Ness Posted August 4, 2014 at 05:06 PM Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 at 05:06 PM I'm fairly new to learning Chinese. I'm trying to focus on a lot of the grammar setup within the language. I'm confused about the phrase 你是誰. I thought that 是 connects nouns. But 誰 isn't a noun right? I'm assuming there is some special rule in place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Chen Posted August 4, 2014 at 05:22 PM Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 at 05:22 PM 誰 denotes somebody you don't know. If it is translated literally, 你是誰 is "you are who?" I think the usage of "who" is similar to 誰 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Posted August 4, 2014 at 05:23 PM Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 at 05:23 PM 是 means is, are, am, yes, to be. Not sure that is used to connect nouns. The phrase you have there means -you are who? I don't think there is a special rule, where did you find out that it is supposed to connect nouns? I have to admit I have never heard of it before. 谁 is not a noun it means who. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edelweis Posted August 4, 2014 at 05:25 PM Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 at 05:25 PM 誰 is a pronoun. Just like in the English language, it can be used in place of a noun. BTW 你 is a pronoun too. I think that for beginners saying that 是 "connects nouns" is a way to prevent using 是 with "adjectives"... (even though you will learn later on that there are some instances where 是 can be followed by an adjective) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hofmann Posted August 4, 2014 at 05:45 PM Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 at 05:45 PM 是 connects noun phrases. 誰 is a noun, just like English "who" and "whom." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ness Posted August 4, 2014 at 06:29 PM Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 at 06:29 PM 誰 as a pronoun makes more sense then. Beceause I forgot that words like 他 can easily be used with 是. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and select your username and password later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.