Lesson 2

Grammar Description

English vs. Cantonese Linking Verbs

English uses the format NOUN + "to be" + NOUN to equate a subject and another noun (predicate nominative). Examples:

	He is a person.		They *are* friends.
	I am his brother.		It is a car.

The exact same format is used to link nouns and adjectives (predicate adjective) in English: NOUN + "to be" + ADJECTIVE. Examples:

	He is tall.		They *are* friendly.
	I am happy.		It is good.

Cantonese uses one verb to link nouns to nouns (haih), but does not use a verb to link nouns to adjectives. Instead, the adjectives act as verbs. The pattern given in this lesson is only used to link a noun to another noun. The pattern for linking a noun to an adjective is given in the next grammar lesson.

The Negative \mh\

To form the negative of most sentences the prefix \mh\ is added before the verb or adjective being negated.

I		am	a student.
/ngoh/		haih	hohk \saang\

I	not	am	a student
/ngoh/	\mh\	haih	hohk \saang\.

Subject Verb Agreement

In Cantonese, subjects and verbs automatically agree. They do not need to be adjusted for first person, second person, third person, or singular/plural considerations. English has "am, are, is" plus different forms for each tense. Cantonese uses "haih" for all cases.

Nouns
\yahn\	person	人	\syu\	book	書
\che\	car	車	/louh/ \si\	teacher	老師
/pahng/ yauh	friend	朋友	hohk \saang\	student	學生

Cantonese Grammar Lesson 2
"To Be"- Equative

New Vocabulary

The Equating Verb "haih"

Grammar Description

English vs. Cantonese Linking Verbs

The Negative \mh\

Subject Verb Agreement

Cantonese			English
	haih	pronoun=noun
	haih	noun=noun
	\mh\ haih	pronoun!=noun
	\mh\ haih	noun!=noun

Function words
haih	is	係
\mh\	not	唔

Cantonese Grammar Lesson 2 "To Be"- Equative

New Vocabulary

The Equating Verb "haih"

Grammar Description

English vs. Cantonese Linking Verbs

The Negative \mh\

Subject Verb Agreement

Cantonese Grammar Lesson 2
"To Be"- Equative