Chinese Grammar Lesson _ How to ask and answer content questions in Chinese _ Yoyo Chinese.

Hello, welcome back to YoYo Chinese Grammar. To convert a statement to a yes or no question, you simply need to add ma at the end or to use the verb not verb structure. However, for questions that require real answers, there is a new set of rules. Now it's time for me to introduce to you a new Chinese grammar regarding content question words. Here it is. In English, the question words such as what, when, where and how usually begin the sentence. But in Chinese, the question word goes where the answer goes. For example, in English you say what is this? In Chinese, you say this is what? The reason you put what at the end is because when you answer the question, you say this is a book, this is a cup, this is a cat. The variable part of the answer is at the end, so that's where you need to put the content question word. In other words, questions and answers use the same phrase order and they mirror each other. It's like in math, a variable goes where a number should be. So if you want to ask who are you? In Chinese, the correct phrase order is you are who? Because when you answer the question, you say I am so and so. So you are who? Mirrors I am so and so. That's why to form a content question, you should always work from the answer first. Now let's speak some Chinglish, which is speaking English using the Chinese grammar. Here we go. What do you like? Chinglish. You like what? To answer this question, I should say I like blah blah blah. You mirrors I. Like stays the same. And what mirrors blah blah blah? A question word should be put where the answer is. Now let's try a few more. What movies do you want to watch? Since the answer is I want to watch blah blah blah movies, the Chinglish version of the question is you want to watch what movies? Next one. Who do you love? Since you are going to answer I love so and so, to form the question, you should replace so and so with the question word who? And the Chinglish version of the question becomes you love who? Let's move on. When do you go to sleep? This is obviously a content question that seeks a real answer, not just yes or no. In this scenario, you need to work from the answer. So you would probably answer something like I go to sleep at 10 p.m. or I go to sleep at midnight. Well, please notice here that I go to sleep at 10 p.m. is not Chinglish. Remember? In Chinese, time needs to go before the verb. To have the question mirror the answer, you first need to have a Chinglish answer. The Chinglish answer would be I at 10 p.m. go to sleep. Now we have a Chinglish answer to work from. So now simply replace at 10 p.m. with a question word when and then you are set. So the Chinglish version of the question when do you go to sleep should be you when go to sleep. It might sound complicated at the beginning, but with some practice, you won't have to go through this rule each time before you form a question. It will become your second nature. So in summary, whenever you want to ask a question, ask yourself first. Is this a yes or no question that seeks a yes or no answer? Or is it a content question that seeks a real answer? If it's a yes or no question, work from the statement by adding my at the end. If it's a content question, work from the answer and have the question mirror the answer. Alright, in our next lesson, we are going to start learning all the content question words in detail. We are going to start with who. Jiā yóu, zài jiàn.