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class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Negations</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Negations-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Questions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Questions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Questions</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Questions-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Questions subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Questions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Yes–no_questions" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Yes–no_questions"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.1</span> <span>Yes–no questions</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Yes–no_questions-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Interrogative_words" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Interrogative_words"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.2</span> <span>Interrogative words</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Interrogative_words-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Demonstratives" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Demonstratives"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Demonstratives</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Demonstratives-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Possessives" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Possessives"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>Possessives</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Possessives-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Part_of_speech" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Part_of_speech"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>Part of speech</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Part_of_speech-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Differences_from_Mandarin_grammar" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Differences_from_Mandarin_grammar"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>Differences from Mandarin grammar</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Differences_from_Mandarin_grammar-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Differences from Mandarin grammar subsection</span> </button> <ul 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class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Comparison"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10.4</span> <span>Comparison</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Comparison-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Aspect_markers" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Aspect_markers"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10.5</span> <span>Aspect markers</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Aspect_markers-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Passives" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Passives"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10.6</span> <span>Passives</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Passives-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Sentence_particles" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Sentence_particles"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10.7</span> <span>Sentence particles</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Sentence_particles-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Pronouns_2" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Pronouns_2"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10.8</span> <span>Pronouns</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Pronouns_2-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div 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Chinese</a></th></tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading" style="border-top: 1px solid #aaa;"> <a class="mw-selflink selflink">Grammar</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content plainlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Chinese_classifier" title="Chinese classifier">Measure words</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cantonese_pronouns" title="Cantonese pronouns">Pronouns</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading" style="border-top: 1px solid #aaa;"> <div class="hlist"><ul><li><a href="/wiki/Written_Cantonese" title="Written Cantonese">Orthography</a></li><li>Transcription</li></ul></div></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content plainlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Fanqie" title="Fanqie">Fanchit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cantonese_Braille" title="Cantonese Braille">Braille</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cantonese_Bopomofo" class="mw-redirect" title="Cantonese Bopomofo">Bopomofo</a></li> <li><div class="hlist"><ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cantonese_pinyin" class="mw-redirect" title="Cantonese pinyin">Pinyin</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Yale_romanization_of_Cantonese" title="Yale romanization of Cantonese">Yale</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Jyutping" title="Jyutping">Jyutping</a></li></ul></div></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><th class="sidebar-heading" style="border-top: 1px solid #aaa;"> <a href="/wiki/Cantonese_phonology" title="Cantonese phonology">Phonology</a></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content plainlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cantonese_nasal-stop_alternation" title="Cantonese nasal-stop alternation">Nasal-stop alternation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Changed_tone" title="Changed tone">Changed tone</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Proper_Cantonese_pronunciation" title="Proper Cantonese pronunciation">Proper Cantonese pronunciation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Help:IPA_for_Cantonese" class="mw-redirect" title="Help:IPA for Cantonese">IPA</a></li></ul></td> </tr><tr><td class="sidebar-navbar"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Cantonese_language" title="Template:Cantonese language"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Cantonese_language" title="Template talk:Cantonese language"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Cantonese_language" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Cantonese language"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b><a href="/wiki/Standard_Cantonese" class="mw-redirect" title="Standard Cantonese">Cantonese</a></b> is an <a href="/wiki/Analytic_language" title="Analytic language">analytic language</a> in which the arrangement of words in a sentence is important to its meaning. A basic sentence is in the form of <a href="/wiki/Subject%E2%80%93verb%E2%80%93object" class="mw-redirect" title="Subject–verb–object">SVO</a>, i.e. a <a href="/wiki/Subject_(grammar)" title="Subject (grammar)">subject</a> is followed by a <a href="/wiki/Verb" title="Verb">verb</a> then by an <a href="/wiki/Object_(grammar)" title="Object (grammar)">object</a>, though this order is often violated because Cantonese is a <a href="/wiki/Topic-prominent_language" title="Topic-prominent language">topic-prominent language</a>. Unlike <a href="/wiki/Synthetic_language" title="Synthetic language">synthetic languages</a>, seldom do words indicate <a href="/wiki/Time" title="Time">time</a>, <a href="/wiki/Gender" title="Gender">gender</a> and <a href="/wiki/Plural" title="Plural">number</a> by inflection. Instead, these concepts are expressed through adverbs, aspect markers, and particles, or are deduced from the context. Different particles are added to a <a href="/wiki/Sentence_(linguistics)" title="Sentence (linguistics)">sentence</a> to further specify its status or <a href="/wiki/Intonation_(linguistics)" title="Intonation (linguistics)">intonation</a>. </p><p>A verb itself indicates no <a href="/wiki/Grammatical_tense" title="Grammatical tense">tense</a>. The time can be explicitly shown with time-indicating adverbs. Certain exceptions exist, however, according to the pragmatic interpretation of a verb's meaning. Additionally, an optional <a href="/wiki/Grammatical_aspect" title="Grammatical aspect">aspect</a> particle can be appended to a verb to indicate the state of an event. Appending interrogative or exclamative particles to a sentence turns a sentence into a question or shows the attitudes of the speaker. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Verbal_aspect">Verbal aspect</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Verbal aspect"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In contrast to many European languages, Cantonese verbs are marked for aspect rather than tense—that is, whether an event has begun, is ongoing, or has been completed. Tense—where an event occurs within time, i.e. past, present, future—is specified through the use of time adverbs. In addition, verbal complements may convey aspectual distinctions, indicating whether an event is just beginning, is continuing, or at completion, and also the effect of the verb on its object(s). </p><p>Aspect particles are usually treated as suffixes bound to the verb. Aspect particles can also be added to an adjective and function as a verb "be (adjective)". </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Aspect </th> <th>Marker </th> <th width="30%">Usage </th> <th>Example </th></tr> <tr> <td>Perfective </td> <td><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1209690778">.mw-parser-output .interlinear .bold{font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .interlinear .smallcaps{text-transform:uppercase;font-size:smaller}</style><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">咗</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zo2</p></div><p style="display: none;">咗</p><p style="display: none;">zo2</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>To emphasise a completed activity the result of which still applies to the present situation </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">I</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">喺</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hai<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">at/in</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">香港</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hoeng<sup>1</sup> gong<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Hong Kong</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">住咗</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zyu<sup>6</sup> zo<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">live-<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="perfective aspect" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">PFV</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">一</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">jat<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">one</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">年</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nin<sup>4</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">year</p></div><p style="display: none;">我喺香港住咗一年</p><p style="display: none;">ngo5 hai2 {hoeng1 gong2} {zyu6 zo2} jat1 nin4</p><p style="display: none;">I at/in {Hong Kong} live-PFV one year</p><p style="clear: left;">I have been living in Hong Kong for a year (and still live here)</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Experiential </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">過</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gwo3</p></div><p style="display: none;">過</p><p style="display: none;">gwo3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>To emphasise an activity completed in the indeterminate past which no longer applies to the present situation </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">I</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">喺</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hai<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">at/in</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">香港</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hoeng<sup>1</sup> gong<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Hong Kong</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">住過</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zyu<sup>6</sup>gwo<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">live-<abbr class="gloss-abbr gloss-abbr-ambiguous" title="experiential, or experiencer" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">EXP</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">一</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">jat<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">one</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">年</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nin<sup>4</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">year</p></div><p style="display: none;">我喺香港住過一年</p><p style="display: none;">ngo5 hai2 {hoeng1 gong2} {zyu6gwo3} jat1 nin4</p><p style="display: none;">I at/in {Hong Kong} live-EXP one year</p><p style="clear: left;">I lived in Hong Kong for a year (but am now elsewhere)</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Progressive </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">緊</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gan2</p></div><p style="display: none;">緊</p><p style="display: none;">gan2</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>To emphasise a dynamic activity which may undergo a change of state </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">I</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">著緊</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zoek<sup>3</sup> gan<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">wear-<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="progressive aspect" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">PROG</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">衫</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">saam<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">clothes</p></div><p style="display: none;">我著緊衫</p><p style="display: none;">ngo5 {zoek3 gan2} saam1</p><p style="display: none;">I wear-PROG clothes</p><p style="clear: left;">I am putting on clothes</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Durative </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">住</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zyu6</p></div><p style="display: none;">住</p><p style="display: none;">zyu6</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>To emphasise a continuous activity without a change of state </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">I</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">著住</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zoek<sup>3</sup> zyu<sup>6</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">wear-<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="durative aspect" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">DUR</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">衫</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">saam<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">clothes</p></div><p style="display: none;">我著住衫</p><p style="display: none;">ngo5 {zoek3 zyu6} saam1</p><p style="display: none;">I wear-DUR clothes</p><p style="clear: left;">I am wearing clothes</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Delimitative </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">吓</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">haa5</p></div><p style="display: none;">吓</p><p style="display: none;">haa5</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>To emphasise an activity of brief duration </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">等</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dang<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Let</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">me</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">著吓</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zoek<sup>3</sup> haa<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">wear-<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="delimitative aspect" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">DEL</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">等我著吓</p><p style="display: none;">dang2 ngo5 {zoek3 haa5}</p><p style="display: none;">Let me wear-DEL</p><p style="clear: left;">Let me wear it for a while</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Habitual </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">開</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hoi1</p></div><p style="display: none;">開</p><p style="display: none;">hoi1</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>To emphasise an activity protracted over a period of time to the point that it has become characteristic or habitual </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">I</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">做開</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zou<sup>6</sup> hoi<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">do-<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="habitual aspect" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">HAB</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">鐘點</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zung<sup>1</sup> dim<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">part-time</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">嘅</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ge<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="sentence-final particle" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">SFP</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">我做開鐘點嘅</p><p style="display: none;">ngo5 {zou6 hoi1} {zung1 dim2} ge3</p><p style="display: none;">I do-HAB part-time SFP</p><p style="clear: left;">I normally work part-time</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Inchoative </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">起</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hei2</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">上</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">soeng5</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">嚟</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">lai4</p></div><p style="display: none;">起上嚟</p><p style="display: none;">hei2 soeng5 lai4</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>To emphasise the beginning of an activity </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">個</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">go<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="classifier" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">CL</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">阿咇</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">aa<sup>3</sup> bit<sup>6</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">baby</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">突然之間</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dat<sup>6</sup> jin<sup>4</sup> zi<sup>1</sup> gaan<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">suddenly</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">喊起上嚟</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">haam<sup>3</sup> hei<sup>2</sup> soeng<sup>5</sup> lai<sup>4</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">cry-<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="inchoative aspect" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">INCH</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">個阿咇突然之間喊起上嚟</p><p style="display: none;">go3 {aa3 bit6} {dat6 jin4 zi1 gaan1} {haam3 hei2 soeng5 lai4}</p><p style="display: none;">CL baby suddenly cry-INCH</p><p style="clear: left;">The baby suddenly began crying</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Continuative </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">落</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">去</p></div><p style="display: none;">落去</p><p style="clear: left;">lok6 heoi3</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>To emphasise the continuation of an activity </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">你</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nei<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">you</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">唔</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">m<sup>4</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="negation/negative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">NEG</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">使</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">si<sup>2</sup>/sai<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">need</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">再</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zoi<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">again</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">講落去</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gong<sup>2</sup> lok<sup>6</sup> heoi<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">speak-<abbr class="gloss-abbr gloss-abbr-ambiguous" title="continuous aspect" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">CONT</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">喇</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">laa<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="sentence-final particle" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">SFP</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">你唔使再講落去喇</p><p style="display: none;">nei5 m4 si2/sai2 zoi3 {gong2 lok6 heoi3} laa3</p><p style="display: none;">you NEG need again speak-CONT SFP</p><p style="clear: left;">You don't have to go on speaking</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Returning </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">返</p></div><p style="display: none;">返</p><p style="clear: left;">faan2</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>To emphasise the return of the "supposed state". <p>Meanings can include: "continue a paused action" or "return to" (Example 1) </p><p>Note: When added to an adjective, it can also function as a verb of "becoming (adjective) again". (Example 2) </p> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">畀</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bei<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Give</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">返</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">faan<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">back</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">啲</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">di<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">those</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">錢</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">cin<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">money</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">me</p></div><p style="display: none;">畀返啲錢我</p><p style="display: none;">bei2 faan1 di1 cin2 ngo5</p><p style="display: none;">Give back those money me</p><p style="clear: left;">Give me the money back</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">個</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">go<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">the</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">天</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">tin<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">sky</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">未</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">mei<sup>6</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">not yet</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">好</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hou<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">good</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">返</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">faan<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">back</p></div><p style="display: none;">個天未好返</p><p style="display: none;">go3 tin1 mei6 hou2 faan1</p><p style="display: none;">the sky {not yet} good back</p><p style="clear: left;">The weather is not yet well</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Final_particles">Final particles</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Final particles"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1251242444"><table class="box-Close_paraphrasing plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Close_paraphrasing-section" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cf/Copyright-problem.svg/37px-Copyright-problem.svg.png" decoding="async" width="37" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cf/Copyright-problem.svg/55px-Copyright-problem.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cf/Copyright-problem.svg/74px-Copyright-problem.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="111" data-file-height="120" /></span></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>contains <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Close_paraphrasing" title="Wikipedia:Close paraphrasing">close paraphrasing</a> of a non-free copyrighted source, <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/essays/cantonese_particles.htm">https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/essays/cantonese_particles.htm</a> (<span class="plainlinks"><a class="external text" href="https://copyvios.toolforge.org/?lang=en&project=wikipedia&title=Cantonese_grammar&url=https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/essays/cantonese_particles.htm">Copyvios report</a></span>)</b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Relevant discussion may be found on the <a href="/wiki/Talk:Cantonese_grammar##" title="Talk:Cantonese grammar">talk page</a>. Please help Wikipedia by <a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit">rewriting this section</a> with your own words.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">June 2024</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Cantonese has many <a href="/wiki/Sentence-final_particle" title="Sentence-final particle">final particles</a> to change the moods or sometimes even the meaning of an utterance. <sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> They can also be added to an adjective and function as a verb "be (adjective)". </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Particle</th> <th>Usage</th> <th>Example </th></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">呀</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">aa3</p></div><p style="display: none;">呀</p><p style="display: none;">aa3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Used in neutral questions. Also used to soften the tone of affirmative statements so they don't sound as abrupt. </td> <td>你去邊處呀? Where are you going? 我返屋企呀 I'm going home. </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">嘅</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ge3</p></div><p style="display: none;">嘅</p><p style="display: none;">ge3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Used in assertions where something is emphasized (usually 係 hai6 is in front of what is being emphasized). Pronouncing it as ge2 adds a sense of puzzlement about the situation. This is equivalent to the Mandarin/written Chinese 的 dik1.</td> <td>我係今日返屋企嘅 I'm going home today. (the "today" is emphasized) </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">㗎</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gaa3</p></div><p style="display: none;">㗎</p><p style="display: none;">gaa3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Contraction of the combination 嘅呀 ge3 aa3. </td> <td>你係幾時返來㗎? When are you coming back? (the "when" is emphasized) </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">啦</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">laa1</p></div><p style="display: none;">啦</p><p style="display: none;">laa1</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Used in requests and imperatives. This is one particle where leaving it out could make the sentence sound rude. This is equivalent to the Mandarin/written Chinese sentence final 吧 baa6. </td> <td>俾我啦 Give it to me [please]. </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">喇</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">laa3</p></div><p style="display: none;">喇</p><p style="display: none;">laa3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Indicates a change of situation or a past event that has occurred and adds a sense of current relevance to the statement. This is equivalent to the Mandarin/written Chinese sentence final 了 liu5. Also used for polite refusal. </td> <td>佢返咗屋企嘞 He went home [already]. <p>唔使喇，唔該 No need, thank you. </p> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">嘞</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">laak3</p></div><p style="display: none;">嘞</p><p style="display: none;">laak3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>(same as 喇 laa3) </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">囉</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">lo1</p></div><p style="display: none;">囉</p><p style="display: none;">lo1</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Indicates a suggestion or conclusion that should be obvious (usually occurs with 咪 mai6). </td> <td>我冇車咪返唔到屋企囉 Without a car, [then of course] I am unable to go home. </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">咯</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">lo3</p></div><p style="display: none;">咯</p><p style="display: none;">lo3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Indicates an agreement with the previous speaker. </td> <td>好,我跟你返屋企咯 Okay, I will follow you home. </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">啫</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ze1/zek1</p></div><p style="display: none;">啫</p><p style="display: none;">ze1/zek1</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Can be used to mean "only" or "that's all," or used to play down the significance of the situation. </td> <td>佢返一日啫 He's only coming back for one day. </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">咋</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zaa3</p></div><p style="display: none;">咋</p><p style="display: none;">zaa3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Contraction of the combination 啫呀/嗻呀 ze1 aa3. </td> <td>佢返一日咋 He's only coming back for one day. (slightly harsher tone than 佢返一日啫) </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">咋</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zaa4</p></div><p style="display: none;">咋</p><p style="display: none;">zaa4</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Contraction of the combination 啫吖/嗻吖 ze1 aa4. </td> <td>佢返一日咋? He's only coming back