Grammar Notes for lesson 5

Giving the day, month and/or year.

When you ask for the time or the date, 是 shì is omitted, as in: 今 天 几 号 jīntiān jǐ hào what date is it today? 今 天 十 五 号 jīntiān shíwǔ hào today is the 15th. The 是 shì in 还 是 háishì choice-type questions cannot be omitted. (See lessons 2 and 4)

Topic

The object of a sentence is called a topic if it is placed before the verb. It can be a noun, or a noun-functioned phrase in list form. The subject of a sentence in this pattern can be placed either before the topic or before the verb.

Pronoun or name + 这 儿 zhèr or 那 儿 nàr

When 这 儿 zhèr and 那 儿 nàr are placed after a pronoun or name, they identify a place associated with that person. 这 儿 zhèr implies that the speaker is actually in the place to which he refers, while 那 儿 nàr implies that the speaker is not in the place to which he refers: 我 那 儿 wǒ nàr my place (though I am not in my place as I speak). 我 这 儿 wǒ zhèr my place (I am in my place as I speak).