Modal Verbs in Mandarin: A Simple Guide

Modal verbs in Mandarin are words like 能 (néng), 会 (huì), and 要 (yào).

These words help us talk about what we can do, what might happen, what we need, or what we want. Let’s look at how to use each one.

能 (néng) - Ability and Possibility

• What it means: It tells us what someone can do or if something is possible.

• When to use it:

  • For actions that are done:
    • “我能完成这项任务。”
    • (Wǒ néng wánchéng zhè xiàng rènwù.)
    • This means, "I can complete this task."
  • For actions happening now:
    • “他能说英语吗？”
    • (Tā néng shuō Yīngyǔ ma?)
    • This means, "Can he speak English?"

会 (huì) - Learned Skills and Future Intentions

• What it means: It tells us about skills someone has learned or what someone plans to do later.

• When to use it:

  • For actions that are done:
    • “我会游泳。”
    • (Wǒ huì yóuyǒng.)
    • This means, "I can swim." (I learned how to swim.)
  • For future plans:
    • “我们会去旅行。”
    • (Wǒmen huì qù lǚxíng.)
    • This means, "We will travel."

要 (yào) - Necessity and Desire

• What it means: It helps show what someone needs or wants to do.

• When to use it:

  • For needs:
    • “我需要预约医生，要提前一周。”
    • (Wǒ xūyào yùyuē yīshēng, yào tíqián yī zhōu.)
    • This means, "I need to make an appointment with the doctor a week in advance."
  • For wants:
    • “我想要一点儿咖啡。”
    • (Wǒ xiǎng yào yīdiǎn er kāfēi.)
    • This means, "I want a little coffee."

Complement Structures

• Resultative Complements:
  • “我看懂了。”
  • (Wǒ kàn dǒngle.)
  • This means, "I understood."
• Directional Complements:
  • “请进来。”
  • (Qǐng jìnlái.)
  • This means, "Please come in."

Sentence Structures

• Topic-Comment Structure:
  • Topic: “这本书，我喜欢。”
  • (Zhè běn shū, wǒ xǐhuān.)
  • This means, "This book, I like."
• Passive Voice:
  • “书被我借走了。”
  • (Shū bèi wǒ jiè zǒule.)
  • This means, "The book was borrowed by me."

Conjunctions

• Examples:
  • 如 (rú) - "such as"
  • 虽然 (suīrán) but 但是 (dànshì) - "although... but"
• Usage:
  • “虽然天气不好，但是我们还是出去玩了。”
  • (Suīrán tiānqì bù hǎo, dànshì wǒmen háishì chūqù wánle.)
  • This means, "Although the weather was bad, we still went out to play."

By learning about these words, you will get much better at speaking Mandarin. You’ll share your thoughts and ideas more easily!