for one day? [Only one day? I wish it was more.] </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">添</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">tim1</p></div><p style="display: none;">添</p><p style="display: none;">tim1</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Can be used to mean "also," "too," or "as well" in a sentence (usually occurs with 重 zung6). </td> <td>我重要返屋企添 I still have to go home as well. </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">未</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">mei6</p></div><p style="display: none;">未</p><p style="display: none;">mei6</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Used in questions asking whether an action has been done yet. </td> <td>佢返來未? Has he come back yet? </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">咩</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">me1</p></div><p style="display: none;">咩</p><p style="display: none;">me1</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Used in questions expressing surprise or disbelief. </td> <td>佢今日返來咩? He's coming back today? [Really? I wasn't aware of this.] </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">呢</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ne1</p></div><p style="display: none;">呢</p><p style="display: none;">ne1</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Used in follow up questions or when a question is repeated but for a different subject. Also used for rhetorical questions where an answer is not expected (especially when the speaker is wondering to themself). </td> <td>佢返咗來,你返唔返來呢? He came back, are you coming back? <p>佢點解返屋企呢? I wonder why he's going home. </p> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">嗎</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">maa3</p></div><p style="display: none;">嗎</p><p style="display: none;">maa3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Used to change a statement into a neutral question. This is used more often in Mandarin/written Chinese, but can still be heard in Cantonese. </td> <td>你返屋企嗎? Are you coming home? </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">先</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sin1</p></div><p style="display: none;">先</p><p style="display: none;">sin1</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Can be used to mean "first" in a sentence. In questions, it may convey a sense of impatience. </td> <td>我哋等佢返來先 We'll wait for him to come back first. <p>你返唔返來先? Are you coming back or not? [Answer me quickly.] </p> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">吓</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">haa2</p></div><p style="display: none;">吓</p><p style="display: none;">haa2</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Used to soften an instruction, similar to adding "okay?" in English. </td> <td>記得買奶吓 Remember to buy milk, okay? </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">呵</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ho2</p></div><p style="display: none;">呵</p><p style="display: none;">ho2</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Used to check whether a statement is correct, similar to adding "right?" in English. </td> <td>你買咗奶呵? You bought the milk, right? </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">吖</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">aa1</p></div><p style="display: none;">吖</p><p style="display: none;">aa1</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Can indicate enthusiastic consent or a sarcastic retort. Can also be used like 喇 laa1. </td> <td>好吖! 我跟你返屋企吖! Okay! I'll follow you home! <p>我點返屋企吖? How am I supposed to be able to go home? (sarcastically) 返來吖 Come back [please]. </p> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">呀</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">aa4</p></div><p style="display: none;">呀</p><p style="display: none;">aa4</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Used in questions expecting agreement, sometimes with a sense of disapproval. </td> <td>你返屋企吖? You're going home? [But really I don't want you to.] </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">嘎</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gaa4</p></div><p style="display: none;">嘎</p><p style="display: none;">gaa4</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Contraction of the combination 嘅吖 ge3 aa4. </td> <td>你係今日返屋企㗎? You're going home today? [But really I don't want you to. Can't you wait until tomorrow?] (the "today" is emphasized) </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">啩</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gwaa3</p></div><p style="display: none;">啩</p><p style="display: none;">gwaa3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Indicates uncertainty in a statement. </td> <td>佢返咗屋企啩 He went home [but I'm not completely sure of this]. </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">喎</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">wo3</p></div><p style="display: none;">喎</p><p style="display: none;">wo3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Indicates information is being reported. Pronouncing it as wo5 adds the indication that the information is second-hand and the speaker may not agree with it. </td> <td>爸爸叫你返屋企喎 Father is telling you to come home. </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">噃</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bo3</p></div><p style="display: none;">噃</p><p style="display: none;">bo3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Indicates that the sentence is a reminder. Also used as a realization. </td> <td>揸車返屋企好快噃 It is quick to go home by car. (used in the context where the person being addressed may not have thought about driving home) <p>揸車返屋企都好快噃 It is pretty quick to go home by car. [I didn't know that] </p> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Final particles may sometimes combine to convey multiple moods. However, not all combinations are possible. For example, 嘅 ge3 must be used before any other particles, whereas question particles (such as 呀 aa3, 咩 me1, 呢 ne1, and 嗎 maa3) must be used after all others.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Particle</th> <th>Usage</th> <th>Example </th></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">呀</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">aa1</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">嘛</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">maa3</p></div><p style="display: none;">呀嘛</p><p style="display: none;">aa1 maa3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Used in response to a question where the answer is obvious. </td> <td>佢返屋企呀嘛! He's going home! [So of course he can't go to the movies with us.] </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">啦</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">laa1</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">嘛</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">maa3</p></div><p style="display: none;">啦嘛</p><p style="display: none;">laa1 maa3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Contraction of the combination 喇呀嘛 laa3 aa1 maa3. </td> <td>佢返咗屋企啦嘛! He went home! [So of course he can't be here right now.] </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">咖</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gaa1</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">嘛</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">maa3</p></div><p style="display: none;">咖嘛</p><p style="display: none;">gaa1 maa3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Contraction of 嘅 and 呀嘛; used at the end of a sentence to express that it is something that the listener/reader should be aware of, or something that they are expected to agree with </td> <td>佢傻咖嘛，使乜理佢唧? He's crazy. [You know already] Why bother with him? <p>你大條道理咖嘛，唔使怕 You definitely have reason on your side. You needn't be afraid. </p> </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">咋</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zaa1</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">嘛</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">maa3</p></div><p style="display: none;">咋嘛</p><p style="display: none;">zaa1 maa3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Contraction of the combination 啫呀嘛 ze1 aa1 maa3. </td> <td>佢返一日咋嘛! He's only coming back for a day! [So of course he won't have time to visit all of us.] </td></tr> <tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">之</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zi1</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">嘛</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">maa3</p></div><p style="display: none;">之嘛</p><p style="display: none;">zi1 maa3</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td>Can be used to mean "only". Convey a sense of defensiveness. </td> <td>我返屋企之嘛 I'm only going home. [...and nothing else. What else are you expecting from me?] </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Pronouns">Pronouns</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Pronouns"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="/wiki/Cantonese_pronouns" title="Cantonese pronouns">Cantonese pronouns</a></div> <p>Cantonese uses the following pronouns, which like in many other Sinitic languages, function as both nominative (English: I, he, we) and accusative (me, him, us): </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th> </th> <th>singular </th> <th>plural </th></tr> <tr> <th>1st person </th> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">我</p><p style="display: none;">ngo5</p><p style="clear: left;">I / me</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">哋</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dei<sup>6</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">我哋</p><p style="display: none;">ngo5 dei6</p><p style="clear: left;">we / us</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr> <tr> <th>2nd person </th> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">你</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nei<sup>5</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">你</p><p style="display: none;">nei5</p><p style="clear: left;">you (singular)</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">你</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nei<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">哋</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dei<sup>6</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">你哋</p><p style="display: none;">nei5 dei6</p><p style="clear: left;">you (plural)</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr> <tr> <th>3rd person </th> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">佢</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">keoi<sup>5</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">佢</p><p style="display: none;">keoi5</p><p style="clear: left;">he / she / it</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">佢</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">keoi<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">哋</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dei<sup>6</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">佢哋</p><p style="display: none;">keoi5 dei6</p><p style="clear: left;">they / them</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Copula_("to_be")"><span id="Copula_.28.22to_be.22.29"></span>Copula ("to be")</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Copula ("to be")"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>States and qualities are generally expressed using <a href="/wiki/Stative_verbs" class="mw-redirect" title="Stative verbs">stative verbs</a> that do not require the verb "to be". For example, to say "I am hungry", one would say 我肚餓 <i>ngo5 tou5 ngo6</i> (literally: I stomach hungry). </p><p>With noun complements, the verb 係 <i>hai6</i> serves as the verb "to be". </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">尋</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">cam<sup>4</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">日</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">jat<sup>6</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;"><b>係</b></p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"><b>hai<sup>6</sup></b></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">中</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zung<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">秋</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">cau<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">節。</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zit<sup>3</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">尋日 <b>係</b> 中秋節。</p><p style="display: none;">cam4 jat6 <b>hai6</b> zung1 cau1 zit3</p><p style="clear: left;">Yesterday was [the] Mid-Autumn festival</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>Another use of 係 is in cleft constructions for emphasis, much like the English construction "It's ... that ...". The sentence particle 嘅 <i>ge3</i> is often found along with it. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">佢</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">keoi<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;"><b>係</b></p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"><b>hai<sup>6</sup></b></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">完</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">jyun<sup>4</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">全</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">cyun<sup>4</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">唔</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">m<sup>4</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">識</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sik<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">講</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gong<sup>2</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">廣</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Gwong<sup>2</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">東</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dung<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">話</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">waa<sup>6</sup>*2</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">嘅。</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ge</p></div><p style="display: none;">佢 <b>係</b> 完全唔識講廣東話嘅。</p><p style="display: none;">keoi5 <b>hai6</b> jyun4 cyun4 m4 sik1 gong2 Gwong2 dung1 waa6*2 ge</p><p style="clear: left;">"(It is the case that) s/he doesn't know Cantonese at all."</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>To indicate location, the words 喺 <i>hai2</i> (a "lazy" variation is 响 <i>hoeng2</i>) which are collectively known as the locatives or sometimes coverbs in Chinese linguistics, are used to express "to be at": </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:4em"><div style="position:absolute;left:1em">ex:</div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">而</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ji<sup>4</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">家</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gaa<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;"><b>喺</b></p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"><b>hai<sup>2</sup></b></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">圖</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">tou<sup>4</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">書</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">syu<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">館。