Difference between revisions of "Expressing "until" with "dao""

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One of the cool features of Chinese is [[complements]], and in this article we introduce a few of them.  
 
One of the cool features of Chinese is [[complements]], and in this article we introduce a few of them.  
  
== Structure ==
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One kind of [[complement]] in Chinese involves putting 到, 给 or 在 after the verb. These are used to indicate direction, target and location, respectively.
  
One kind of [[complement]] in Chinese involves putting , 给 or 在 after the verb. These are used to indicate direction, target and location, respectively.
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== Complements with ==
  
 
* 到 (dào) indicates that the action has obtained a goal or a certain state. Any verb that uses the complement [[Result complements "dao" and "jian"| 见]] can also use 到.
 
* 到 (dào) indicates that the action has obtained a goal or a certain state. Any verb that uses the complement [[Result complements "dao" and "jian"| 见]] can also use 到.
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=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
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* 我 昨天晚上 工作 <strong>到</strong> <em>十二点半</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshang gōngzuò <strong>dào</strong> <em>shí'èr diǎn bàn</em>.</span><span class="trans">I worked until 12:30 last night.</span>
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</div>
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== Complements with 给 ==
  
 
* 给 (gěi) indicates that you have passed something from one person to another.
 
* 给 (gěi) indicates that you have passed something from one person to another.
  
* 在 (zài) indicates a person or thing coming to a certain place. It is usually followed by a location or a place.
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=== Examples ===
  
<div class="jiegou">
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<div class="liju">
  
Subj. + Verb + 到 / / 在⋯⋯
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* 我 今天 早上 发了 一 封 邮件 <strong>给</strong> <em>你</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jīntiān zǎoshang fā le yī fēng yóujiàn <strong>gěi</strong> <em>nǐ</em>.</span><span class="trans">I sent an e-mail to you this morning. </span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Examples ==
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== Complements with 在 ==  
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* 在 (zài) indicates a person or thing coming to a certain place. It is usually followed by a location or a place.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我 昨天晚上 工作 <strong>到</strong> <em>十二点半</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshang gōngzuò <strong>dào</strong> <em>shí'èr diǎn bàn</em>.</span><span class="trans">I worked until 12:30 last night.</span>
 
* 我 今天早上 发了 一封 电子邮件 <strong>给</strong> <em>你</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jīntiān zǎoshang fā le yī fēng diànzǐ yóujiàn <strong>gěi</strong> <em>nǐ</em>.</span><span class="trans">I sent an e-mail to you this morning.</span>
 
 
* 请 你 坐 <strong>在</strong> <em>我 旁 边儿</em>。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ zuò <strong>zài</strong> <em>wǒ pángbiān er</em>.</span><span class="trans">Please come and sit next to me.</span>
 
* 请 你 坐 <strong>在</strong> <em>我 旁 边儿</em>。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ zuò <strong>zài</strong> <em>wǒ pángbiān er</em>.</span><span class="trans">Please come and sit next to me.</span>
  
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==See also==
 
==See also==
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*[[Verbs with gei]]
 
*[[Verbs with gei]]
 
*[["Zai" following verbs]]
 
*[["Zai" following verbs]]

Revision as of 08:13, 5 April 2017

Chinese-grammar-wiki-dao.jpg

One of the cool features of Chinese is complements, and in this article we introduce a few of them.

One kind of complement in Chinese involves putting 到, 给 or 在 after the verb. These are used to indicate direction, target and location, respectively.

Complements with 到

  • 到 (dào) indicates that the action has obtained a goal or a certain state. Any verb that uses the complement can also use 到.

Examples

  • 我 昨天晚上 工作 十二点半Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshang gōngzuò dào shí'èr diǎn bàn.I worked until 12:30 last night.

Complements with 给

  • 给 (gěi) indicates that you have passed something from one person to another.

Examples

  • 我 今天 早上 发了 一 封 邮件 Wǒ jīntiān zǎoshang fā le yī fēng yóujiàn gěi .I sent an e-mail to you this morning.

Complements with 在

  • 在 (zài) indicates a person or thing coming to a certain place. It is usually followed by a location or a place.
  • 请 你 坐 我 旁 边儿Qǐng nǐ zuò zài wǒ pángbiān er.Please come and sit next to me.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK4