Lesson 18, 22: Serial verb sentences and pivotal sentences

Explanation

Structure

1. 1
   Ssubject+去/来+什么地方optional+做什么

   Expresses the purpose of an action.

   • 外贸代表团明天去上海参观。

     Wàimào dàibiǎotuán míngtiān qù Shànghǎi cānguān.

     The foreign trade delegation is going to Shanghai tomorrow for a visit.

   • 我来中国学汉语。

     Wǒ lái Zhōngguó xué Hànyǔ.

     I came to China to study Chinese.

   • 我去上海看一个朋友。

     Wǒ qù Shànghǎi kàn yí ge péngyou.

     I'm going to Shanghai to visit a friend.

   • 我去办公室找王老师。

     Wǒ qù bàngōngshì zhǎo Wáng lǎoshī.

     I'm going to the office to see Teacher Wang.

   • 田芳常上网查资料。

     Tián Fāng cháng shàngwǎng chá zīliào.

     Tian Fang often goes online to look up information.

2. 2
   Ssubject+V1 (phương thức: 坐飞机 / 骑车 / 用汉语……)+V2verb 2

   Expresses the manner of an action; doing something in a certain way.

   • 我们坐飞机去上海。

     Wǒmen zuò fēijī qù Shànghǎi.

     We're flying to Shanghai.

   • 他骑车去寄包裹。

     Tā qí chē qù jì bāoguǒ.

     He rides his bike to the post office to mail a package.

   • 我们用汉语聊天儿。

     Wǒmen yòng Hànyǔ liáotiānr.

     We chat in Chinese.

   • 她用伊妹儿给朋友写信。

     Tā yòng yīmèir gěi péngyou xiě xìn.

     She writes to her friend by email.

   • 珍妮坐火车去上海。

     Zhēnnī zuò huǒchē qù Shànghǎi.

     Jenny is taking the train to Shanghai.

3. 3
   主语+使令动词 (叫、让、请)+兼语 (宾语/主语)+动词+宾语

   The object of the first verb is also the subject of the second verb.

   • (我)请你们谈谈自己的爱好。

     (Wǒ) qǐng nǐmen tántan zìjǐ de àihào.

     I invite you all to talk about your hobbies.

   • 老师叫大家回答问题。

     Lǎoshī jiào dàjiā huídá wèntí.

     The teacher asks everyone to answer the question.

   • 公司派他来中国。

     Gōngsī pài tā lái Zhōngguó.

     The company is sending him to China.

   • 我想请一个老师教我书法。

     Wǒ xiǎng qǐng yí ge lǎoshī jiāo wǒ shūfǎ.

     I want to hire a teacher to teach me calligraphy.

   • 请你明天来我的宿舍吧。

     Qǐng nǐ míngtiān lái wǒ de sùshè ba.

     Please come to my dorm tomorrow, okay?