</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gun<sup>2</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">我而家 <b>喺</b> 圖書館。</p><p style="display: none;">ngo5 ji4 gaa1 <b>hai2</b> tou4 syu1 gun2</p><p style="clear: left;">I am at the library now</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <dl><dd>(Here 而家 <i>ji4 gaa1</i> means "now".)</dd></dl> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Negations">Negations</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Negations"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Many negation words start with the sound m- in Cantonese; for example, 唔 <i>m4</i> "not", 冇 <i>mou5</i> "to not have (done sth)", 未 <i>mei6</i> "not yet". Verbs are negated by adding the character 唔 <i>m4</i> in front of it. For example: </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="first person, singular" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">1SG</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">食</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sik<sup>6</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">to eat</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">得</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dak<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">can</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">花生</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">faa<sup>1</sup> sang<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">peanut</p></div><p style="display: none;">我食得花生</p><p style="display: none;">ngo5 sik6 dak1 {faa1 sang1}</p><p style="display: none;">1SG {to eat} can peanut</p><p style="clear: left;">"I can eat peanuts"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">⟶</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4ffb6a294b21bebe64570c4088d77a884dec95ab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:3.806ex; height:1.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"></span> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="first person, singular" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">1SG</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><b>唔</b></p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"><b>m<sup>4</sup></b></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="negation/negative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">NEG</abbr></b></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">食</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sik<sup>6</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">to eat</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">得</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dak<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">can</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">花生</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">faa<sup>1</sup> sang<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">peanut</p></div><p style="display: none;">我 <b>唔</b> 食得花生</p><p style="display: none;">ngo5 <b>m4</b> sik6 dak1 {faa1 sang1}</p><p style="display: none;">1SG <b>NEG</b> {to eat} can peanut</p><p style="clear: left;">"I can't eat peanuts"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The exception is the word 有 <i>jau5</i> 'to have', which turns into 冇 <i>mou5</i> 'to not have' without the use of 唔 <i>m4</i>. </p><p>The negative imperative is formed by prefixing 唔好 <i>m4 hou2</i> (also pronounced <i>mou2</i>) or 咪 <i>mai5</i> in front of the verb: </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">唔</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">m<sup>4</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">好</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hou<sup>2</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">睇</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">tai<sup>2</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">戲</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hei<sup>3</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">唔好睇戲</p><p style="display: none;">m4 hou2 tai2 hei3</p><p style="clear: left;">"Don't watch movies"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">咪</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">mai<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">睇</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">tai<sup>2</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">戲</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hei<sup>3</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">咪睇戲</p><p style="display: none;">mai5 tai2 hei3</p><p style="clear: left;">"Don't watch movies"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>In contrast to the examples of sentential negation above where the entire sentence is negated, 唔 <i>m4</i> can be used lexically to negate a single word. The negated word often differs slightly in meaning from the original word; that is, this lexical negation is a kind of derivation. Evidence for this is that they can be used with the perfective aspect particle 咗 <i>zo2</i>, which is not possible with sententially negated verbs. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">見</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gin<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">"see"</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">⟶</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4ffb6a294b21bebe64570c4088d77a884dec95ab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:3.806ex; height:1.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"></span></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;"><b>唔</b>見</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"><b>m<sup>4</sup></b> gin<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">"lose"</p></div><p style="display: none;">見 {} <b>唔</b>見</p><p style="display: none;">gin3 {} {<b>m4</b> gin3}</p><p style="display: none;">"see" <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">⟶</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4ffb6a294b21bebe64570c4088d77a884dec95ab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:3.806ex; height:1.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"></span> "lose"</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">記得</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gei<sup>3</sup> dak<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">"remember"</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">⟶</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4ffb6a294b21bebe64570c4088d77a884dec95ab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:3.806ex; height:1.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"></span></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;"><b>唔</b>記得</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"><b>m<sup>4</sup></b> gei<sup>3</sup> dak<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">"forget"</p></div><p style="display: none;">記得 {} <b>唔</b>記得</p><p style="display: none;">{gei3 dak1} {} {<b>m4</b> gei3 dak1}</p><p style="display: none;">"remember" <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">⟶</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4ffb6a294b21bebe64570c4088d77a884dec95ab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:3.806ex; height:1.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"></span> "forget"</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">錯</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">co<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">"wrong"</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">⟶</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4ffb6a294b21bebe64570c4088d77a884dec95ab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:3.806ex; height:1.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"></span></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;"><b>唔</b>錯</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"><b>m<sup>4</sup></b> co<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">"pretty good; not bad"</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">/</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">/</p><p style="margin: 0px;">/</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;"><b>冇</b>錯</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"><b>mou<sup>5</sup></b> co<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">"right"</p></div><p style="display: none;">錯 {} <b>唔</b>錯 / <b>冇</b>錯</p><p style="display: none;">co3 {} {<b>m4</b> co3} / {<b>mou5</b> co3}</p><p style="display: none;">"wrong" <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">⟶</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4ffb6a294b21bebe64570c4088d77a884dec95ab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:3.806ex; height:1.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"></span> {"pretty good; not bad"} / "right"</p><p class="mw-empty-elt"></p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">唔</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">m<sup>4</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">見</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gin<sup>3</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">咗</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zo<sup>2</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">本</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bun<sup>2</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">書</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">syu<sup>1</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">我唔見咗我本書</p><p style="display: none;">ngo5 m4 gin3 zo2 ngo5 bun2 syu1</p><p style="clear: left;">"I lost my book"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>is perfectly acceptable, but </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">*</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"> </p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">唔</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">m<sup>4</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">食</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sik<sup>6</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">咗</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zo<sup>2</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">嘢</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">je<sup>5</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">* 我唔食咗嘢</p><p style="display: none;">{} ngo5 m4 sik6 zo2 je5</p><p style="clear: left;">"I did not eat"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>is ungrammatical. (The correct expression should be 我冇食嘢 <i>ngo5 mou5 sik6 je5</i>: 我(I)冇(did not)食(eat)嘢(something/anything), but actually with an emphasis on not doing an action, as it is the negation of 我有食嘢 <i>ngo5 yau5 sik6 je5</i>: 我(I)有(did)食(eat)嘢(something/anything).) </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Questions">Questions</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Questions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Questions are not formed by changing the word order as in English. Sentence final particles and certain interrogative constructions are used instead. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Yes–no_questions"><span id="Yes.E2.80.93no_questions"></span>Yes–no questions</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Yes–no questions"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>There are two ways to form a yes–no questions. One way is by the use of final particle and/or intonation alone. The question particle 呀 <i>aa4</i> indicates surprise or disapproval. It tends to presuppose a positive answer. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">吓?</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Haa<sup>2</sup>?</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">你</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Nei<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">下</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">haa<sup>6</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">個</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">go<sup>3</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">禮</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">lai<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">拜</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">baai<sup>3</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">放</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">fong<sup>3</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">假</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gaa<sup>3</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">呀?</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">aa<sup>4</sup>?</p></div><p style="display: none;">吓? 你下個禮拜放假呀?</p><p style="display: none;">Haa2? Nei5 haa6 go3 lai5 baai3 fong3 gaa3 aa4?</p><p style="clear: left;">You are going on leave next week!? (The questioner is surprised that you are going on leave, or doesn't agree that you should.)</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>The particle 咩 <i>me1</i> is exclusively interrogative, indicating surprise and used to check the truth of an unexpected state of affairs. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">乜</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Mat<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">你</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nei<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">唔</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">m<sup>4</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">知</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zi<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">嘅</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ge<sup>3</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">咩?</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">me<sup>1</sup>?</p></div><p style="display: none;">乜你唔知嘅咩?</p><p style="display: none;">Mat1 nei5 m4 zi1 ge3 me1?</p><p style="clear: left;">(You mean) you don't know?</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>A question may be indicated by a high rising intonation alone at the end of a question. (This intonation can be considered a nonsyllabic final particle indicating a question.) This intonation pattern usually modifies or exaggerates the basic tone of the last syllable. This type of question is used especially for echo, where the questioner repeats a statement out of surprise. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">「我</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">"ngo<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">唔</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">m<sup>4</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">見</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gin<sup>3</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">咗</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zo<sup>2</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">條</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">tiu<sup>4</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">鎖</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">so<sup>2</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">匙」</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">si<sup>4</sup>"</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">「咩</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">"me<sup>1</sup>e<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">話?