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Particles and negatives in Mandarin

MFL, Mandarin grammar. Usually met in years 7 to 11.

Use the small Mandarin words that change a sentence: 吗 and 呢 for questions, 不 and 没 for negatives, 了 and 过 for what has happened.

What you practise

Starts with 吗 and 不 and builds to choosing between 不 and 没 with 过. Practice moves up a level when a round goes well and down when it does not.

Sample questions

Each sample comes with the method and the reason every wrong option is wrong. Real practice rounds are ten questions at your level.

Sample question, level 2 of 5

Which is the negative of 是 (to be)?

  1. 没是
  2. 不有
  3. 是不
  4. 没有
  5. 不是
Show the answer and method

Answer: E, 不是

The method: 是 takes 不: 不是, is not.

Why the other options are wrong:

  • A, 没是: 是 is made negative with 不, not 没.
  • B, 不有: 有 is made negative with 没: 没有.
  • C, 是不: 不 goes before the verb.
  • D, 没有: 没有 means do not have.

Sample question, level 4 of 5

Which completes 下雨___ (It has started raining)?

  1. 吗
  2. 吧
  3. 了
  4. 过
  5. 的
Show the answer and method

Answer: C, 了

The method: 了 at the end shows a change: 下雨了, it is raining now.

Why the other options are wrong:

  • A, 吗: 吗 would make it a question.
  • B, 吧: 吧 makes a suggestion.
  • D, 过: 过 shows an experience, not a new situation.
  • E, 的: 的 shows belonging.

See where this fits: every language topic and Key Stage 3.

Related topics: Pinyin and tones, Measure words, Word order, Numbers and days.