Existential sentence 是/有

HSK 1

Structure (结构 jiégòu)

Place是 / 有Object

Use the structure 'Location + 是/有 + Object' to express the existence of a thing or person at a specific place.

This structure is used to express that something exists at a certain location. Both 有 and 是 are used, but with a slight difference:

有 (yǒu): The most common usage, simply indicating the existence of something. Example: 桌子上有一本书 (There is a book on the table).
是 (shì): Typically used when the object is already identified, or to emphasize or specify its location. Example: 桌子旁边是椅子 (Next to the table is a chair).

桌子上有一本书。
繁: 桌子上有一本書。Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yì běn shū.
There is a book on the table.
学校前面是银行。
繁: 學校前面是銀行。Xuéxiào qiánmiàn shì yínháng.
The bank is in front of the school.
我家楼下有一个咖啡店。
繁: 我家樓下有一個咖啡店。Wǒ jiā lóu xià yǒu yí gè kāfēi diàn.
There is a coffee shop downstairs from my apartment.
窗外是美丽的花园。
繁: 窗外是美麗的花園。Chuāng wài shì měilì de huāyuán.
Outside the window is a beautiful garden.
椅子下有一只猫。
繁: 椅子下有一隻貓。Yǐzi xià yǒu yì zhī māo.
There is a cat under the chair.