The difference among 是, 有 and 在

In this lesson we will learn three Chinese verbs, that sometimes can be confused with each other: 是 (shì), 有 (yǒu) and 在 (zài).

The verb 是 “to be” acts as the copula and it is used to connect the subject to the nominal predicate, only in case of nouns, because as we already know Chinese adjectives don’t need the verb “to be”, as they already imply a verbal meaning. 是 can also be used when we want to emphasize an element of the sentence.

他是张老师
tā shì zhāng lǎoshī
[he to-be Zhang teacher]
He is teacher Zhang

EMPHASIS MARKER
我是明年去中国
wǒ shì míngnián qù zhōngguó
[I to-be next-year to-go China]
It’s next year that I’m going to China

The verb 有 can carry two meanings: when it is preceded by a nominal group designating a living thing, it has the meaning of “to have”, when it is preceded by a locative element it is translated as “there is, there are.” The negative form of this verb is always made with the adverb 没 (méi).

Do you know?: 有 is also used to mean “here” during roll call in classrom.

我有一只狗
wǒ yǒu yī zhǐ gǒu
[I to-have a QU dog]
I have a dog

书店里有很多书
shūdiàn li yǒu hěn duō shū
[bookstore inside there-are INT many book]
There are many books in the bookstore

在 can act as a verb or as a preposition. When it acts as a verb, it means “to be at, in or on” and it indicates the place where the thing or person mentioned are located. When it acts as a preposition, it is translated as “at, in or on.”

我在家
wǒ zài jiā
[I to-be-at home]
I’m at home

PREPOSITION
她在书店工作
tā zài shūdiàn gōngzuò
[she in bookstore to-work]
She works in the bookstore

Cover background picture by Denny Ryanto (unsplash.com)