Difference between revisions of "Using "lai" as a dummy verb"

Line 21: Line 21:
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*你 <em>来</em> !<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>lái</em> ba.</span><span class="trans">You do it!</span>
+
*你 <em>来</em> !<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>lái</em> !</span><span class="trans">You do it!</span>
 
*我 <em>来</em> 吧。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>lái</em> ba.</span><span class="trans">Let me do it.</span>
 
*我 <em>来</em> 吧。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>lái</em> ba.</span><span class="trans">Let me do it.</span>
 
*让 他 自己 <em>来</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Ràng tā zìjǐ <em>lái</em>.</span><span class="trans">Let him do it himself.</span>
 
*让 他 自己 <em>来</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Ràng tā zìjǐ <em>lái</em>.</span><span class="trans">Let him do it himself.</span>

Revision as of 02:13, 3 November 2017

Chinese-grammar-wiki-lai.jpg

The verb 来 (lái) can be used as a "dummy verb," similar to the way "do" is used in English.

Structure

The structure for using 来 as a dummy verb is very basic. Usually it is a very short phrase, kind of like "your turn!," "let me give it a shot!," or "you do it!" in English. Usually it is used with 你 or 我 as the subject, and it ends with the 来. Sometimes it can end with a 吧.

A scenario: Imagine you are with your some friends making dinner. There is a bottle of Chinese pickles that you want to open, but can't because the lid is so tight. You start passing it around to see who can open it, and no one is able to, until your body-builder friend comes in and says, "我来!" He is saying, "Let me do it!"

(让 +) Subj. + 来

(让 +) Subj. + 来 + Verb

Examples

  • lái !You do it!
  • 吧。lái ba.Let me do it.
  • 让 他 自己 Ràng tā zìjǐ lái.Let him do it himself.
  • 老师 ,我 读 。Lāoshī, wǒ lái dú.Teacher, let me read it.
  • 看看 。lái kànkan.Let me take a look.
  • 想想 。lái xiǎngxiang.Let me think about it.
  • 说 。lái shuō.You say it.
  • 抱抱 。Ràng wǒ lái bàobao.Let me hold it.
  • 你 写 得 好看 ,你 吧 。Nǐ xiě de hǎokàn, nǐ lái ba.You write well. You write it.
  • 如果 你 觉得 我 做饭 不 好吃 ,你 做 !Rúguǒ nǐ juéde wǒ zuòfàn bù hǎochī, nǐ lái zuò!If you don't think my food is tasty, then you cook!

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Academic Articles

HSK4