Actions in a row

Linking actions together in a sentence is very straightforward and to the point. Because of this, there is no new word or phrase needed!

Structure

In Chinese, it's very easy to describe two actions in a row. Simply place one verb phrase after another, in this structure:

Subj. + [Verb Phrase 1] + [Verb Phrase 2]

No connecting word is needed. A common mistake in the early stages of learning Chinese is to try and link verbs with 和 (hé). This is incorrect; 和 (hé) can only link nouns. Just use one verb phrase after another and the sequence of events is clear.

Examples

• 我 要 回家 吃饭。 Wǒ yào huíjiā chīfàn. I want to go home and eat.
• 你 要 去 超市 买 东西 吗？Nǐ yào qù chāoshì mǎi dōngxi ma? Are you going to the supermarket to buy things?
• 他 不 想 去 图书馆 看 书。Tā bù xiǎng qù túshūguǎn kàn shū. He doesn't want to go to the library and read.
• 你 打 电话 告诉 他 了 吗？Nǐ dǎ diànhuà gàosu tā le ma? Did you call and tell him?
• 我们 要 坐 飞机 去 美国。Wǒmen yào zuò fēijī qù Měiguó. We are going to take an airplane to go to America.
• 你们 可以 上 网 买 机票 吗？Nǐmen kěyǐ shàng wǎng mǎi jīpiào ma? Can you use the Internet to buy airplane tickets?
• 老板 下周 去 北京 开 会。Lǎobǎn xià zhōu qù Běijīng kāi huì. Next week the boss will go to Beijing to have a meeting.
• 中国人 都 要 回家 过 年。Zhōngguó rén dōu yào huíjiā guònián. Chinese people all go back home and spend Chinese New Year.
• 周末 我 喜欢 自己 买 菜 做饭。Zhōumò wǒ xǐhuan zìjǐ mǎi cài zuòfàn. I like to buy food to cook for myself on the weekend.
• 早上 我 先 刷 牙 洗 脸，再 吃 早饭。Zǎoshang wǒ xiān shuā yá xǐ liǎn, zài chī zǎofàn. In the morning, I first brush my teeth and wash my face, and then I eat breakfast.

Note that the English translations of these sentences use the word "and," but there is no equivalent to it in Chinese.

See also

• Events in quick succession with "yi... jiu"
• Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"

Sources and further reading

Books

• 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