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Indefinite pronouns
Indefinite pronouns
Indefinite pronouns are used to show unknown things, signs or amounts.
HSK 1
new HSK 1
Pronouns
How to use
Some interrogative pronouns can be used in affirmative sentences. In this case, they become indefinite pronouns:
谁
什么
哪儿
多少
几
Examples
我们还等一会儿吧,她最可能路上遇到
谁
了
Let's wait a little more, she must’ve met someone oh the way
wǒmen hái děng yíhuǐr ba, tā zuì kěnéng lùshàng yù dào shéi le
昨天只来了
几
个学生
Only a few students came yesterday
zuótiān zhǐ lái le jǐ ge xuéshēng
In this meaning, they can be used in questions. In this case, you
need
to add the question particle
吗
.
Examples
你有
什么
书看
吗
?
Do you have something to read?
nǐ yǒu shénme shū kàn ma
你没在
哪儿
见到他
吗
?
Have you seen him anywhere?
nǐ méi zài nǎr jiàndào tā ma
Generalization and negation
If you add the adverb
都
to some pronouns, they express a general meaning:
谁都
什么都
哪儿都
什么时候都
怎么都
Examples
谁都
知道,他是一个好人
Everyone knows he’s a good person
shéi dōu zhīdào, tā shì yí ge hǎorén
他特别有钱,几乎
哪儿都
去过
He’s very rich, and he’s been almost everywhere
tā tèbié yǒuqián, jīhū nǎr dōu qùguò
If you want to express the opposite meaning, add the negative particle
不
or
没
after 都.
Pay attention
都 can be replaced with
也
.
Examples
今天是周末,
哪儿也
不
想去
It's the weekend today, but I don't want to go anywhere
jīntiān shì zhōumò, nǎr yě bù xiǎng qù
他
什么都
没
告诉我,只是说她需要钱
He didn't tell me anything, just said that she needed money
tā shénme dōu méi gàosu wǒ, zhǐshì shuō tā xūyào qián
Learn more
Interrogative sentence
Interrogative pronouns
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