City University of Hong Kong CLASS CLASS
Making Sense of Grammar
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asked Feb 2, 2021 in Questions about Chinese Grammar by Ariel (34,480 points) | 225 views

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When the object is definite, such an object is, more often than not, moved to the beginning of the sentence (O + S + V) or moved before the verb (S + O + V).

O + S + V and S + O + V are regarded by some as topic–comment structures.

这本书,    过了。    这本书,    我看过了

Zhè běn shū,wǒ kàn guò le。  Zhè běn shū,wǒ kàn guò le。

O           S  V

Pre-posed object              Topic       Comment

I have read this book.

[1] Yip, P. C., Rimmington, D., Xiaoming, Z., & Henson, R. (2009). Basic Chinese: a grammar and workbook. Taylor & Francis.

[2] Teng, W. H. (2016). Yufa! A practical guide to Mandarin Chinese grammar. Taylor & Francis.

answered Feb 2, 2021 by Ariel (34,480 points)

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