Ch 2 · Lesson 40Mandarin · Chapter 2 · Lesson 40 · Grammar primer
我喜欢去中国: a verb after 喜欢, and 不喜欢
Both verbs take an activity straight after them, with no 'to' and no '-ing', and both say don't with (bù), never (méi).
The short version
。Tā ài chàng gē.
Why?Hide
Both verbs can take a whole activity as their object with nothing between the two verbs - no equivalent of English 'to' or '-ing'. (wǒ xǐ huan yóu yǒng) is complete as it stands for 'I like swimming'. You will also hear (wǒ xǐ huan qù yóu yǒng), which is fine, but the (qù) means 'go', it is not a linking word.
Both attach straight onto another verb
Both verbs take a whole activity as their object, and nothing goes between the two verbs: no "to", no "-ing".
wǒ xǐhuan yóuyǒng; tā ài chàng gē; tā xǐhuan kàn diànyǐng
，。(Tā xǐhuan kàn diànyǐng, yě xǐhuan tīng yīnyuè.) - He likes watching films, and listening to music too.
You will also hear (wǒ xǐhuan qù yóuyǒng), I like going swimming: the (qù) means "go", not "to". The same verb-after-verb habit runs through Mandarin; see serial verb constructions.
Negation: 不 (bù), never 没 (méi)
Both verbs negate with (bù), straight in front:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
。 | Wǒ bù xǐhuan kāfēi. | I don't like coffee |
。 | Tā bú ài shuōhuà. | He isn't one for talking |
(bù) becomes bú before (ài), a fourth tone, as the negation page explains. (méi) appears only with (guo), for "have never":
。(Wǒ cónglái méi xǐhuanguo tā.) - I've never liked him.
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
。 | 。 | "don't like" takes (bù) |
。 | 。 | nothing links the two verbs |
。 | 。 | (hěn) goes before the verb |
(xǐhuan) and (ài) are on the AQA GCSE Chinese specification at Foundation and Higher tier.
Going further: The pair on one screen and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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Lesson 40 of 44 in this chapter