</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">waa<sup>6</sup>?</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">你</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nei<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">唔</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">m<sup>4</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">見</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gin<sup>3</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">咗</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zo<sup>2</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">條</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">tiu<sup>4</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">鎖</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">so<sup>2</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">匙?」</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">si<sup>4</sup>"</p></div><p style="display: none;">「我唔見咗條鎖匙」「咩話? 你唔見咗條鎖匙?」</p><p style="display: none;">"ngo5 m4 gin3 zo2 tiu4 so2 si4" "me1e5 waa6? nei5 m4 gin3 zo2 tiu4 so2 si4"</p><p style="clear: left;">"I lost the key." "What? You lost the key?" (The last syllable of 鎖匙 <i>so2 si4</i> "key" is pronounced longer, first finishing the low falling tone, then rising at the end like the high rising tone.)</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>The other way to form yes–no questions uses a special construction in which the head of the predicate, say <i>X</i>, is replaced by <i>X-not-X</i>. Final particles may be used in addition. </p> <ul><li>For example</li></ul> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">你</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nei<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">you</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">識</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sik<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">know</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">講</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gong<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">speak</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">廣東話</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Gwong<sup>2</sup> dung<sup>1</sup> waa<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Cantonese</p></div><p style="display: none;">你識講廣東話</p><p style="display: none;">nei5 sik1 gong2 {Gwong2 dung1 waa2}</p><p style="display: none;">you know speak Cantonese</p><p style="clear: left;">You know how to speak Cantonese.</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">⟶</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4ffb6a294b21bebe64570c4088d77a884dec95ab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:3.806ex; height:1.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"></span> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">你</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nei<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">you</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">識唔識</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sik<sup>1</sup> m<sup>4</sup> sik<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">know not know</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">講</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gong<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">speak</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">廣東話?</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Gwong<sup>2</sup> dung<sup>1</sup> waa<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Cantonese</p></div><p style="display: none;">你識唔識講廣東話?</p><p style="display: none;">nei5 {sik1 m4 sik1} gong2 {Gwong2 dung1 waa2}</p><p style="display: none;">you {know not know} speak Cantonese</p><p style="clear: left;">Do you know how speak Cantonese?</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr></tbody></table> <ul><li>As the negative form of 有 is 冇, the corresponding yes–no question uses the form 有冇:</li></ul> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">有</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">jau<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">have</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">紅綠燈.</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hung<sup>4</sup> luk<sup>6</sup> dang<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">red-green-light</p></div><p style="display: none;">有紅綠燈.</p><p style="display: none;">jau5 {hung4 luk6 dang1}</p><p style="display: none;">have red-green-light</p><p style="clear: left;">There is a traffic light.</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">⟶</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4ffb6a294b21bebe64570c4088d77a884dec95ab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:3.806ex; height:1.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"></span> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">有冇</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">jau<sup>5</sup> mou<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">have not have</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">紅綠燈?</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hung<sup>4</sup> luk<sup>6</sup> dang<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">red-green-light</p></div><p style="display: none;">有冇紅綠燈?</p><p style="display: none;">{jau5 mou5} {hung4 luk6 dang1}</p><p style="display: none;">{have not have} red-green-light</p><p style="clear: left;">Is there a traffic light?</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr></tbody></table> <ul><li>As for 係 <i>hai6</i> ("to be"), the yes–no question often uses the contraction 係咪 <i>hai6 mai6</i> (note that 咪 <i>mai6</i> is not the prohibitive 咪 <i>mai2</i>) instead of 係唔係 <i>hai6 m4 hai6</i>.</li></ul> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">佢</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">keoi<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">(s)he</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">係</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hai<sup>6</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">is</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">加拿大人.</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gaa<sup>1</sup> naa<sup>4</sup> daai<sup>6</sup> jan<sup>4</sup>*2</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Canada-person</p></div><p style="display: none;">佢係加拿大人.</p><p style="display: none;">keoi5 hai6 {gaa1 naa4 daai6 jan4*2}</p><p style="display: none;">(s)he is Canada-person</p><p style="clear: left;">(S)he is a Canadian</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">⟶</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4ffb6a294b21bebe64570c4088d77a884dec95ab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:3.806ex; height:1.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"></span> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">佢</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">keoi<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">(s)he</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">係咪</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hai<sup>6</sup> mai<sup>6</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">is isn't</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">加拿大人?</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gaa<sup>1</sup> naa<sup>4</sup> daai<sup>6</sup> jan<sup>4</sup>*2</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Canada-person</p></div><p style="display: none;">佢係咪加拿大人?</p><p style="display: none;">keoi5 {hai6 mai6} {gaa1 naa4 daai6 jan4*2}</p><p style="display: none;">(s)he {is isn't} Canada-person</p><p style="clear: left;">Is (s)he a Canadian?</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr></tbody></table> <ul><li>With multisyllable verbs, only the first syllable is repeated:</li></ul> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">你</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nei<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">you</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">鍾意</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zung<sup>1</sup> ji<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">like</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">年糕.</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nin<sup>4</sup> gou<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">year-cake</p></div><p style="display: none;">你鍾意年糕.</p><p style="display: none;">nei5 {zung1 ji3} {nin4 gou1}</p><p style="display: none;">you like year-cake</p><p style="clear: left;">You like new-year cakes</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">⟶</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4ffb6a294b21bebe64570c4088d77a884dec95ab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:3.806ex; height:1.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"></span> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">你</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nei<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">you</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">鍾唔鍾意</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zung<sup>1</sup> m<sup>4</sup> zung<sup>1</sup> ji<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">like not like</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">年糕?</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nin<sup>4</sup> gou<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">year-cake</p></div><p style="display: none;">你鍾唔鍾意年糕?</p><p style="display: none;">nei5 {zung1 m4 zung1 ji3} {nin4 gou1}</p><p style="display: none;">you {like not like} year-cake</p><p style="clear: left;">Do you like new-year cakes?</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr></tbody></table> <ul><li>A special case is when a question asking whether something has occurred is formed. In a negative sentence, the adverb 未 <i>mei6</i> should precede the verb to indicate that the event has not yet occurred. In yes–no questions, however, 未 appears at the end of the question (but before the final particle, if exists):</li></ul> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">你</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nei<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">you</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">去過</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">heoi<sup>3</sup> gwo<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">go-<abbr class="gloss-abbr gloss-abbr-ambiguous" title="experiential, or experiencer" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">EXP</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">德國.</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Dak<sup>1</sup> gwok<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Germany</p></div><p style="display: none;">你去過德國.</p><p style="display: none;">nei5 {heoi3 gwo3} {Dak1 gwok3}</p><p style="display: none;">you go-EXP Germany</p><p style="clear: left;">You have been to Germany</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td> <td><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">⟶</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4ffb6a294b21bebe64570c4088d77a884dec95ab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:3.806ex; height:1.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \longrightarrow }"></span> </td> <td><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">你</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nei<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">you</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">去過</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">heoi<sup>3</sup> gwo<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">go-<abbr class="gloss-abbr gloss-abbr-ambiguous" title="experiential, or experiencer" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">EXP</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">德國</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Dak<sup>1</sup> gwok<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Germany</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">未?</p><p style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">mei<sup>6</sup>*2</p><p style="margin: 0px;">not-yet</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p style="margin: 0px;">(the word 去過 after 未 is omitted to avoid repetition.)</p><p style="margin: 0px;">(tone changes to indicate a question.)</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p></div><p style="display: none;">你去過德國未?</p><p style="display: none;">nei5 {heoi3 gwo3} {Dak1 gwok3} mei6*2</p><p style="display: none;">you go-EXP Germany not-yet</p><p style="clear: left;">Have you ever been to Germany?</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>This form of yes–no questions looks less similar to the "X-not-X" type, but it is still considered in this type, because the "X" after "not" is omitted. For example, the example question above can be expanded as 你去過德國未去過? <i>nei5 heoi3 gwo3 Dak1 gwok3 mei6 heoi3 gwo3</i>. </p><p>A syntax of yes–no question in the form "X-not-X" is actually a contraction of a combination of syntax of an affirmative sentence and the syntax of a negative sentence. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Interrogative_words">Interrogative words</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Interrogative words"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>The interrogative words are as follows:</li></ul> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Interrogative</th> <th>Pronunciation</th> <th>English equivalent </th></tr> <tr> <td>邊個</td> <td>bin1 go3</td> <td>who </td></tr> <tr> <td>乜(嘢) / 咩</td> <td>mat1 (je5) / me1e5</td> <td>what </td></tr> <tr> <td>邊度 / 邊處</td> <td>bin1 dou6 / bin1 syu3</td> <td>where </td></tr> <tr> <td>幾時</td> <td>gei2 si4</td> <td>when </td></tr> <tr> <td>點解</td> <td>dim2 gaai2</td> <td>why </td></tr> <tr> <td>點</td> <td>dim2</td> <td>how about </td></tr> <tr> <td>點(樣)</td> <td>dim2 (joeng6*2)</td> <td>how (in what manner) </td></tr> <tr> <td>幾</td> <td>gei2</td> <td>how (adjective) </td></tr> <tr> <td>幾多</td> <td>gei2 do1</td> <td>how many/much </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Questions use exactly the same word order as in statements. For example: 你係邊個? <i>nei5 hai6 bin1 go3</i> "who are you?" (literally "you are who"), 你幾時去邊度見邊個呀? <i>nei5 gei2 si4 heoi3 bin1 dou6 gin3 bin1 go aa3</i> "When will you go? Where will you go and who will you meet?" (literally "you when go where meet who"). Note that more than one interrogative words can be put in a single sentence at a same time. