Learning Chinese :Use "不" with Verbs & Adjectives

[Rainbow]

This type of question is used to elicit an answer of either yes or no. It should be noted that an auxiliary verb see Chapter 11) can be used this way as well.

(a)Monosyllabic verbs/adjectives/auxiliary verbs
When the verb, the adjective or the auxiliary verb contains only one character:
王：你们明天去不去他家？
wánɡ: nǐmen mínɡtiān qù búqù tā jiā?
Wang: Are you (plural) going to his house tomorrow?
张：我去，我太太不去。
zhānɡ:wǒ qù ,wǒ tàitài búqù ‘
Zhang: I am going; my wife is not.
丁：你累不累？
dīnɡ :nǐ lèi bù lèi?
Ding: Are you tired?
陈：不太累。 ；
Chén: bù tài lèi.
Chen: I am not too tired.
李：明天会不会下雨？
lǐ :mínɡtiān huìbùhuì xiàyǔ?
li: Will it rain tomorrow?
张：不会。
zhānɡ :　búhuì.
Zhang: It woudn’t.
(b)Disyllabic verbs/adjectives/auxiliary verbs
When the verb, the adjective or the auxiliary verb contains two characters，the second character of the. affirmative part is optional, especially in casual speech.
李：你髙(兴)不高兴？
lǐ :nǐ ɡāo xīnɡ bùɡāoxīnɡ?
li: Are you happy?
张：我很高兴。
zhānɡ:wǒ hěnɡāo xīnɡ.
Zhang: I am happy.
王：那件事，幾们应(该)不应该告诉他？
wánɡ :nà jiàn shì ,　jǐ men yìnɡ ( ɡāi) bùyìnɡɡāi ɡào su tā?
Wang: Should we tell Mm about that matter?
丁：不应该。
dīnɡ :bùyìnɡɡāi .
Ding: We should not.
(c)The verb 有
When the verb is 有yǒu,the affirmative-negative question is 有没有.
李：你今天有没有空？
lǐ :nǐ jīntiān yǒuméiyǒu kònɡ?
Li: Are you free today? (= Do you have free time today?)

王：我下午有空，晚上没有。
wánɡ :wǒ xiàwǔ yǒu kònɡ ,wǎnshànɡ méiyǒu.
Wang: I am free in the afternoon; I am not free in the evening.

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