Is 是 omits the 把 ?

[ChinChin]

Hi,

I'm a new comer to this forum. I'd like to know why we say: 这是椅子 and not 这是把椅子?

Thanks

[jie2li4]

Well, I'm no expert by any means, but I'll try my hand at explaining this. As far as I understand it, counters like 把 must always be preceded either by a number or by a prefix such as 这 or 那. So you can't say 这是把椅子, but you can say 这是一把椅子, or 这把椅子是我的, and so on. I hope that helps. =)

[gougou]

Yes and no. In 这是把椅子, the numeral 一 is omitted. It is completely possible to use this construction.

[jie2li4]

Hmm... Interesting. Would that be more of an informal way of saying it, then?

[amego]

Yea sorta, 一 is a poor little guy thats gets left out frequently.

Compare these.

帮我买一把椅子 and 帮我买把椅子 , both are correct.

Help me buy a chair.

一把椅子(correct) and 把椅子(wrong), 把椅子 cannot stand alone.

A chair.

Take note that 把椅子拿过来 means "Get the chair here."

When counting numbers,

100 is 一百

110 is 一百一十, we say 一百十 or 百一

120 is 一百二十, we say 百二,

...and so on

101 is 一百零一

111 is 一百一十一, we say 一百十一

Take note for usage with counter words, like dollars

$100 is 一百元/块

$110 is 一百一十块 or 一百十块, we don't say 百一块

$120 is 一百二十块, we don't say 百二块,

$101 is 一百零一块

$111 is 一百一十一块 or 一百十一块

For small changes,

$1.00 is 一块

$1.50 is 一元五角/一块五毛, we say 块半

$1.20 is 一元两角/一块两毛, we say 块二

....so on

$1.55 is 一块五毛半

$1.05 is 一块零五分

Well that's not exhaustive list, but if you have anymore doubts please ask.

P.S. Singaporeans say 帮我买一张椅子, haha our counter word for chairs is 张, i know its wrong but we are just used to it. Anyway when you say it fast, 帮我买一张椅子 and 帮我买张椅子 sounds the same.