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Demonstratives">Demonstratives</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Demonstratives"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The proximal demonstrative ("this"), is 呢 <i>ni1</i> / <i>nei1</i>, or more frequently in fast speech, 依 <i>ji1</i> (+ measure word). For example: </p> <dl><dd>呢本書 <i>ni1/nei1 bun2 syu1</i> "this book"</dd></dl> <dl><dd>依本書 <i>ji1 bun2 syu1</i> "this book"</dd></dl> <p>The distal demonstrative ("that") is 嗰 <i>go2</i>. For example: </p> <dl><dd>嗰本書 <i>go2 bun2 syu1</i> "that book"</dd></dl> <p>Between the demonstrative and its noun, a certain word to link them must be used, whether a corresponding classifier for the noun for singular count nouns or 啲 <i>di1</i> for plural count nouns and mass nouns: </p> <dl><dd>呢架車 <i>ni1/nei1 gaa3 ce1</i> "this car"</dd></dl> <dl><dd>呢啲車 <i>ni1/nei1 di1 ce1</i> "these cars"</dd></dl> <dl><dd>嗰啲水 <i>go2 di1 seoi2</i> "that water"</dd></dl> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Possessives">Possessives</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Possessives"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>For singular nouns, the word 嘅 <i>ge3</i> is roughly equivalent to English " 's":</li></ul> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">爸</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">baa<sup>1</sup>*4</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">爸</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">baa<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">嘅</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ge<sup>3</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">屋</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">uk<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">企</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">kei<sup>2</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">爸爸嘅屋企</p><p style="display: none;">baa1*4 baa1 ge3 uk1 kei2</p><p style="clear: left;">"father's house"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <ul><li>Plural nouns take 啲 <i>di1</i>:</li></ul> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">你</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nei<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">啲</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">di<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">動</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">dung<sup>6</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">物</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">mat<sup>6</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">你啲動物</p><p style="display: none;">nei5 di1 dung6 mat6</p><p style="clear: left;">"your animals"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>N.B.: 啲 <i>di1</i> is a very versatile word in Cantonese, besides pluralizing certain phrases, it can also mean "a little/few", e.g. 一啲 <i>jat1 di1</i> "a little", or 早啲 <i>zou2 di1</i> "earlier" (literally: early + (intensifier)). </p> <ul><li>Possessive pronouns (i.e. "mine", "his", "hers") are formed by adding 嘅 <i>ge3</i> after the pronoun.</li></ul> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">係</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hai<sup>6</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">佢</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">keoi<sup>2</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">嘅</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ge<sup>3</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">呀!</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">aa<sup>3</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">係佢嘅呀!</p><p style="display: none;">hai6 keoi2 ge3 aa3</p><p style="clear: left;">"It's his!"<br />(呀 <i>aa3</i> is a particle used to end affirmative statements)</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>However, in the case where there's an implied plural noun, one does not say: </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">*</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"> </p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">係</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hai<sup>6</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">佢</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">keoi<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">啲</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">di<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">呀!</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">aa<sup>3</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">* 係佢啲呀!</p><p style="display: none;">{} hai6 keoi5 di1 aa3</p><p style="clear: left;">"It's his!"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>For example: </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">呢</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ni<sup>1</sup>/nei<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">啲</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">di<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">書</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">syu<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">係</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hai<sup>6</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">邊</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bin<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">個</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">go<sup>3</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">嘅</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ge<sup>3</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">呀？</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">aa<sup>3</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">呢啲書係邊個嘅呀？</p><p style="display: none;">ni1/nei1 di1 syu1 hai6 bin1 go3 ge3 aa3</p><p style="clear: left;">"Whose books are these?"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">係</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hai<sup>6</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">佢</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">keoi<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">嘅</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ge<sup>3</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">呀!</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">aa<sup>3</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">係佢嘅呀!</p><p style="display: none;">hai6 keoi5 ge3 aa3</p><p style="clear: left;">"It's his! [referring to his books]"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>嘅呀 <i>ge3 aa3</i> is usually shortened in speech into one syllable, 㗎/嘎 <i>gaa3</i>. </p> <ul><li>One could also say:</li></ul> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">係</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hai<sup>6</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">佢</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">keoi<sup>5</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">啲</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">di<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">書</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">syu<sup>1</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">嚟</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">lei<sup>4</sup></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">㗎！</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gaa<sup>3</sup></p></div><p style="display: none;">係佢啲書嚟㗎！</p><p style="display: none;">hai6 keoi5 di1 syu1 lei4 gaa3</p><p style="clear: left;">"It's his books!"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>Both of these are generic possessives. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Part_of_speech">Part of speech</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Part of speech"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The "part of speech" (POS) in Cantonese is different from English. Usually, a word can be used in different POS, without any changes. Example: 跑步 (Meaning: running), can be either verb or noun. </p><p>你可以喺公園跑步 (You can run at the park) [跑步 act as a verb] </p><p>跑步係我嘅興趣 (Running is my hobby) [跑步 act as a noun] </p><p>Moreover, particles may also change the POS. </p><p>E.g. 碗湯係熱嘅 OR 碗湯熱嘅 means: the bowl of soup is hot </p><p>But 碗湯係熱 means: the bowl of soup == (the concept of) hot, which does not make sense. (Since with 係, the word after it is understood as a noun but not adjective. 熱嘅 should be used, as the POS of 熱嘅 would only be adjective.) </p><p>This concept is similar in Mandarin Chinese, replacing 係 with 是, and replacing 嘅 with 的. </p><p>To alter the mood or lead other focuses, other final particles can also be used to substitute the particle 嘅, like 㗎. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Differences_from_Mandarin_grammar">Differences from Mandarin grammar</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Differences from Mandarin grammar"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The following Cantonese grammatical points are not found in <a href="/wiki/Mandarin_Chinese" title="Mandarin Chinese">Mandarin Chinese</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Word_order">Word order</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Word order"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Direct_object" class="mw-redirect" title="Direct object">direct object</a> precedes the <a href="/wiki/Indirect_object" class="mw-redirect" title="Indirect object">indirect object</a> when using the verb 畀 <i>bei2</i> "to give". In Mandarin verbs of giving, an indirect object precedes a direct object. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">畀</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bei<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">give</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">嗰</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">go<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">that</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">本</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bun<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="classifier" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">CL</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">書</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">syu<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">book</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="first person, singular" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">1SG</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">畀嗰本書我</p><p style="display: none;">bei2 go2 bun2 syu1 ngo5</p><p style="display: none;">give that CL book 1SG</p><p style="clear: left;">"Give that book to me."</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>compared to Mandarin </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="cmn" style="margin: 0px;">給</p><p lang="cmn-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gěi</p><p style="margin: 0px;">give</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="cmn" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="cmn-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">wǒ</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="first person, singular" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">1SG</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="cmn" style="margin: 0px;">這</p><p lang="cmn-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zhè</p><p style="margin: 0px;">this</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="cmn" style="margin: 0px;">本</p><p lang="cmn-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">běn</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="classifier" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">CL</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="cmn" style="margin: 0px;">書</p><p lang="cmn-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">shū</p><p style="margin: 0px;">book</p></div><p style="display: none;">給我這本書</p><p style="display: none;">gěi wǒ zhè běn shū</p><p style="display: none;">give 1SG this CL book</p><p style="clear: left;">"Give me the book."</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Morphology">Morphology</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Morphology"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The suffix used for the plural of pronouns, 哋 <i>dei6</i>, cannot associate with human nouns, unlike its similar Mandarin counterpart 們 <i>-men</i>. Mandarin 學生們 <i>xuéshengmen</i> "the students" would be rendered in Cantonese as: </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">(啲)</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">(di<sup>1</sup>)</p><p style="margin: 0px;">(<abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="classifier" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">CL</abbr>)</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">學生</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hok<sup>6</sup> saang<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">students</p></div><p style="display: none;">(啲) 學生</p><p style="display: none;">(di1) {hok6 saang1}</p><p style="display: none;">(CL) students</p><p style="clear: left;">"(the) students"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>While the <a href="/wiki/Vocative_case" title="Vocative case">vocative</a> use of 學生們 <i>xuéshengmen</i> "students" would be rendered in Cantonese as: </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">各位</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gok<sup>3</sup> wai<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">everyone</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">學生</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hok<sup>6</sup> saang<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">students</p></div><p style="display: none;">各位學生</p><p style="display: none;">{gok3 wai2} {hok6 saang1}</p><p style="display: none;">everyone students</p><p style="clear: left;">"Students!"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>There are words in Mandarin which often require the suffixes 子 <i>-zi</i> or 頭 <i>-tou</i>, but they are normally optional in Cantonese, e.g. Mandarin 鞋子 <i>xiézi</i> "shoe" and 石頭 <i>shítou</i> "rock" can be 鞋 <i>haai4</i> and 石 <i>sek6</i> in Cantonese. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Classifiers">Classifiers</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Classifiers"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Chinese_classifier" title="Chinese classifier">Classifiers</a> can be used instead of the possessive 嘅 <i>ge3</i> to indicate possession of a single object. Classifiers cannot be used this way in Mandarin. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">佢</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">keoi<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="third person, singular" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">3SG</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">本</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bun<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="classifier" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">CL</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">書</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">syu<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">book</p></div><p style="display: none;">佢本書</p><p style="display: none;">keoi5 bun2 syu1</p><p style="display: none;">3SG CL book</p><p style="clear: left;">"his book"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>Classifiers in both Cantonese and Mandarin can serve to individualize a noun, giving it a singular meaning (or plural in the case 啲 <i>di1</i>). However, such a construction in Mandarin will be of indefinite reference, unless a demonstrative (e.g. 這 <i>zhè</i> "this") or the universal <a href="/wiki/Quantifier_(linguistics)" class="mw-redirect" title="Quantifier (linguistics)">quantifier</a> (每 <i>měi</i> "every") is present. Furthermore, there are great limitations on using this construction in subject position in Mandarin. In Cantonese, these restrictions do not exist. