Verbal Phrases
动词性短语
Build and understand verbal phrases including verb-object, verb-complement, verb-direction, adverb-verb, and modal verb patterns
Verbal phrases are verb-centered phrases that include the verb and everything that modifies or completes it: objects (买水果), complements (写完), directional words (拿出来), adverbs (常常休息), and modals (可以去).
Adverbs and modal verbs go BEFORE the verb. Objects, complements, and directional words go AFTER the verb.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Verbal Phrases (动词性短语)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 动词性短语 pattern
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Understanding 动词性短语
If nominal phrases are about naming things, verbal phrases are about describing actions. They are the engine of Chinese sentences. A verbal phrase starts with a verb and can be expanded in multiple directions. Add an object after the verb: 买水果 (buy fruit). Add a complement for result: 写完 (finish writing). Add a directional word: 拿出来 (take out). Add an adverb before the verb: 常常休息 (often rest). Add a modal verb: 可以去 (can go). You can even combine these: 可以常常出去买水果 (can often go out to buy fruit). The key is understanding what goes before and what goes after the verb. Adverbs (often, always, already) and modal verbs (can, should, want) go before. Objects, complements, and directional particles go after. Master this and you can express any action with precision.
Key Points
- Verb + Object (动宾): 买水果 (buy fruit), 看电影 (watch a movie), 喝咖啡 (drink coffee).
- Verb + Result Complement (动补): 写完 (finish writing), 听懂 (listen and understand), 学会 (learn successfully).
- Verb + Directional Complement: 拿出来 (take out), 走进去 (walk in), 跑回来 (run back).
- Adverb + Verb: 常常休息 (often rest), 已经来了 (already came), 慢慢走 (walk slowly).
- Modal Verb + Verb: 可以去 (can go), 应该学 (should learn), 想吃 (want to eat).
- Negative: 不/没 goes before the verb or modal: 不想去, 没买到.
- These patterns can stack: 应该常常出去运动 (should often go out to exercise).
- Understanding verbal phrases helps with word order — the most common challenge for learners.
Chinese verbal phrases are remarkably compact. Where English might say "I was not able to successfully buy it," Chinese says 我没买到 — just three syllables. This economy of expression is a hallmark of Chinese and one reason why mastering verbal phrase patterns is so rewarding.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
买水果
buy fruit
Verb + Object
写完
finish writing
Verb + Result Complement
拿出来
take out
Verb + Directional Complement
常常休息
often rest
Adverb + Verb
可以去
can go
Modal Verb + Verb
慢慢地走
walk slowly
Adverbial modifier + Verb
听懂了
listened and understood
Verb + Result Complement + 了
跑回来
run back
Verb + Directional Complement
Common Mistakes
Adverbs go BEFORE the verb in Chinese, not after. 常常 must precede 休息.
Modal verbs go BEFORE the main verb. 可以 must precede 去.
Directional complements go AFTER the verb. The action (拿) comes first, then the direction (出来).
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Before the verb: adverbs (often, already, very), modal verbs (can, should, want), negation (不, 没).
After the verb: objects (what), complements (result/degree), directional words (where to).
Practice building up: 去 → 想去 → 很想去 → 很想去北京 → 很想坐飞机去北京.
Result complements are super useful: 看见 (see), 听懂 (understand by listening), 学会 (master), 找到 (find successfully).
Homework
Build ten verbal phrases, two of each type: Verb+Object, Verb+Complement, Verb+Direction, Adverb+Verb, Modal+Verb. Then combine them into five full sentences.