Using "lai" as a dummy verb

The verb 来 (lái) can be used as a "dummy verb," similar to the way "do" is used in English.

Structure

The structure for using 来 as a dummy verb is very basic. Usually it is a very short phrase, kind of like "your turn!," "let me give it a shot!," or "you do it!" in English. Usually it is used with 你 or 我 as the subject, and it ends with the 来. Sometimes it can end with a 吧.

A scenario: Imagine you are with your some friends making dinner. There is a bottle of Chinese pickles that you want to open, but can't because the lid is so tight. You start passing it around to see who can open it, and no one is able to, until your body-builder friend comes in and says, "我来!" He is saying, "Let me do it!"

Subj. + 来 + (吧)

Examples

• 我 来 吧。Wǒ lái ba.Let me do it.
• 让 我 来 吧。Ràng wǒ lái ba.Let me do it.
• 我 来 看看 它 怎么 了 。Wǒ lái kànkan tā zěnme le.Let me see what happened with it.
• 你 来！ Nǐ lái!You do it!
• 你 来 说 吧 。Nǐ lái shuō ba.You say it.
• 你 来 切 吧 ，我怕 她 会 切到 手 。Nǐ lái qiē bā, wǒ pà tā huì qiēdào shǒu.You cut it. I'm afraid she will cut her finger.

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (p. 54) →buy

Academic Articles

• 现代汉语形式动词研究 Research on Dummy Verb in Modern Chinese

• 現代漢語中的形式動詞 Dummy Verbs in Contemporary Chinese

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