Can you help me with word order.

[xuefang]

I would like to write a letter to my BF in Chinese and I need some help. Especially I need help with word order.

About word order. If I would like to say that I'm happy 'cause his my BF would it be: "Ni shi wo de nan peng you, wo hen gao xing" or "Wo hen gao xing, ni shi wo de nan peng you" ? Or does there come some word to link those sentences?

And then. If I want to say that I do something with somebody sometimes in somewhere so where in the sentence goes the "time word" and the "place word" ?

Thank you very much if you got the time to help me.

[Craig Butler]

Mandarin word order is often a function of "information structure" as it is an issue of syntax rules. What is often called "topic-comment" structure is a framework for understanding Mandarin sentences in terms of "topic"--the thing you want to talk about--and "comment"--the thing you wish to say about the topic.

An approximation for your sentences, then, might be:

"Ni shi wo de nan peng you, wo hen gao xing"

As for your being my boyfriend, I'm happy.

Your being my boyfriend makes me happy.

"Wo hen gao xing, ni shi wo de nan peng you" ?

I'm happy that you're my boyfriend. (no comma, however)

Compare with:

* gaoxing renshi ni

* gaoxing jiandao ni

In short, both of your sentences are acceptable, though give the information somewhat differently.

... where in the sentence goes the "time word" and the "place word" ?

Subject time place "event"

Nimen wanshang zai nar chifan? Where are you eating [to]night?

Wo liangdian zai menkou deng ni. I'll wait for you at 2:00 at the door/entrance.

[Quest]

A more natural way to say it would be:

我很高兴能够成为你的女朋友。Lit: I am glad I can become your girlfriend.

(wo hen gao xing neng gou cheng wei ni de nv peng you)

我很高兴你能够成为我的男朋友。Lit: I am glad you can become my boyfriend. is

(wo hen gao xing ni neng gou cheng wei wo de nan peng you)

grammatically okay, but somewhat impolite.

Or more colloquially:

做(/当)你的女朋友很开心。Being your girlfriend is happy.

(zuo/dang ni de nv peng you hen kai xin)

[xuefang]

Thank you very much for your help.