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">架</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gaa<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="classifier" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">CL</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">車</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ce<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">car</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">撻</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">taat<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">start</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">唔</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">m<sup>4</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">not</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">著</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zoek<sup>6</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">burn</p></div><p style="display: none;">架車撻唔著</p><p style="display: none;">gaa3 ce1 taat3 m4 zoek6</p><p style="display: none;">CL car start not burn</p><p style="clear: left;">"The car won't start," and it cannot be interpreted as "the cars".</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Comparison">Comparison</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Comparison"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Adjective comparison in Cantonese is formed by adding the marker 過 <i>gwo3</i> after an adjective. The adjective-marker construction serves as a transitive verb which takes the standard of comparison as an object. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">佢</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">keoi<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="third person, singular" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">3SG</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">高</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gou<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">tall</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">過</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gwo<sup>3</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr gloss-abbr-ambiguous" title="comparative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">COMP</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="first person, singular" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">1SG</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">佢高過我</p><p style="display: none;">keoi5 gou1 gwo3 ngo5</p><p style="display: none;">3SG tall COMP 1SG</p><p style="clear: left;">"He is taller than me."</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>In Standard Mandarin, comparison is marked by adding 比 <i>bǐ</i>, which serves in an adverbial phrase, leaving the adjective itself unchanged. The sentence above is translated into Mandarin as: </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="cmn" style="margin: 0px;">他</p><p lang="cmn-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">tā</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="third person, singular" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">3SG</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="cmn" style="margin: 0px;">比</p><p lang="cmn-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bǐ</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr gloss-abbr-ambiguous" title="comparative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">COMP</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="cmn" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="cmn-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">wǒ</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="first person, singular" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">1SG</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="cmn" style="margin: 0px;">高</p><p lang="cmn-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gāo</p><p style="margin: 0px;">tall</p></div><p style="display: none;">他比我高</p><p style="display: none;">tā bǐ wǒ gāo</p><p style="display: none;">3SG COMP 1SG tall</p><p style="clear: left;">"He is taller than me."</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <p>Alternatively the plural marker 啲 <i>di1</i> alone (without the numeral 一 <i>jat1</i>) can be used use as the sole complement of the verbal adjective. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">佢</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">keoi<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="third person, singular" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">3SG</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">高</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">gou<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">tall</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">啲</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">di<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr gloss-abbr-ambiguous" title="comparative" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">COMP</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">佢高啲</p><p style="display: none;">keoi5 gou1 di1</p><p style="display: none;">3SG tall COMP</p><p style="clear: left;">"He is taller."</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Aspect_markers">Aspect markers</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Aspect markers"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Cantonese has a dedicated <a href="/wiki/Habitual_aspect" title="Habitual aspect">habitual aspect</a> marker, 開 <i>hoi1</i>, with no similar counterpart in Mandarin. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">我</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">ngo<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="first person, singular" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">1SG</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">住</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zyu<sup>6</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">live</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">開</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">hoi<sup>1</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="habitual aspect" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">HAB</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">香港</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">Hoeng<sup>1</sup> Gong<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">Hong Kong</p></div><p style="display: none;">我住開香港</p><p style="display: none;">ngo5 zyu6 hoi1 {Hoeng1 Gong2}</p><p style="display: none;">1SG live HAB {Hong Kong}</p><p style="clear: left;">"I've been living in Hong Kong."</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Passives">Passives</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Passives"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In Cantonese, there must always be an agent in a passive, while in Mandarin this isn't the case. If there's no known or specific agent, Cantonese must at least use 人 <i>jan4</i> "someone" as a dummy agent. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">筷子</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">faai<sup>3</sup> zi<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">chopsticks</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">畀</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">bei<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">by</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;"><b>人</b></p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"><b>jan<sup>4</sup></b></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><b>person</b></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">用</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">jung<sup>6</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">use</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">咗</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zo<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="perfect" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">PRF</abbr></p></div><p style="display: none;">{筷子} 畀 <b>人</b> 用咗</p><p style="display: none;">{faai3 zi2} bei2 <b>jan4</b> jung6 zo2</p><p style="display: none;">chopsticks by <b>person</b> use PRF</p><p style="clear: left;">"the chopsticks have been used" (and not *筷子畀用咗 *<i>faai3 zi2 bei2 jung6 zo2</i>)</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Sentence_particles">Sentence particles</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Sentence particles"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>It is possible to stack various of such particles one after the other, while Mandarin is restricted to sentence-final 了 and one particle. </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1209690778"><div class="interlinear" style="margin-left:3em"><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">你</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">nei<sup>5</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="second person, singular" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">2SG</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">食</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">sik<sup>6</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;">eat</p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;">咗</p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;">zo<sup>2</sup></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="perfect" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">PRF</abbr></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;"><b>啦</b></p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"><b>laa<sup>3</sup></b></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="change of state" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">COS</abbr></b></p></div><div style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.3em;margin-right: 1em;"><p lang="yue" style="margin: 0px;"><b>吓?</b></p><p lang="yue-Latn" style="margin: 0px;font-style: italic;"><b>haa<sup>5</sup></b></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><b><abbr class="gloss-abbr" title="question word" style="font-variant: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: lining-nums; text-transform: lowercase;">Q</abbr></b></p></div><p style="display: none;">你食咗 <b>啦</b> <b>吓?</b></p><p style="display: none;">nei5 sik6 zo2 <b>laa3</b> <b>haa5</b></p><p style="display: none;">2SG eat PRF <b>COS</b> <b>Q</b></p><p style="clear: left;">"You already ate, right?"</p><div style="clear: left; display: block;"></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Pronouns_2">Pronouns</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Pronouns"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>There is no gender distinction between the third person singulars of he, she and it in spoken or written Cantonese (佢); however in written Cantonese of formal register, which is similar to Mandarin, male and female may be distinguished with two different characters, 他 for male and 她 for female,<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> as well as 它 for inanimate objects (including plants), 牠 for (non-human) animals, and 祂 for god(s), which all have the same pronunciation. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Chinese_grammar" title="Chinese grammar">Chinese grammar</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Cantonese_grammar&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/essays/cantonese_particles.htm">"Cantonese Final Particles"</a>. <i>www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2023-04-12</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk&rft.atitle=Cantonese+Final+Particles&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cantonese.sheik.co.uk%2Fessays%2Fcantonese_particles.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACantonese+grammar" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/essays/cantonese_particles.htm">"Cantonese Final Particles"</a>. <i>www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2023-04-12</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk&rft.atitle=Cantonese+Final+Particles&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cantonese.sheik.co.uk%2Fessays%2Fcantonese_particles.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACantonese+grammar" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://words.hk/zidin/%F0%A0%BA%A2%E5%98%9B">"𠺢嘛,加嘛,㗎嘛 - 廣東話解釋 | 粵典"</a>. <i>粵典 words.hk</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2023-04-12</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=%E7%B2%B5%E5%85%B8+words.hk&rft.atitle=%F0%A0%BA%A2%E5%98%9B%2C%E5%8A%A0%E5%98%9B%2C%E3%97%8E%E5%98%9B+-+%E5%BB%A3%E6%9D%B1%E8%A9%B1%E8%A7%A3%E9%87%8B+%7C+%E7%B2%B5%E5%85%B8&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwords.hk%2Fzidin%2F%25F0%25A0%25BA%25A2%25E5%2598%259B&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ACantonese+grammar" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMatthewsYip2011" class="citation book cs1">Matthews, Stephen; Yip, Virginia (2011). <i>Cantonese: A Comprehensive Grammar</i> (2nd ed.). 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grammar">West Frisian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Yiddish_grammar" title="Yiddish grammar">Yiddish</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Celtic_languages" title="Celtic languages">Celtic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Breton_grammar" title="Breton grammar">Breton</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cornish_grammar" title="Cornish grammar">Cornish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Irish_grammar" title="Irish grammar">Irish</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Old_Irish_grammar" title="Old Irish grammar">Old</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Manx_grammar" title="Manx grammar">Manx</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_grammar" title="Scottish Gaelic grammar">Scottish Gaelic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Welsh_grammar" title="Welsh grammar">Welsh</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Colloquial_Welsh_morphology" title="Colloquial Welsh morphology">colloquial</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Literary_Welsh_morphology" title="Literary Welsh morphology">literary</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Italic_languages" title="Italic languages">Italic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Catalan_grammar" title="Catalan grammar">Catalan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dalmatian_grammar" title="Dalmatian grammar">Dalmatian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/French_grammar" title="French grammar">French</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Istro-Romanian_grammar" title="Istro-Romanian grammar">Istro-Romanian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Italian_grammar" title="Italian grammar">Italian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Latin_grammar" title="Latin grammar">Latin</a></li> <li>Lombard <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Eastern_Lombard_grammar" title="Eastern Lombard grammar">Eastern</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Western_Lombard_grammar" title="Western Lombard grammar">Western</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Portuguese_grammar" title="Portuguese grammar">Portuguese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Romanian_grammar" title="Romanian grammar">Romanian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spanish_grammar" title="Spanish grammar">Spanish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venetian_grammar" title="Venetian grammar">Venetian</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Baltic_languages" title="Baltic languages">Baltic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Latvian_grammar" title="Latvian grammar">Latvian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lithuanian_grammar" title="Lithuanian