{{Grammar Box}} 

In China, you often hear you should do this or that more (eat more, drink more water, wear more warm clothing etc.), and they often use the word 多 (duō). What's not intuitive to learners is that the word 多 should come ''before the verb''.

== Structure ==

This structure is often used in commands or suggestions.  Note the position of 多:

<div class="jiegou">

多 + Verb-Obj.

</div>

This structure is not used exclusively as a command, so you could also include a subject if you needed to.

== Examples ==

In English we like to say things like "eat ''more''" and "drink ''more'' beer" and "I need to exercise ''more''."  Notice that in every one of these cases, the word "more" (equivalent to this use of 多) comes ''after'' the verb in English.  In Chinese, it's more natural to put the 多 ''before'' the verb.

<div class="liju">

*<em>多</em> 吃 点 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duō</em> chī diǎn.</span><span class="trans">Eat a little more.</span>
*<em>多</em> 加 点 辣 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duō</em> jiā diǎn là.</span><span class="trans">Add a little more spice.</span>
*<em>多</em> 放 点 糖 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duō</em> fàng diǎn táng.</span><span class="trans">Put a little more sugar.</span>
*爷爷 ，你 要 <em>多</em> 出去 走走 。<span class="pinyin">Yéye, nǐ yào <em>duō</em> chūqù zǒuzou.</span><span class="trans">You need to go out and take a walk more often.</span>
*<em>多</em> 给 他 点 时间 吧 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Duō</em> gěi tā diǎn shíjiān ba.</span><span class="trans">Give him a little more time.</span>
*你 为什么 不 <em>多</em> 陪陪 家人 呢 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ wèishénme bù <em>duō</em> péipei jiārén ne?</span><span class="trans">Why wouldn't you spend more time with your family?</span>
*感冒 的 时候 要 <em>多</em> 喝 水 。<span class="pinyin">Gǎnmào de shíhou yào <em>duō</em> hē shuǐ.</span><span class="trans">Drink more water when you have a cold.</span>
*医生 让 我 <em>多</em> 运动 。<span class="pinyin">Yīshēng ràng wǒ <em>duō</em> yùndòng.</span><span class="trans">The doctor told me to exercise more.</span>
*他 比 你 有 经验 ，你 应该 <em>多</em> 跟 他 学习 。<span class="pinyin">Tā bǐ nǐ yǒu jīngyàn, nǐ yīnggāi <em>duō</em> gēn tā xuéxí.</span><span class="trans">He's more experienced than you. You should learn from him more often.</span>
*想 提高 汉语 口语 ，就要 <em>多</em> 练习 。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎng tígāo Hànyǔ kǒuyǔ, jiùyào <em>duō</em> liànxí.</span><span class="trans">If you want to improve your speaking Chinese, you need to practice more.</span>

</div>

== Counter-Examples ==

Just to be completely clear, the following uses of 多 are not as natural as the ones above.  They'll be understood, and they might not be technically ''wrong'', but you can do better!

<div class="liju">

<ul>
<li class="q">吃 <em>多</em> 点。<span class="pinyin">Chī <em>duō</em> diǎn.</span></li>
<li class="q"> 我 要 回家<em>多</em>点！<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào huíjiā <em>duō</em> diǎn!</span></li>
<li class="q">我 应该 运动 <em>多</em> 点。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yīnggāi yùndòng <em>duō</em> diǎn.</span></li>
</ul>

</div>

The opposite of 多 is, of course, 少.  It is further explained in the article [[doing something less with "shao"]].

==See also==
{{Similar|Doing something less with "shao"}}
{{Similar|Intensifying with "duo"}}
{{Similar|Asking about degree with "duo"}}

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 39) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
*[[发展汉语 中级汉语口语上]] (pp. 72)


[[Category:B1 grammar points]]

{{Basic Grammar|多|B1|多 + Verb|<em>多</em> 吃 点。|grammar point|ASGLKGZP}}
{{Used for|Adding more explanation}}
{{POS|Verbs}}
{{Subprop|Verb phrases}}
{{Similar|Indicating a number in excess}}
{{Similar|Doing something less with "shao"}}
{{Similar|Intensifying with "duo"}}
{{Similar|Asking about degree with "duo"}}
{{Translation|more}}