Level 2 Lesson 10.1 – To The Left Side; To The Right Side

GRAMMAR

Grammar 1: Locality Nouns 左边 右边 旁边 这边 那边 哪边 · HSK 2

We learned a group of Locality Nouns before in Level 1. Today we have another group. The chart below includes both groups of Locality Nouns.

All these Locality Nouns can either be used by themselves, or used after another noun or pronoun to form a phrase that suggests location. Let us call it a Locality Phrase.

(1) Locality Nouns used by themselves

For example,

• wǒ jiā zài zhèbiān, bú zài nàbiān
  我家在这边，不在那边。
  My home is here, not there.
• yòubian yǒu yí liàng chē
  右边有一辆车。
  There is a car on the right.

(2) Locality Nouns used after another noun or pronoun to form a Locality Phrase

[Noun or Pronoun + Locality Noun] = Locality Phrase

For example,

• gōngsī nàbiān
  公司那边
  over there by the company
• wǒmen zhèbiān
  我们这边
  our side here
• bàngōngshì yòubian
  办公室右边
  the right side of the office

A Locality Noun or Locality Phrase can be used as different sentence elements in Chinese.

(1) As the main subject

• nǐ qiánbian shì shéi
  你前边是谁？
  Who is in front of you?

(2) As the main object

• lánqiú zài chuáng xiàbiān
  篮球在床下边。
  The basketball is under the bed. (在 as a verb)

(3) As the object of a preposition, forming a prepositional phrase

• wǒmen bú zhù zài huǒchēzhàn zuǒbiān
  我们不住在火车站左边。
  We do not live on the left side of the train station. (在 as a preposition)

(4) As an attributive

• zuǒbian de fángjiān gèng dà, gèng piàoliang
  左边的房间更大、更漂亮。
  The room on the left is bigger and prettier.

Grammar 2: To and towards in Chinese with Prepositions 向 and 往 · HSK 2/4

向 and 往 are both prepositions suggesting “facing the direction of” or “towards the direction of”. 向 is more common in formal situations and written language. 往 is more casual.

Both 向 and 往 can be used before a Locality Noun or Locality Phrase to form a prepositional phrase that tells us the direction.

For example,

• bié wǎng zuǒbian zǒu, wǎng yòubian zǒu
  别往左边走，往右边走。
  Do not walk to the left. Walk to the right.
• xiàng qián kàn
  向前看！
  Look forward.

Grammar 3: Existential Sentence with 是 · HSK 2

We learned the existential sentence with 有: “Somewhere 有 something” to say “there is something somewhere”. We can also say an existential sentence with 是: “Somewhere 是 something”.

For example,

• nà zhāng zhuōzi pángbiān shì wǒ de yǐzi
  那张桌子旁边是我的椅子。
  Next to that table is my chair.
• zuǒbian shì lánqiú bǐsài, yòubiān shì zúqiú bǐsài
  左边是篮球比赛，右边是足球比赛。
  On the left is a basketball game, and on the right is a soccer game.

If we want to compare 有 and 是, here is a simple summary:

Let us compare these two pairs of sentences:

• zhuōzi zuǒbian yǒu jīròu
  桌子左边有鸡肉。
  There is chicken on the left side of the table.
• zhuōzi zuǒbian shì jīròu
  桌子左边是鸡肉。
  It is chicken on the left side of the table.

• bàngōngshì nàbiān yǒu liǎng ge lǎoshī
  办公室那边有两个老师。
  There are two teachers over there by the office.
• bàngōngshì nàbiān shì liǎng ge lǎoshī
  办公室那边是两个老师。
  It is two teachers over there by the office.

Grammar 4: The Attributive Goes Before the Phrase That It Modifies in Chinese · HSK 2

The attributive goes before the phrase that it modifies is a golden rule in Chinese.

Typically:

• Attributive goes before the phrase it modifies.
• Adverbial goes before the predicate.

(1) Attributive goes before the phrase it modifies

• zuǒbian de bàngōngshì
  左边的办公室
  the office on the left
• xiūxi shíjiān
  休息时间
  break time

(2) Adverbial goes before the predicate

• xiàng yòubian kàn
  向右边看
  look to the right
• wǎng pángbiān zǒu
  往旁边走
  walk to the side
• kuài kàn
  快看
  come look quickly
• bù máng
  不忙
  not busy
• màn zǒu
  慢走
  walk slowly (a polite goodbye to guests)