The shape

Subject + co-verb + co-verb's object + main verb + (main verb's object / complement).

The co-verb attaches its own object (the location, the means, the recipient) before the main verb that actually carries the action. It's the opposite of English, which puts the prepositional phrase AFTER the main verb.

• 我从北京来。 (Wǒ cóng běi jīng lái.) - I come from Beijing. (Lit: I from Beijing come.)
• 我到学校去。 (Wǒ dào xué xiào qù.) - I'm going to school. (Lit: I to school go.)
• 我在家吃饭。 (Wǒ zài jiā chī fàn.) - I eat at home. (Lit: I at home eat.)
• 我用筷子吃饭。 (Wǒ yòng kuài zi chī fàn.) - I eat with chopsticks. (Lit: I use chopsticks eat.)
• 我坐飞机去。 (Wǒ zuò fēi jī qù.) - I'm going by plane. (Lit: I sit plane go.)
• 我给他打电话。 (Wǒ gěi tā dǎ diàn huà.) - I'll phone him. (Lit: I for him hit phone.)

In every case the co-verb and its object come first, then the main verb. Once the pattern clicks, the six co-verbs are interchangeable in shape.

从 (cóng): from

Marks the origin or starting point of a movement or time period.

• 我从上海来。 (Wǒ cóng shàng hǎi lái.) - I come from Shanghai.
• 他从五点开始工作。 (Tā cóng wǔ diǎn kāi shǐ gōng zuò.) - He starts work from five o'clock.
• 我们从这里走。 (Wǒ men cóng zhè li zǒu.) - We'll go from here.

Often pairs with 到 (to) for a full range: 从北京到上海 (from Beijing to Shanghai), 从早到晚 (from morning to night).

到 (dào): to, arriving at

Marks the destination.

• 我到学校去。 (Wǒ dào xué xiào qù.) - I'm going to school.
• 火车到站了。 (Huǒ chē dào zhàn le.) - The train has arrived at the station.
• 我们到家了。 (Wǒ men dào jiā le.) - We've reached home.

到 can also stand alone as a main verb meaning 'arrive', as in those last two examples. The co-verb use is what we're drilling here.

在 (zài): at, in, on (location)

The location co-verb. Marks WHERE the action takes place.

• 我在家吃饭。 (Wǒ zài jiā chī fàn.) - I eat at home.
• 他在图书馆看书。 (Tā zài tú shū guǎn kàn shū.) - He reads in the library.
• 我们在公园见面。 (Wǒ men zài gōng yuán jiàn miàn.) - We're meeting in the park.

Note the position: in English, 'I eat at home' puts 'at home' at the end. In Mandarin, 在家 sits BEFORE the verb 吃饭. The location goes before what you do there. This is the single most-violated word-order rule for English-speaking learners.

在 is also the standalone verb 'to be at' (我在家 = I'm at home) AND the progressive aspect marker (我在吃饭 = I'm eating). Three jobs, one character. Context disambiguates each time.

用 (yòng): using, with (instrument)

Marks the tool or means by which something is done.

• 我用筷子吃饭。 (Wǒ yòng kuài zi chī fàn.) - I eat with chopsticks.
• 他用中文写信。 (Tā yòng zhōng wén xiě xìn.) - He writes letters in Chinese.
• 我用手机看电视。 (Wǒ yòng shǒu jī kàn diàn shì.) - I watch TV on my phone.

The instrument or means goes between 用 and the main verb. English 'with' (instrumental) and 'in' (a language) both map to 用.

坐 (zuò): by (transport)

Means 'sit' as a main verb but co-verbs into the 'by means of transport' role.

• 我坐飞机去北京。 (Wǒ zuò fēi jī qù běi jīng.) - I'm going to Beijing by plane.
• 他坐公共汽车上班。 (Tā zuò gōng gòng qì chē shàng bān.) - He goes to work by bus.
• 我们坐火车去。 (Wǒ men zuò huǒ chē qù.) - We're going by train.

The thing 'sat' is the vehicle. 走 (zǒu, walk) is the contrast: 我走着去 - I'll walk there.

给 (gěi): to, for (benefactive)

Marks the recipient or beneficiary.

• 我给他打电话。 (Wǒ gěi tā dǎ diàn huà.) - I'll phone him.
• 我给妈妈做饭。 (Wǒ gěi mā ma zuò fàn.) - I'm cooking for mum.
• 他给我写了一封信。 (Tā gěi wǒ xiě le yī fēng xìn.) - He wrote me a letter.

给 also works as a main verb meaning 'give': 我给你一本书 (I'll give you a book). When 给 is the main verb, the structure is 给 + indirect object + direct object. When 给 is a co-verb, another verb (打电话, 做饭, 写信) follows.

Negation: 不 before the co-verb, not the main verb

The negator sits before the co-verb, not the main verb that comes later.

• 我不在家吃饭。 (Wǒ bù zài jiā chī fàn.) - I'm NOT eating at home.
• 我不给他打电话。 (Wǒ bù gěi tā dǎ diàn huà.) - I'm NOT going to phone him.
• 我不用筷子吃饭。 (Wǒ bù yòng kuài zi chī fàn.) - I don't eat with chopsticks.

The reason: in Mandarin syntax, the co-verb is the first verb in a serial verb construction, and negation attaches to the highest verb available.

All six side by side

What to internalise

1. Co-verb + its object goes BEFORE the main verb. Mandarin doesn't put prepositional phrases at the end.
2. The negator goes in front of the co-verb. 不在家吃 (NOT 在家不吃).
3. Several co-verbs can stack. 我从北京坐飞机到上海去 - I'm flying from Beijing to Shanghai. Each adds a slot.
4. 在 has three jobs. Co-verb (at/in), main verb ('to be at'), and aspect marker (ongoing 在 + verb). Context tells you which.

For broader prepositional coverage and the location-specific patterns, see the location-and-existence page.