Expressing "with" with "gen"
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Using 跟 (gēn) to express "with" is so simple, after studying it briefly, it will always be with you!
Structure
The preposition 跟 (gēn) is commonly used to express "with." Just remember that the "with" phrase comes before the verb.
Subject + 跟 + Person + Verb + Object
The word 一起 () is used a lot with 跟 (gēn), expressing the idea of "doing something together with somebody." It may seem kind of redundant, but it's totally normally in Chinese to use both.
Subject + 跟 + Person + 一起 + Verb + Object
Certain Chinese verbs use 跟 (gēn) a lot, so be on the lookout for them (examples below)!
Examples
- 你 要 跟 我 一起 去 吗？Do you want to go with me?
- 我 跟 两 个 同事 去 北京。I's going with two co-workers to Beijing.
- 我 跟 我 朋友 喝 啤酒。I drink beer with my friend.
- 他 跟 他 家人 一起 吃饭。He eats with his family.
- 不要 跟 我 说话！Don't talk with me!
- 中秋节 你 想 跟 我 回 老家 吗 ？During Mid-Autumn Festival do you want to go back to my hometown with me?
- 下 个 月 你 要 跟 你 的 男朋友 去 欧洲 吗？Are you going to go to Europe with your boyfriend next month?
- 他 想 跟 他 的 女朋友 结婚 吗？(This is one of those verbs that often appears with 跟)Does he want to marry his girlfriend?
- 你 的 老师 喜欢 跟 你 聊天 吗？(This is one of those verbs that often appears with 跟)Does your teacher like to talk with you?
- 你 想 跟 他 的 家人 见面 吗 ？(This is one of those verbs that often appears with 跟) Do you want to meet his family?
Note: One of the most common beginner mistakes is to fail to use 跟 (gēn) with 见面 (jiànmiàn), "to meet." It might help to think of 见面 (jiànmiàn) as "to meet with (somebody)," the "with" cluing you into the fact that you need a 跟 (gēn) in there.
Check out the examples below:
- 我 要 见面 你 。
- 我 要 跟 你 见面 。I want to meet (with) you.
- 我 昨天 见面 他 了 。
- 我 昨天 跟 他 见面 了 。I met with him yesterday.
- 你 什么时候 见面 她 ？
- 你 什么时候 跟 她 见面 ？When are you going to meet (with) her?
Later on you'll learn more about why this is the case, but for now just memorize the correct pattern.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (p.84, p.88)→buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (pp.166-167) →buy
