To learn how to use Mandarin verbs, we need to look at two important ideas: perfective and imperfective aspects. These ideas help show whether an action is done or still happening.

1. Understanding Aspects:

• Perfective Aspect: This shows that an action is finished.
  • For example: 我吃完了 (Wǒ chī wán le) means "I finished eating."
• Imperfective Aspect: This shows that an action is still in progress.
  • For example: 我正在吃 (Wǒ zhèngzài chī) means "I am eating."

2. Modal Verbs:

• 能 (néng): This verb means you have the ability to do something.
  • Example: 我能游泳 (Wǒ néng yóuyǒng) means "I can swim."
• 会 (huì): This verb means you have learned a skill.
  • Example: 我会说中文 (Wǒ huì shuō zhōngwén) means "I can speak Chinese."
• 要 (yào): This verb shows what you want to do.
  • Example: 我要去商店 (Wǒ yào qù shāngdiàn) means "I want to go to the store."

3. Complement Structures:

• Resultative Complements: These show the outcome of an action.
  • For example, 读懂 (dú dǒng) means "understand."
  • An example sentence is: 我读懂这个文章了 (Wǒ dú dǒng zhège wénzhāng le) which means "I understood this article."
• Directional Complements: These show where someone or something is moving.
  • For example, 走出 (zǒu chū) means "walk out."
  • An example sentence is: 他走出去 (Tā zǒu chūqù) meaning "He walked out."

4. Sentence Structures:

• Topic-Comment Structure: Start with the main topic and then add your comment.
  • For example: 这本书，我已经读过了 (Zhè běn shū, wǒ yǐjīng dúguò le) means "This book, I have already read."
• Passive Voice: Use 被 (bèi) to talk about an action.
  • For example: 这件事被解决了 (Zhè jiàn shì bèi jiějué le) means "This matter has been resolved."

5. Conjunctions:

• 如 (rú): means "such as."

• 虽然 (suīrán): means "although."

• 但是 (dànshì): means "but."

  • An example sentence: 虽然天气很冷，但是我们去爬山 (Suīrán tiānqì hěn lěng, dànshì wǒmen qù páshān) means "Although the weather is cold, we are going hiking."

In conclusion, learning these aspects, verbs, and sentence structures helps us use Mandarin clearly and expressively!