Difference between revisions of "Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/Separable-verbs"
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==Object verbs== | ==Object verbs== | ||
If the verb <span class="notranslate">说 shuō</span> "to speak" is followed by a complement, it is used alone: | If the verb <span class="notranslate">说 (shuō)</span> "to speak" is followed by a complement, it is used alone: | ||
*<span class="notranslate">说汉语. shuō hàn yǔ </span> | *<span class="notranslate">说汉语. shuō hàn yǔ </span> | ||
<blockquote>I speak Chinese.</blockquote> | <blockquote>I speak Chinese.</blockquote> | ||
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But if we simply mean "talk", we must add a "standard complement ": <span class="notranslate">话 huà</span> word. | But if we simply mean "talk", we must add a "standard complement ": <span class="notranslate">话 huà</span> word. | ||
To say "He speaks.", we have to use <span class="notranslate">他说话 Tā shuō huà</span> and not simply <span class="notranslate">他说 Tā shuō</span>. | To say "He speaks.", we have to use <span class="notranslate">他说话 (Tā shuō huà)</span> and not simply <span class="notranslate">他说 (Tā shuō)</span>. | ||
We also have already seen "write" <span class="notranslate">写 xiě</span> which requires the standard complement <span class="notranslate">字 zì</span>: | We also have already seen "write" <span class="notranslate">写 (xiě)</span> which requires the standard complement <span class="notranslate">字 (zì)</span>: | ||
*<span class="notranslate">她写字 | *<span class="notranslate">她写字 (Tā xiě zì)</span>. | ||
<blockquote>She writes.</blockquote> | <blockquote>She writes.</blockquote> | ||
Attention, it is absolutely necessary to remove the standard complement when another complement is specified. | Attention, it is absolutely necessary to remove the standard complement when another complement is specified. | ||
The following sentence is therefore false: <span class="notranslate">他 说话 汉语. Tā shuō huà hànyǔ</span> | The following sentence is therefore false: <span class="notranslate">他 说话 汉语. (Tā shuō huà hànyǔ)</span> | ||
A verb-object may be heard alone, but in this case the complement is implied: | A verb-object may be heard alone, but in this case the complement is implied: | ||
*<span class="notranslate">(汉语)我会说,不会写. (hàn yǔ) wǒ huì shuì, bú huì xiě </span> | *<span class="notranslate">(汉语)我会说,不会写. [(hàn yǔ) wǒ huì shuì, bú huì xiě] </span> | ||
<blockquote>(Chinese) I can speak it, but not write it.</blockquote> | <blockquote>(Chinese) I can speak it, but not write it.</blockquote> | ||
Revision as of 18:01, 16 November 2018
Hello everybody!
In today's lesson, we will teach you how to use certain kinds of verbs that still need a complement.
"Separable verbs" get their name from their ability to "separate" into two parts (a verb part and an object part), with other words in between. In fact, you could also simply call separable verbs "verb-object phrases."
Feel free to edit this wiki page, if you think it can be improved.
Object verbs
If the verb 说 (shuō) "to speak" is followed by a complement, it is used alone:
- 说汉语. shuō hàn yǔ
I speak Chinese.
But if we simply mean "talk", we must add a "standard complement ": 话 huà word.
To say "He speaks.", we have to use 他说话 (Tā shuō huà) and not simply 他说 (Tā shuō).
We also have already seen "write" 写 (xiě) which requires the standard complement 字 (zì):
- 她写字 (Tā xiě zì).
She writes.
Attention, it is absolutely necessary to remove the standard complement when another complement is specified.
The following sentence is therefore false: 他 说话 汉语. (Tā shuō huà hànyǔ)
A verb-object may be heard alone, but in this case the complement is implied:
- (汉语)我会说,不会写. [(hàn yǔ) wǒ huì shuì, bú huì xiě]
(Chinese) I can speak it, but not write it.
Sources
https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Separable_verb http://www.chine-culture.com/chinois/cours-de-chinois-6-grammaire.php