Introducing Sentences with serial-verb constructions

In this video we learn the basic sentence structure “表目的的连动句biǎo mùdì de lián dòng jù” ，this kind of sentence has two verbs or verbal phrases.

The first verb or verbal phrase usually is “come, go or return”, and the second one is indicative of purpose. In English we call it the sentence with serial verbs or verbal phrases indicating purpose. The structure is：

S + V1 +(location)+ V2 （The purpose of V1 is V2. ）

For example：

王小宝来中国学汉语。Wáng Xiǎobǎo lái zhōngguó xué hànyǔ.

The purpose of Wang xiaobao coming to China is to learn Chinese.

Some more examples:

王小宝去北京爬长城。 Wáng Xiǎobǎo qù Běijīng pá Chángchéng.

Wang Xiaobao went to Beijing to climb the Great Wall. “Climbing the Great Wall” is the purpose.

他们去上海看东方明珠。 Tāmen qù Shànghǎi kàn Dōngfāngmíngzhū.

They went to Shanghai to see the Oriental Pearl. “Seeing the Oriental Pearl Tower” is the purpose.

我去杭州游西湖。Wǒ qù Hángzhōu yóu Xīhú.

I went to Hangzhou to visit the West Lake. “Visiting the West Lake” is the purpose.

The following is Chinese and English Version of Situational Dialogue in the Video：

西西：王小宝，听说下星期你要去北京玩儿？

王小宝：是呀，我想去北京爬长城。

西西：我也想去北京，想去北京吃北京烤鸭。

王小宝：我们可以一起去！

西西：好啊，我们一起去。

Xīxī：Wang Xiaobao, I heard that you are going to Beijing next week?

Wáng Xiǎobǎo：Yes, I want to go to Beijing to climb the Great Wall.

Xīxī： I also want to go to Beijing. I want to go there to eat Beijing Roast Duck.

Wáng Xiǎobǎo：We can go together.

Xīxī： Cool. Let’s go together.

© Shanghai International Studies University