Back
Intermediate

Connecting Actions

Serial verbs and sequence

Sequential actions stay in time order

List verbs in the order they happen.

💬 Examples
我去商店买东西。
Wǒ qù shāngdiàn mǎi dōngxi.
I go to the shop to buy things.
📝 Serial verbs in sequence
他坐飞机去北京。
Tā zuò fēijī qù Běijīng.
He goes to Beijing by plane.
📝 means + main action
先...然后 / 再

'First..., then...'.

💬 Examples
我先吃饭,然后看电视。
Wǒ xiān chī fàn, ránhòu kàn diànshì.
First I eat, then I watch TV.
📝 先...然后
做完作业再玩。
Zuòwán zuòyè zài wán.
Finish homework, then play.
📝 再 = then (afterwards)
一边...一边 (simultaneous)

Doing two things at once.

💬 Examples
他一边吃饭一边看手机。
Tā yìbiān chī fàn yìbiān kàn shǒujī.
He eats while looking at his phone.
📝 一边...一边 = at the same time
我一边走一边唱。
Wǒ yìbiān zǒu yìbiān chàng.
I sing as I walk.
📝 Simultaneous actions