subject + verb 1 + (object 1) + verb 2 + (object 2) + (verb 3) + (object 3) …
Mandarin Chinese Articles
How to use serial verb constructions in Mandarin Chinese?
By: Lina Shen Fri Aug 30 2024
Mandarin chineseSentences With Special Verb Predicates
A sentenceNo definition set for sentenceLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. where two or more verbsNo definition set for verbsLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. are used and have the same subjectNo definition set for subjectLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum., and the order of these verbs cannot be changed, is called a sentence with verbal constructions in series, also known as serial verb constructions.
Let's look at an example of a serial verb construction:
他去游泳池游泳。
(Tā qù yóuyǒng chí yóuyǒng.)
He goes swimming in the pool.
(lit.) He goes to the swimming pool to swim.
In this sentence, 他 is the subject; there are two verbs 去 (qù, go) and 游泳 (yóuyǒng, swim) and the order of these two verbs cannot be reversed, because he has to go to the swimming pool first and then he can swim there.
Now, let’s dig into more details of how to use these kinds of sentences in Mandarin.
Table of Contents
What is the form of verbal constructions in series in Mandarin Chinese?
As we mentioned above, a sentence with verbal constructions in series will have at least two verbs that have the same subject. While serial verb constructions commonly have two verbs, you will sometimes see more than just two verbs. The verbs may either both take objectsNo definition set for objectsLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. or only one of them may take an object. The basic pattern is this:
我开车到图书馆找他。
(Wǒ kāichē dào túshūguǎn zhǎo tā.)
I drove to the library to look for him.
你们洗手吃饭吧。
(Nǐmen xǐ shǒu chī fàn ba.)
Why don’t you wash your hands and then eat?
(lit.) You wash your hands and eat a meal now.
他骑车去上学。
(Tā qíchē qù shàng xué.)
He rides his bike to go to school.
(lit.) He rides bike go attend school.
我去看看。
(Wǒ qù kànkan.)
Let me go and have a look.
In the examples above, the subject of the two verbs must be the same. We can separate these sentences into two simple subject + verb + (object) patterns.
我开车到图书馆找他。
(Wǒ kāichē dào túshūguǎn zhǎo tā.)
我开车到图书馆。
(Wǒ kāichē dào túshūguǎn. )
I drove to the library.
我找他。
(Wǒ zhǎo tā. )
I look for him.
Important
The order of the verbs matters in this pattern. The verbs cannot be reversed, otherwise, the meaning of the sentence will change or will not make sense. For example:
我开车到图书馆找他。
(Wǒ kāichē dào túshūguǎn zhǎo tā.)
I drove to the library to look for him.
我去朋友家骑车。
(Wǒ qù péngyou jiā qíchē.)
I go to my friend's to ride (my) bike.
What are the functions of verbal constructions in series in Mandarin Chinese?
In Mandarin Chinese, verbal constructions in series are used in a sentence to indicate purpose, means or manner, and result.
How to use verbal constructions in series to indicate purpose?
With the basic pattern of serial verb constructions in mind (subject + verb 1 + (object 1) + verb 2 + (object 2) + (verb 3) + (object 3) …), we use the second verb to indicate the purpose of the first verb. For example:
请同学们举手回答问题。
(Qǐng tóngxué men jǔshǒu wéndá wèntí.)
Classmates, please raise your hand to answer the question.
(Why should they raise their hand? To answer the question.)
我想在上海工作。
(Wǒ xiǎng dào shànghǎi gōngzuò.)
I want to work in Shanghai.
(Why do I want to be in Shanghai? To work.)
How to use verbal constructions in series to indicate means or manner?
In this pattern, (subject + verb 1 + (object 1) + verb 2 + (object 2)), the first “verb + object” structure indicates the means or manner of the second verb. Pay attention, the object of the first verb cannot be omitted here. For example:
他坐飞机去。
(Tā zuò fēijī qù.)
He goes by plane.
(lit.) He takes the plane to go.
(How does he get there? By plane.)
我们用汉语交谈。
(Wǒmen yòng hànyǔ jiāotán.)
We communicate in Chinese.
