Serial verbs

In Chinese, two verbal predicates, sharing the same subject, can follow each other without the need of conjunctions. These constructions are called constructions of serial verbs and can express a temporal sequence or an action-purpose relationship.
In the first ones, the action of the second verb follows the one of the first verb, after which is usually placed the perfect particle 了, that indicates that the action is completed.

我做了功课去公园散步了。
wǒ zuòle gōngkè qù gōngyuán sànbùle
[I to-do ASP homework to-go park to-go-for-a-walk MOD]
After I finished my homework, I went to the park for a walk.

In the action-purpose relationships, the second verb expresses the purpose of the former, represented by a motion verb. The second verb can be introduced by 来 that in this case means “to, in order to”.

我去图书馆学习。
wǒ qù túshū guǎn xuéxí
[I to-go library to study]
I’m going to the library to study.

我要想办法来帮助她。
wǒ yào xiǎng bànfǎ lái bāngzhù tā
[I to-have-to to-think way in-order-to to-help she]
I have to find a way to help her.

There can also be serial constructions with verbs such as 坐 (zuò) “to take a means of transport”, 用 (yòng) “to use” and the duration indicator 着 (zhe) which we discussed in the lesson The aspect markers.

我坐飞机去北京。
wǒ zuò fēijī qù běijīng
[I to-take airplane to-go Bejing]
I go to Bejing by plane.

我用筷子吃饭。
wǒ yòng kuàizi chīfàn
[I to-use chopsticks to-eat]
I eat with chopsticks.

老师站着说话。
lǎoshī zhànzhe shuōhuà
[teacher to-stand ASP to-speak]
The teacher speaks while standing.

Causative constructions can be considered serial constructions as well. They consist of serial verbs that are linked to each other by a nominal element acting both as the object of the first verb and as the subject of the second. Example of causative verbs are 请 (qǐng) “to invite”, 让 (ràng) “to allow”, 叫 (jiào) “to tell” and 给 (gěi) “to let”.

我请你来我家。
wǒ qǐng nǐ lái wǒjiā
[I to-invite you to-come I home]
I invite you to come to my home.

我不想让她出国。
wǒ bùxiǎng ràng tā chūguó
[I not to-want to-allow she to-go-abroad]
I don’t want to let her go abroad.

医生叫他多吃蔬菜。
yīshēng jiào tā duō chī shūcài
[doctor to-tell he more to-eat vegetables]
The doctor told him to eat more vegetables.

给我看看。
gěi wǒ kàn kàn
[to-let I to-take-a-look-at]
Let me take a look.

Cover background picture by Sam Erwin (unsplash.com)