yǒu

Expressing possession with "you"

有 is "to have" — a full verb, so it needs no other verb around it.

Subj. + 有 + Obj.

How it works

我有钱, 他有两个孩子. 有 is the verb of the sentence; adding 是 is wrong.

Its negation is irregular: always 没有, never 不有.

有 also does existential duty — "there is" — which is the next point.

Examples

  • wǒ yǒu qián

    我有钱。

    I have money.

  • tā yǒu liǎng gè hái zi

    他有两个孩子。

    He has two children.

  • nǐ yǒu shí jiān ma?

    你有时间吗?

    Do you have time?