Essential Questions：

What 什么

why   为什么

who   谁

how old 几岁

where  哪儿
which   哪个

​

"是（shì）"     am/is/are/was/were; yes/right

是 connects nouns, but doesn't connect adjectives,

use ”很“ when connecting an adjective.

​​

他  是  我的老师。

他  很  好。

我 很  好。(I am very good.)

 

Form a Question in Chinese by replacing the unknown information in a statement with a question word.

 

Who are you? (In Chinese, it becomes "You are WHO?")

你是谁？(nǐ shì shuí?)

他是谁？

这是谁？

谁是​你的老师？

谁是王小文？​

​

What is this? (In Chinese, it becomes "This is WHAT?")

这是什么？(zhè shì shén me?)

​那是什么？

​你的名字是什么？

​他的名字是什么？

​

Which one is David White? 

哪个是白大卫？(nǎ gè shì bái dà wèi)

哪个是你的老师？​

​

Where is she? (In Chinese, it becomes "She at WHERE?")

她在哪儿？(tā zài nǎ er?)

你在哪儿？

Usually “am/is/are” are translated into "是".

However, in this particular phrase, i.e. when asking ”where is something”, use the set phrase “Subject+在哪儿”.  

在zài means on/at, and is only used in this phrase在哪儿to mean “at where”. 

​

How old is it? (In Chinese, "It how many years old?")

它几岁？(tā jǐ suì?)

他几岁？

白玛丽几岁？

​你的同学李大中几岁？

Usually “am/is/are” are translated into "是".

However, in this particular phrase, i.e. when asking ”How old is someone”, use the set phrase “Subject+几岁？”.  

几 means how many, and is only used in the phrase几岁to mean “how many years old”. 

Similarly, when answering the questions about age, follow the structure "Subject + number 岁。"

For example, "Mary White is 16 years old." should be

白玛丽 十六 岁。 (是 is not used in the translation.)

​