Actions in a row

\r\nLinking actions together in a sentence is very straightforward. There is no new word or phrase needed!\r\n== Structure ==\r\nIn Chinese it's very easy to describe two actions in a row. Simply place one verb phrase after another, in this structure:\r\n

\r\nSubject + Verb Phrase 1 + Verb Phrase 2\r\n

\r\nNo connecting word is needed. A common mistake in the early stages of learning Chinese is to try and link verbs with 和. This is incorrect - 和 can only link nouns. Just place one verb after another.\r\n== Examples ==\r\n

\r\n* 我们 去 咖啡店 喝 咖啡 了。Let's go to the cafe and drink coffee.

• 我 要 回家 吃饭。I want to go home and eat.
• 他 不 去 图书馆 看书。He does not go to the library and read.
• 我 想 回 家 睡觉。I want to go home and sleep.
• 你 要 去 超市 买 东西 吗？Do you want to go to the supermarket to buy things?
• 你 给 他 打电话 告诉 他 了 吗？What did you tell him when you called him?
• 我 要 打电话 订 位子。I want to call to make the reservation.
• 我 要 上网 买 机票。I use the internet to buy airplane tickets.
• 我 下周 去 越南 旅行。Next week I go to Vietnam to travel.
• 她 的 工作 就 是 买 菜 做 饭。Her job is to buy food and cook.\r\n

\r\nNote that the English translations of these sentences use the word "and", but there is no equivalent to it in Chinese.\r\n==See also==\r\n*Events in quick succession with "yi... jiu"

Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) （pp. 477-484) →buy

Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 207-8) →buy

40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (pp. 384-5)→buy

40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (p. 125)→buy \r\n