(lit.) We use Chinese to communicate.
(How do we communicate? In Chinese.)
How to use verbal constructions in series to indicate results?
Still using the basic pattern for serial verb constructions (subject + verb 1 + (object 1) + verb 2 + (object 2)) verb 2 indicates the result of verb 1. For example:
我生病住院了。
(Wǒ shēngbìng zhùyuàn le.)
I got sick and stayed in the hospital.
How to use verbal constructions in series using the verb 有 (yǒu, “to have”)?
Sometimes, the first verb in a serial verb construction is 有 (yǒu, to have); however, the object still cannot be omitted after the first verb 有 (yǒu).
subject + verb 1 (有) + (object 1) + verb 2 + (object 2)
我有问题问你。
(Wǒ yǒu wèntí wèn nǐ.)
I have questions to ask you.
你有时间来我家吗？
(Nǐ yǒu shíjiān lái wǒ jiā ma?)
Do you have time to come to my house?
我有钱用。
(Wǒ yǒu qián yòng.)
I have money to spend.
How to use verbal constructions in series with negation, adverbs, and 了 (le) in Mandarin Chinese?
When we use sentences with verbal constructions in series, there are a few points we need to pay special attention to: using negation, adverbs, and 了 (le).
How to use the negative form of serial verb constructions?
The negative form of serial verb constructions is always to place 不 (bù) or 没 (méi) before the first verb in the series. The negative adverb 不 (bù) or 没 (méi) can never be placed before the second verb.
subject + 不 / 没 + verb 1 (有) + (object 1) + verb 2 + (object 2)
我们没有时间去超市。
(Wǒmen méi yǒu shíjiān qù chāoshì.)
We don't have time to go to the supermarket.
(Remember that with 有 the negation is 没!)
他不骑车上学。
(Tā bù qí chē shàngxué.)
He doesn’t bike to school.
妈妈爸爸不去旅游了。
(Māma bàba bú qù lǚyóu le.)
Mom and Dad won't go traveling.
Where does an adverb go in serial verb constructions?
If any adverb needs to be used to modify the verb in a serial verb construction, it has to go before the first verb, not the second verb. For example:
✓ 你快去告诉他！
(Nǐ kuài qù gàosù tā! )
You go to tell him quickly!
X 你去快告诉他！
(Nǐ qù kuài gàosù tā! )
You go to tell him quickly!
✓ 我也用左手写字。
(Wǒ yě yòng zuǒshǒu xiě zì. )
I also write with my left hand.
X 我用左手也写字。
(Wǒ yòng zuǒshǒu yě xiě zì. )
I also write with my left hand.
How to form verbal constructions in series with 了 (le)?
When a sentence indicates the completion of an action, the aspectual particle 了 (le) is always placed at the end of the sentence or after the second verb in the series, but it is never placed after the first verb. Let’s look at the following examples:
✓ 他待在图书馆查资料了。
(Tā dāizài túshūguǎn chá zīliào le.)
He stayed in the library to look for materials.
The aspectual 了 (le) is added in the end of the sentence.
✓ 他待在图书馆查了资料。
(Tā dāizài túshūguǎn chá le zīliào.)
He stayed in the library to look for materials.
The aspectual 了 (le) is added in the end of the sentence.
X 他待在了图书馆查资料。
(Tā dāizài le túshūguǎn chá zīliào.)
He stayed in the library to look for materials.
The aspectual 了 (le) can never be placed after the first verb.
To sum up
A sentence with a serial verb construction always consists of at least two verbs of the same subject. Most of the time, these verbs cannot change their order in the sentence, otherwise, the meaning of the sentence will change or it will not make any sense at all. The relations between the verbs in the sentence indicate purpose, means or manner, and the result. Special attention needs to be paid when used with 有 (yǒu, to have), and when placing the negation, adverbs, and 了 (le).
If you are wondering what if the subjects of the two verbs are different, we got you covered: please read our post on pivotal constructions!
We prepared some exercises for you to help practice serial verb constructions in Mandarin Chinese. Good luck!
Downloadable Resources
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How to use serial verb constructions in Mandarin Chinese~Activities
