<p>To a native speaker, even the phrase "he shenme nimen?" makes sense, but I would say the general structure to what you are trying to say is:</p>

<p><strong>Subj. + Verb + 什么(What) + Sometimes optional(Noun) ?</strong></p>

<p>Example 1: 你(You) + 喝(Drink) + 什么(What)? In this case, you don't need to follow by a noun, because "drink" is normally water/soft drink/alchol</p>

<p>Example 2: 你(You) + 用(Use) + 什么(What) + 手机(Phone)? In this case, you are asking specifically what phone they are using.</p>

<p>For an in depth explanation, please have a look at this link, it has plenty of structures and usages:</p>

<p><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Placement_of_question_words" rel="nofollow">Placement of question words</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-26T00:40:58.100Z
2016-04-26T00:40:58.100Z
Mindless
<p>Sentence structure does not change based on whether you use pinyin or characters.</p>

<p>The basic sentence structure is subject-verb-object, with any attributes going before the corresponding sentence part:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Kouke de nimen man-man de he dian shenme?<br>
  <em>The thirsty you slowly drink a
  bit of what?</em><br>
  adjective-subject adverb-verb adjective-object</p>
</blockquote>

<p>There are exceptions, some types of sentences are formed differently. But as a beginner, you'll be OK with S-V-O almost all the time.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-26T07:05:10.953Z
2016-04-26T07:36:21.450Z
2016-04-26T07:36:21.450Z
KWeiss
<p>I'm a little confused wrt to the basic sentence structure:
Is "Nimen he shenme?" correct. Also can someone point out what is the basic structure for sentences and questions as in: Subject + Verb + object. </p>

<p>Pardon me, i'm a beginner in Pinyin</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-25T19:43:16.157Z
✓ cf。iciba fanyi：你们喝什么 What do you drink？
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-26T06:39:33.930Z
It sounds like something like the Chinese Grammar Wiki would be good for you: https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/
Olle Linge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-26T08:09:03.053Z
I've never seen people writing in PinYin. PinYin is not a separate language, it is only for representing Chinese characters in a Romanized form. So you should be looking for the grammar for Standard Chinese or Written Vernacular Chinese.
Daniel Cheung
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-28T14:30:10.007Z
I guess you're asking "where to break a sentence written in pinyin" – either way, please edit and elaborate the question to make it clear.
Stan
<sentence-structure><pinyin>
What is the correct sentence structure in pinyin?
# What is the correct sentence structure in pinyin?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-04-25)

I'm a little confused wrt to the basic sentence structure:
Is "Nimen he shenme?" correct. Also can someone point out what is the basic structure for sentences and questions as in: Subject + Verb + object.

Pardon me, i'm a beginner in Pinyin

**Tags:** sentence-structure, pinyin

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: ✓ cf。iciba fanyi：你们喝什么 What do you drink？  
> **username_2**: It sounds like something like the Chinese Grammar Wiki would be good for you: https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/  
> **username_3**: I've never seen people writing in PinYin. PinYin is not a separate language, it is only for representing Chinese characters in a Romanized form. So you should be looking for the grammar for username_4dard Chinese or Written Vernacular Chinese.  
> **username_4**: I guess you're asking "where to break a sentence written in pinyin" – either way, please edit and elaborate the question to make it clear.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2016-04-26. Score: 2

To a native speaker, even the phrase "he shenme nimen?" makes sense, but I would say the general structure to what you are trying to say is:

**Subj. + Verb + 什么(What) + Sometimes optional(Noun) ?**

Example 1: 你(You) + 喝(Drink) + 什么(What)? In this case, you don't need to follow by a noun, because "drink" is normally water/soft drink/alchol

Example 2: 你(You) + 用(Use) + 什么(What) + 手机(Phone)? In this case, you are asking specifically what phone they are using.

For an in depth explanation, please have a look at this link, it has plenty of structures and usages:

[Placement of question words](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Placement_of_question_words)


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### Answer by username_6 on 2016-04-26. Score: 0

Sentence structure does not change based on whether you use pinyin or characters.

The basic sentence structure is subject-verb-object, with any attributes going before the corresponding sentence part:

> Kouke de nimen man-man de he dian shenme?  
> *The thirsty you slowly drink a
> bit of what?*  
> adjective-subject adverb-verb adjective-object

There are exceptions, some types of sentences are formed differently. But as a beginner, you'll be OK with S-V-O almost all the time.


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