HSK 1 grammar · new HSK syllabus
有 and 没有: to have, there is
有 means “have” or “there is”. Its negative is always 没有, never 不有.
Structure
- Person + 有 + thing
- Place + 有 + thing
- Person / place + 没有 + thing
How it works
有 says that someone has something, or that something exists in a place. 我有一个哥哥 = I have an older brother. 桌子上有一本书 = there is a book on the table.
The negative is 没有 (often shortened to 没). 不有 is never correct.
When saying what is in a place, the place comes first: 学校里有很多学生, not 很多学生有学校里.
Examples
-
我有一个姐姐。
Wǒ yǒu yí gè jiějie.
I have an older sister.
-
你有中文名字吗？
Nǐ yǒu Zhōngwén míngzi ma?
Do you have a Chinese name?
-
桌子上有两本书。
Zhuōzi shàng yǒu liǎng běn shū.
There are two books on the table.
-
我家没有猫。
Wǒ jiā méiyǒu māo.
We don’t have a cat at home.
-
今天我没有课。
Jīntiān wǒ méiyǒu kè.
I have no classes today.
Words in these examples (19)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 有 | yǒu | to have; there is | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 个 | gè | (general measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 姐姐 | jiějie | older sister | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 中文 | Zhōngwén | Chinese (language) | HSK 1 |
| 名字 | míngzi | name | HSK 1 |
| 吗 | ma | (question particle for yes/no questions) | HSK 1 |
| 桌子 | zhuōzi | table; desk | HSK 1 |
| 上 | shàng | up; on; above; to go up; to get on; previous | HSK 1 |
| 两 | liǎng | two (before a measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 本 | běn | (measure word for books) | HSK 1 |
| 书 | shū | book | HSK 1 |
| 家 | jiā | home; family; (measure word for shops and companies) | HSK 1 |
| 没有 | méiyǒu | not have; there isn't; did not | HSK 1 |
| 猫 | māo | cat | HSK 1 |
| 今天 | jīntiān | today | HSK 1 |
| 课 | kè | class; lesson | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我不有钱。
✓我没有钱。
有 is negated with 没, not 不.
-
✗很多人有在商店里。
✓商店里有很多人。
To say what is somewhere, start with the place.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我 两个妹妹。
2. 他 手机。
3. 学校里 一个书店。