Auxiliary verb
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Also known as "modal verbs"
Express capability, possibility, necessity, obligation or willingness.
Notes
- Can indicate intention, possibility or necessity
- Differing strength levels within these categories (e.g. 必须 vs 应该)
- Modal verbs of strong obligation (必须, 比得) can't form positive-negative questions
- In sentences with an auxiliary verb, the auxiliary verb is negated, not the main verb.
- To respond to questions with an auxiliary verb, the auxiliary verb is used, not the main verb. E.g. 你想不想来？ 想.
- Auxiliary verbs can't be reduplicated.
- Aspect particles 了, 着, 过 can't be used with auxiliary verbs.
- Auxiliary verbs must take a verb as an object, not a noun.
- Most important auxiliary verbs:
- 要
- 会
- 想
- 应该
- 该
- 必须
- 得 (děi)
- How to say 'can' in different contexts (能, 会 and 可以)
Sources and further reading
- 外国人实用汉语语法(中英文对照) (pp. 41 - 47)
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 81 to 89)
- 简明汉语语法学习手册 (Chinese Grammar Without Tears) (pp. 239 - 250)
- Practicing HSK Grammar (pp. 141 - 151)
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 69 - 75)
