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Mandarin Chinese 1 Unit 6: Verbs and aspect

Chinese verbs don't change for tense. Little words called aspect markers show whether an action is done, ongoing or experienced.

Covers: 想 and 要 (want), 会 and 能 (can), 在 (in progress), 了 (completed), 过 (experience)

Study guide

Mandarin expresses wants, abilities and time with helper words before the verb rather than by changing the verb.

想 (xiǎng) means "would like to" or "want to," a softer wish: 我想喝茶 (I'd like to drink tea). 要 (yào) is stronger, meaning "want" or "will," and can stand alone with a noun: 我要一杯咖啡 (I want a coffee).

会 (huì) means "can" in the sense of a learned skill: 我会说中文 (I can speak Chinese), 他会游泳 (he can swim). 能 (néng) means "can" in the sense of being physically able or allowed: 我今天不能去 (I can't go today). 可以 (kěyǐ) asks or gives permission: 我可以进来吗? (may I come in?).

Instead of tenses, Mandarin uses aspect particles. 在 (zài) before a verb shows an action in progress: 我在看书 (I'm reading right now), often with 呢 (ne) at the end. 了 (le) after a verb shows a completed action: 我吃了 (I ate, I've eaten), 我买了三本书 (I bought three books). To negate a completed action, use 没 (méi) and drop 了: 我没吃 (I didn't eat).

过 (guo) after a verb shows experience, something that has happened at some point: 我去过北京 (I have been to Beijing), 你吃过饺子吗? (have you ever eaten dumplings?). Its negative uses 没: 我没去过.

Time words like 昨天 (yesterday) and 明天 (tomorrow) also tell when something happens, since the verb itself never changes.

Besides marking completion, 了 at the end of a sentence shows a new situation or change: 我不累了 (I'm not tired anymore), 他十岁了 (he's ten now). 已经 (yǐjīng) …了 means "already": 我已经吃饭了. A second verb or adjective after the main verb shows the result: 吃完 (finish eating), 找到 (find successfully), 听懂 (understand by listening), 做好 (do well, finish). They're negated with 没: 我没找到.

得 (de) after a verb introduces how well or how something is done: 他说得很好 (he speaks well), 你跑得太快了. The negative goes after 得: 他说得不好. Doubling a verb or adding 一下 softens it to "have a quick try" or "take a moment": 看看, 试试, 介绍一下 (let me briefly introduce). It makes requests and suggestions sound more polite.

因为 (yīnwèi) …所以 (suǒyǐ) … means "because…, so…," and Chinese often uses both halves: 因为下雨, 所以我不去. 但是 (dànshì) or 可是 means "but" and starts the second clause.

Key ideas

• 想 (xiǎng) would like to; 要 (yào) want/will.
• 会 (huì) can (learned skill); 能 (néng) can (able/allowed).
• 在 (zài) + verb = doing right now: 我在吃饭.
• Verb + 了 (le) = completed: 我吃了.
• Verb + 过 (guo) = have ever done: 我去过中国.

Formulas and rules

Common mistakes

• Adding tense endings to verbs (Chinese has none).
• Using 能 for learned skills like speaking a language (use 会).

Words to know

想

would like to (xiǎng)

要

to want (yào)

会

can (learned skill) (huì)

能

can (be able to) (néng)

可以

may / can (kěyǐ)

应该

should (yīnggāi)

在

(action in progress) (zài)

正在

in the middle of (zhèngzài)

了

(completed action) (le)

过

(past experience) (guo)

没

not (past) (méi)

已经

already (yǐjīng)

还没

not yet (hái méi)

进来

to come in (jìnlai)

介绍

to introduce (jièshào)

坐

to sit (zuò)

玩儿

to have fun (wánr)

认识

to know (a person) (rènshi)

工作

to work (gōngzuò)

来

to come (lái)

打电话

to make a phone call (dǎ diànhuà)

喂

hello (on the phone) (wéi)

时间

time (shíjiān)

有空

to have free time (yǒu kòng)

开会

to have a meeting (kāi huì)

考试

to take a test (kǎo shì)

等

to wait (děng)

回来

to come back (huílai)

帮

to help (bāng)

找

to look for (zhǎo)

学

to learn (xué)

学习

to study (xuéxí)

教

to teach (jiāo)

写

to write (xiě)

听

to listen (tīng)

念

to read aloud (niàn)

练习

to practice (liànxí)

复习

to review (fùxí)

预习

to preview (yùxí)

懂

to understand (dǒng)

Sample practice questions

5 more questions like these, from level 1 to 5, are in the practice set.