grammar">Lithuanian</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Slavic_languages" title="Slavic languages">Slavic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Belarusian_grammar" title="Belarusian grammar">Belarusian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bulgarian_grammar" title="Bulgarian grammar">Bulgarian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Czech_language#Grammar" title="Czech language">Czech</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Macedonian_grammar" title="Macedonian grammar">Macedonian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Old_Church_Slavonic_grammar" title="Old Church Slavonic grammar">Old Church Slavonic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Polish_grammar" title="Polish grammar">Polish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Russian_grammar" title="Russian grammar">Russian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Silesian_grammar" title="Silesian grammar">Silesian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Serbo-Croatian_grammar" title="Serbo-Croatian grammar">Serbo-Croatian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Slovak_language#Morphology" title="Slovak language">Slovak</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Slovene_grammar" title="Slovene grammar">Slovene</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Slovincian_grammar" title="Slovincian grammar">Slovincian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ukrainian_grammar" title="Ukrainian grammar">Ukrainian</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Iranian_languages" title="Iranian languages">Iranian</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kurdish_grammar" title="Kurdish grammar">Kurdish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pashto_grammar" title="Pashto grammar">Pashto</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Persian_grammar" title="Persian grammar">Persian</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tajik_grammar" title="Tajik grammar">Tajik</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Indo-Aryan_languages" title="Indo-Aryan languages">Indo-Aryan</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bengali_grammar" title="Bengali grammar">Bengali</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bhojpuri_grammar" title="Bhojpuri grammar">Bhojpuri</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gujarati_grammar" title="Gujarati grammar">Gujarati</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hindustani_grammar" title="Hindustani grammar">Hindustani</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Maithili_grammar" title="Maithili grammar">Maithili</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Marathi_grammar" title="Marathi grammar">Marathi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nepali_grammar" title="Nepali grammar">Nepali</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Odia_grammar" title="Odia grammar">Odia</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Punjabi_grammar" title="Punjabi grammar">Punjabi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sanskrit_grammar" title="Sanskrit grammar">Sanskrit</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Vedic_Sanskrit_grammar" title="Vedic Sanskrit grammar">Vedic</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Albanian_language#Grammar" title="Albanian language">Albanian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Modern_Greek_grammar" title="Modern Greek grammar">Greek</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ancient_Greek_grammar" title="Ancient Greek grammar">Ancient</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Koine_Greek_grammar" title="Koine Greek grammar">Koine</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hittite_grammar" title="Hittite grammar">Hittite</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Uralic_languages" title="Uralic languages">Uralic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Estonian_grammar" title="Estonian grammar">Estonian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Finnish_grammar" title="Finnish grammar">Finnish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hungarian_grammar" title="Hungarian grammar">Hungarian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ingrian_grammar" title="Ingrian grammar">Ingrian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Komi_grammar" title="Komi grammar">Komi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Livonian_grammar" title="Livonian grammar">Livonian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Udmurt_grammar" title="Udmurt grammar">Udmurt</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Me%C3%A4nkieli_grammar" title="Meänkieli grammar">Meänkieli</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Turkic_languages" title="Turkic languages">Turkic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kazakh_language#Morphology_and_syntax" title="Kazakh language">Kazakh</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kyrgyz_language#Morphology_and_syntax" title="Kyrgyz language">Kyrgyz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tatar_language#Grammar" title="Tatar language">Tatar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Turkish_grammar" title="Turkish grammar">Turkish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Turkmen_grammar" title="Turkmen grammar">Turkmen</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uyghur_grammar" title="Uyghur grammar">Uyghur</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uzbek_language#Grammar" title="Uzbek language">Uzbek</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Yakut_language#Grammar" title="Yakut language">Yakut</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other <a href="/wiki/Languages_of_Europe" title="Languages of Europe">European</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Abkhaz_language#Grammar" title="Abkhaz language">Abkhaz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Adyghe_grammar" title="Adyghe grammar">Adyghe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Basque_grammar" title="Basque grammar">Basque</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Georgian_grammar" title="Georgian grammar">Georgian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kabardian_grammar" title="Kabardian grammar">Kabardian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Laz_grammar" title="Laz grammar">Laz</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mingrelian_grammar" title="Mingrelian grammar">Mingrelian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ubykh_grammar" title="Ubykh grammar">Ubykh</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Afroasiatic_languages" title="Afroasiatic languages">Afroasiatic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Arabic_grammar" title="Arabic grammar">Arabic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Central_Atlas_Tamazight_grammar" title="Central Atlas Tamazight grammar">Central Atlas Tamazight</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Modern_Hebrew_grammar" title="Modern Hebrew grammar">Hebrew</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/History_of_Hebrew_grammar" title="History of Hebrew grammar">Historical</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kabyle_grammar" title="Kabyle grammar">Kabyle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Levantine_Arabic_grammar" title="Levantine Arabic grammar">Levantine Arabic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Somali_grammar" title="Somali grammar">Somali</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tigrinya_grammar" title="Tigrinya grammar">Tigrinya</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ugaritic_grammar" title="Ugaritic grammar">Ugaritic</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Niger%E2%80%93Congo_languages" title="Niger–Congo languages">Niger–Congo</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Fula_language#Morphology" title="Fula language">Fula</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Pular_grammar" title="Pular grammar">Pular</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Otjiherero_grammar" title="Otjiherero grammar">Herero</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sesotho_grammar" title="Sesotho grammar">Sotho</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Swahili_grammar" title="Swahili grammar">Swahili</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zulu_grammar" title="Zulu grammar">Zulu</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Dravidian_languages" title="Dravidian languages">Dravidian</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kannada_grammar" title="Kannada grammar">Kannada</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Malayalam_grammar" title="Malayalam grammar">Malayalam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tamil_grammar" title="Tamil grammar">Tamil</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Telugu_grammar" title="Telugu grammar">Telugu</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Japonic_languages" title="Japonic languages">Japonic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Japanese_grammar" title="Japanese grammar">Japanese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Classical_Japanese_grammar" class="mw-redirect" title="Classical Japanese grammar">Classical Japanese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Okinawan_language#Grammar" title="Okinawan language">Okinawan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hachij%C5%8D_grammar" title="Hachijō grammar">Hachijō</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Sino-Tibetan_languages" title="Sino-Tibetan languages">Sino-Tibetan</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Burmese_grammar" title="Burmese grammar">Burmese</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Cantonese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Classical_Chinese_grammar" title="Classical Chinese grammar">Classical Chinese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dzongkha_grammar" title="Dzongkha grammar">Dzongkha</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kokborok_grammar" title="Kokborok grammar">Kokborok</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chinese_grammar" title="Chinese grammar">Mandarin Chinese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mizo_grammar" title="Mizo grammar">Mizo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Modern_Standard_Tibetan_grammar" class="mw-redirect" title="Modern Standard Tibetan grammar">Tibetan</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Austroasiatic_languages" title="Austroasiatic languages">Austroasiatic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Khmer_grammar" title="Khmer grammar">Khmer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vietnamese_grammar" title="Vietnamese grammar">Vietnamese</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Kra%E2%80%93Dai_languages" title="Kra–Dai languages">Kra–Dai</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Has_Hlai_grammar" title="Has Hlai grammar">Has Hlai</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lao_grammar" title="Lao grammar">Lao</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thai_language#Grammar" title="Thai language">Thai</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other <a href="/wiki/East_Asia" title="East Asia">East Asian</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Evenki_grammar" title="Evenki grammar">Evenki</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Korean_grammar" title="Korean grammar">Korean</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mongolian_language#Grammar" title="Mongolian language">Mongolian</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Austronesian_languages" title="Austronesian languages">Austronesian</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cebuano_grammar" title="Cebuano grammar">Cebuano</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hawaiian_grammar" title="Hawaiian grammar">Hawaiian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ilocano_grammar" title="Ilocano grammar">Ilocano</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Malay_grammar" title="Malay grammar">Malay</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tagalog_grammar" title="Tagalog grammar">Tagalog</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Algic_languages" title="Algic languages">Algic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Massachusett_grammar" title="Massachusett grammar">Massachusett</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Munsee_grammar" title="Munsee grammar">Munsee</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ojibwe_grammar" title="Ojibwe grammar">Ojibwe</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Uto-Aztecan_languages" title="Uto-Aztecan languages">Uto-Aztecan</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Nahuatl#Morphology_and_syntax" title="Nahuatl">Nahuatl</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Classical_Nahuatl_grammar" title="Classical Nahuatl grammar">Classical</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nawat_grammar" title="Nawat grammar">Nawat</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other <a href="/wiki/Indigenous_languages_of_the_Americas" title="Indigenous languages of the Americas">Native American</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cherokee_language#Grammar" title="Cherokee language">Cherokee</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inuit_grammar" title="Inuit grammar">Inuit</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Miskito_grammar" title="Miskito grammar">Miskito</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Navajo_grammar" title="Navajo grammar">Navajo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Otomi_grammar" title="Otomi grammar">Otomi</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Sign_language" title="Sign language">sign</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/American_Sign_Language_grammar" title="American Sign Language grammar">American</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Artistic_language" title="Artistic language">artistic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Klingon_grammar" title="Klingon grammar">Klingon</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Na%CA%BCvi_grammar" title="Naʼvi grammar">Naʼvi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quenya_grammar" class="mw-redirect" title="Quenya grammar">Quenya</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/International_auxiliary_language" title="International auxiliary language">auxiliary</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Esperanto_grammar" title="Esperanto grammar">Esperanto</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Interlingua_grammar" title="Interlingua grammar">Interlingua</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Interlingue_grammar" title="Interlingue grammar">Interlingue</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lingua_Franca_Nova_grammar" title="Lingua Franca Nova grammar">Lingua Franca Nova</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other <a href="/wiki/Constructed_languages" class="mw-redirect" title="Constructed languages">constructed</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Lojban_grammar" title="Lojban grammar">Lojban</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1&useformat=desktop" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" 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