Chinese Grammar: How To Use Verbs

Verbs express actions, events or states.

In Chinese, like other languages, the verb must be accompanied by the noun or pronoun that is acting.

Verbs in Chinese do not have tense conjugations like English, but rather the verb in Chinese is used for all tenses (present, past and future).

Chinese verb tense examples

Present:

I play soccer.

我 玩 足 球

Wǒ wán zúqiú.

Past:

I played soccer.

我 玩 足 球

Wǒ wán zúqiú.

Future:

I will play soccer.

我 会 玩 足 球

Wǒ huì wán zúqiú.

Negation of Chinese verbs

For negate a verb in Chinese only you must put the word 不 (Bù) before the verb, but exist one exception the verb to have 有(Yǒu) in this case you must put the word 没 (Méi) before the verb to have.

Examples:

I do not want to sleep.

我 不 想 睡 觉

Wǒ bùxiǎng shuìjiào.

I do not have work today.

我 没 有 今 天 的 工 作

Wǒ méiyǒu jīntiān de gōngzuò

Verbs in Chinese