Preposition
- Also known as: 介词 (jiècí).
Prepositions are words that indicate location or direction. They are called "pre"-positions because they are positioned before the words that they modify.
Contents
Characteristics
Prepositions cannot stand in a sentence all by themselves. Instead, they need to go with words with more "content" such as nouns or verbs. This way they can make a prepositional phrase. They also cannot be reduplicated, unlike verbs and adjectives. Additionally, prepositions do not use aspect particles. They can, however, be negated by 不. This also means that they can make affirmative-negative questions.
Functions
Prepositions do a lot of work that we sometimes take for granted. They help indicate the environment (when and where), direction (to, from, at), reason, manner, and other functions that make the sentences cohesive. There are also a few prepositions that commonly go with the same kinds of verbs (从 with places, for example).
Notes
As mentioned above, some prepositions collocate (go together) with certain verbs. These include:
- 在, 从 with locations
- 从 can also go with time
- 离 goes with distances
- 对 indicates targets
- 给 also indicates targets, but can indicate an action for someone
- 被 works with passive constructions
- Some prepositions are also verbs, and others are exclusively prepositions [1].
Grammar Patterns for Prepositions
A2 Prepositions
| Grammar Point (English) | Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Basic comparisons with "bi" | Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adj. | 你 比 我 胖 。 |
| Expressing "from… to…" with "cong… dao…" | 从⋯⋯到⋯⋯ | 从1 号 到 5 号 我 在 上海。 |
B1 Prepositions
| Grammar Point (English) | Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Expressing "about" with "guanyu" | 关于 + Obj. ，⋯⋯ | 关于 中国 历史 ，我 知道 的 不 多 。 |
| Expressing "all the way until" with "zhidao" | 直到 + Time / Event ，Subj. + 才 ⋯⋯ | 直到 十二 点 半 ，我 才 做 完 作业 。 |
| Expressing "for" with "gei" | Subj. + 给 + Recipient + Verb Phrase | 妈妈 在 给 孩子 们 做饭 。 |
| Expressing "for" with "wei" | 为 + Person + Predicate | 为 人民 服务 ！ |
| Expressing "less than" with "budao" | 不到 + Number + Measure Word + Noun | 我 女儿 不到 三 岁 。 |
| Expressing "toward" with "wang" | 往 + Direction Word | 往 + Direction / Place + Verb |
| Expressing "towards" with "xiang" | 向 + Direction / Person + Verb | 你 必须 向 他 道歉！ |
| Idiomatic phrases with "zai" | 在 + Topic + 上 ，Subj. ⋯⋯ | 在美国 历史 上 ，最重要 的 总统 是 谁 ？ |
| Using "dui" with verbs | Subj. + 对 + Person + Verb | 宝宝 对 我 笑 了。 |
B2 Prepositions
| Grammar Point (English) | Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Expressing "along with…" with "suizhe" | 随着 A + 的 + Verb， Subj. + Predicate | 随着 经济 的 发展，人们 的 生活 越 来 越 好。 |
| Expressing "ever since" with "zicong" | (自)从⋯⋯ | 自从 来 了 上海 ， 他 就 习惯 了 繁忙 的 生活 。 |
| Expressing "for…" with "eryan" | 对 + Person / Group + 而言 ，⋯⋯ | 对 消费者 而言 ，促销 活动 很 有 吸引力 。 |
| Expressing "including" with "zainei" | (包括)⋯⋯ 在内 ，⋯⋯ | 包括 水 电 费 在内 ，我 每 个 月 的 房租 三千 五 。 |
| Expressing "on the basis of" with "ping" | 凭⋯⋯ | 他 凭 自己 的 努力 成功 。 |
| Expressing "with regards to" with "zhiyu" | 至于 + Topic， Comment | 你 先 看 产品 。 至于 价格 ， 我们 再 商量 。 |
| Expressing passive voice with "gei" | Receiver + 给 + The Doer + 给 + Verb Phrase | 事情 给 解决 了 吗？ |
| Limiting scope with "jiu" | 就⋯⋯ (来说 / 而言) | 就 我 而言 ， 兴趣 最 重要 。 |
| Opportune timing with "chen" | 趁 + Situation / Opportunity…… | 趁 老板 不 在，我们 出去 吃饭 吧。 |
C1 Prepositions
| Grammar Point (English) | Pattern | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Expressing "in light of" with "jianyu" | 鉴于 + observation, conclusion/suggestion | 鉴于 是 紧急 情况，我们 应该 尽快 做出 决定。 |
References
Sources
- 实用汉语语法 (p. 56 - 57)
- Practicing HSK Grammar (pp. 67 - 94)
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 82 - 88)
