ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B2.old/Grammar-wiki-B2-123.txt.html

<p>跟 (gēn) and 对 (duì) sometimes seem like they mean the same thing, and at other times they seem to be different.After reading this article, you will know the difference!</p>
<h2 id="when-they-have-the-same-form-and-same-meaning-when-used-with-说">When they have the same form and same meaning when used with 说</h2>
<p>When using the verb 说, 跟 and 对 can both be used in a similar sentence pattern. 跟 and 对 are both prepositions, and they both express one person speaking to another.</p>
<h3 id="structure">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Person A + 跟 / 对 + Person B 说</p>
</div>
<h4 id="examples">Examples</h4>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>我 <em>跟</em> 她 说 了，但是 她 不 信。<span class="trans">I told her, but she didn't believe me.</span></li>
<li>我 <em>对</em> 她 说 了，但是 她 不 信。<span class="trans">I told her, but she didn't believe me.</span></li>
<li>他 <em>对</em> 我 说 他 爱 我。<span class="trans">He told me he loved me.</span></li>
<li>他 <em>跟</em> 我 说 他 爱 我。<span class="trans">He told me he loved me.</span></li>
<li>刚才 你 <em>对</em> 他 说 什么 了？<span class="trans">What did you just tell him?</span></li>
<li>刚才 你 <em>跟</em> 他 说 什么 了？<span class="trans">What did you just tell him?</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="when-they-have-a-similar-grammar-structure-but-different-meanings">When they have a similar grammar structure but different meanings</h2>
<p>跟 and 对 can be verbs, and they often are used with a 着, however their meanings are different.</p>
<h3 id="structure-1">Structure</h3>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. + 跟 / 对 + Obj.</p>
</div>
<h4 id="examples-for-跟">Examples for 跟</h4>
<p>跟 is a verb, and it's simplest meaning is &quot;follow.&quot; Often it is used as a verb phrase, such as 跟着, 跟上, 跟不上, 跟得上, 跟somebody + Verb.</p>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>这 只 小 猫 总是 <em>跟着</em> 我。<span class="trans">This little cat always follows me.</span></li>
<li>你 走 得 太 快 ，我 <em>跟不上</em>。<span class="trans">You walk too fast, I can't keep up.</span></li>
<li>你 想 <em>跟 我 去</em> 吗？<span class="trans">Do you want to go with me?</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h4 id="examples-for-对">Examples for 对</h4>
<p>对 is also a verb, put it has the meaning of &quot;towards&quot; or &quot;point to.&quot; Often it is used as: 对着, 对上, 对不上.</p>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>枪口 不 要 <em>对着</em> 人。<span class="trans">Don't point that at people.</span></li>
<li>我 喜欢 <em>对着</em> 镜子 笑。<span class="trans">I like to laugh at myself in the mirror.</span></li>
<li>这 两 本 账 <em>对不上</em>。<span class="trans">These two accounts don't match up.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="when-to-use-跟-and-not-对">When to use 跟 and not 对</h2>
<p>跟 is a proposition, and it can be used in comparison. It will often have a supplementary explanation, similar to how 和 can be used (as in 我和你一样高). 对 cannot be used this way.</p>
<h3 id="structure-1-1">Structure 1</h3>
<p>This structure is used to explain that two things are (or aren't) similar.</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>A + 跟 + B + （不）一样</p>
</div>
<h4 id="examples-1">Examples</h4>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>我 <em>跟</em> 你们 <em>不一样</em>，我 还 有 孩子 呢。<span class="trans">I am not like you guys. I still have kids.</span></li>
<li>上海 <em>跟</em> 纽约 <em>一样</em>，都 是 国际 大 都市。<span class="trans">Shanghai and New York are alike; they are both international cities.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="structure-2">Structure 2</h3>
<p>This structure shows that two nouns are the same in some some aspect, which is the word that follows &quot;一样.&quot;</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>A + 跟 + B + （不）一样 + Adj.</p>
</div>
<h4 id="examples-2">Examples</h4>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>我 现在 <em>跟</em> 我 爸 <em>一样</em> <strong>高</strong>。<span class="trans">Now I'm as tall as my dad.</span></li>
<li>你 <em>跟</em> 你 妈 <em>一样</em> <strong>喜欢 买 衣服</strong>。<span class="trans">You like to buy clothes just like your mother.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 id="structure-3">Structure 3</h3>
<p>&quot;跟&quot; functions as a conjunction in this structure, joining two things together. Generally, these are nouns or pronouns (as with &quot;和&quot;). &quot;对&quot; cannot function like this.</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. 1 跟 Subj. 2 + Verb-Obj.</p>
</div>
<h4 id="examples-3">Examples</h4>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>你 要 <em>跟</em> 我 一起 去 吗？<span class="trans">Are you going to go with me?</span></li>
<li>鲜花 <em>跟</em>巧克力 是 最 好 的 礼物。<span class="trans">Flowers and chocolate are the best gifts.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="examples-when-to-use-对-and-not-跟">Examples when to use 对 and not 跟</h2>
<h3 id="structure-4">Structure</h3>
<p>When 对 as a proposition, it points to a certain target,since it can mean &quot;point to&quot; or &quot;toward to.&quot; 跟 can only be used this way with 说.</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. 1 对 Subj. 2 + Verb</p>
</div>
<h4 id="examples-4">Examples</h4>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>那 个 美女 正 <em>对</em> 我 笑 呢。<span class="trans">That pretty girl is laughing at me.</span></li>
<li>不 要 <em>对</em> 老板 发脾气， 不然 后果 很 严重。<span class="trans">Don't lose your temper with the boss, otherwise there will be serious consequences.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="example-dialog">Example Dialog</h2>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>A: 那 个 帅哥 在 <em>对</em> 我 招手！<span class="trans">That handsome guy is motioning for me to go to him!</span></li>
<li>B: 那 你 要 <em>跟</em> 他 去 吗？<span class="trans">Well, are you going to go with him?</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="see-also">See Also</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="Expressing_&quot;with&quot;_with_&quot;gen&quot;" title="wikilink">Expressing &quot;with&quot; with &quot;gen&quot;</a></li>
<li><a href="Using_&quot;dui&quot;" title="wikilink">Using &quot;dui&quot;</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>
<h3 id="books">Books</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="现代汉语八百词（增订本）" class="uri" title="wikilink">现代汉语八百词（增订本）</a> (跟 p. 201) <a href="http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1345693275&amp;sr=8-1">→buy</a></li>
</ul>
<h3 id="dictionaries">Dictionaries</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="现代汉语词典（第5版）" class="uri" title="wikilink">现代汉语词典（第5版）</a> (跟p.465 对p.343) <a href="http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1345693609&amp;sr=8-1">→buy</a></li>
</ul>
<p>     </p>
<p><a href="Category:grammar_comparison" title="wikilink">Category:grammar comparison</a></p>