21.3 The Verbs 有 jau5 and 冇 mou5 (Existence) I
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In Grammar and Vocabulary 11.5, we learned that the verb 有 jau5 means ‘to have’ and the verb 冇 mou5 means ‘to not have’.
We can also use 有 jau5 to indicate something exists at a location. It functions like there is/are in English here. We put the location before 有 jau5 and the thing after 有 jau5. We can put an indefinite noun phrase after 有 jau5.
We often omit the number 一 jat1.
We can use 冇 mou5 similarly to indicate something doesn’t exist at a location. It functions like there is/are no in English here. We put the location before 冇 mou5 and the thing after 冇 mou5. We usually put a bare noun phrase (a noun phrase without a number and a classifier) after 冇 mou5.
⚠️ This is not true. There are good Japanese restaurants in Mong Kok.We can omit the location if it is obvious in the context.
| A: | 你聽晚想去邊度食呀？ nei5 ting1 maan5 soeng2 heoi3 bin1 dou6 sik6 aa3? Where do you want to go to eat tomorrow night? |
| B: | 不如我哋去旺角食吖。 bat1 jyu4 ngo5 dei6 heoi3 wong6 gok3 sik6 aa1. Why don’t we go to Mong Kok to eat? There is a very delicious Japanese restaurant. The location 旺角 wong6 gok3 before 有 jau5 can be omitted because it is obvious in the context. |