Know a few Chinese words, but not sure how to put them together?
Start with a short sentence. Then add one detail at a time.
1. Start small: Who + does what?
Many everyday Chinese sentences follow this order:
Subject + Verb + Object
主语 + 动词 + 宾语
Think of it as: Who + action + what?
| Who? | Action? | What? |
|---|---|---|
| 我 · I | 喝 · drink | 茶 · tea |
Try another:
The order is familiar if you speak English: “I + study + Chinese.” This is a useful starting pattern—not a rule that every sentence must have three parts.
2. Add time: When?
Want to say when you do something? Put the time expression before the verb.
Who + When + Action + What
You can also put the time first:
Here, 都 helps express “every day, without exception.” Both sentences are natural. For now, practise putting the time after 我—it gives you one simple pattern to follow.
3. Add a place: Where?
To say where an activity happens, usually put 在 + place before the action.
Who + 在 + Place + Action + What
Now combine time and place:
Who + When + Where + Action + What
Look how the sentence grows:
- 我学中文。 → I study Chinese.
- 我每天学中文。 → Add when.
- 我每天在家学中文。 → Add where.
4. A short sentence can already be complete
You do not always need an object:
And some sentences describe a state instead of an action:
You don’t need to force every sentence into the same pattern.
If you want to say who you are rather than what you do, see How to Use 是 (shì): “I Am” Made Simple.
Your turn · 轮到你了
Put these words in order to say:
“I drink coffee at home every morning.”
喝 ／ 我 ／ 咖啡 ／ 在家 ／ 每天早上
Answer
Now make it yours: replace coffee with tea, or at home with at the office. Start small. Add one detail. Say something about your own day.
Want to drill this? Try the Sentence Pattern Practice tool.