ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B1.old/Grammar-wiki-B1-82.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 

The verb 来 (lái) can be used as a "dummy verb," similar to the way "do" is used in English.

== Structure ==

The structure for using 来 as a dummy verb is very basic. Usually it is a very short phrase, kind of like "your turn!," "let me give it a shot!," or "you do it!" in English. Usually it is used with 你 or 我 as the subject, and it ends with the 来. Sometimes it can end with a 吧.

A scenario: Imagine you are with your some friends making dinner. There is a bottle of Chinese pickles that you want to open, but can't because the lid is so tight. You start passing it around to see who can open it, and no one is able to, until your body-builder friend comes in and says, "我来!" He is saying, "Let me do it!"

<div class="jiegou">
(让 +) Subj. + 来 
</div>

<div class="jiegou">
(让 +) Subj. + 来 + Verb
</div>

== Examples ==

<div class="liju">

*你 <em>来</em> ！<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>lái</em> ba.</span><span class="trans">You do it!</span>
*我 <em>来</em> 吧。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>lái</em> ba.</span><span class="trans">Let me do it.</span>
*让 他 自己 <em>来</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Ràng tā zìjǐ <em>lái</em>.</span><span class="trans">Let him do it himself.</span>
*老师 ，我 <em>来</em> 读 。<span class="pinyin">Lāoshī, wǒ <em>lái</em> dú.</span><span class="trans">Teacher, let me read it.</span>
*我 <em>来</em> 看看 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>lái</em> kànkan.</span><span class="trans">Let me take a look.</span>
*我 <em>来</em> 想想 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>lái</em> xiǎngxiang.</span><span class="trans">Let me think about it.</span>
*你 <em>来</em> 说 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>lái</em> shuō.</span><span class="trans">You say it.</span>
*我 <em>来</em> 抱抱 。<span class="pinyin">Ràng wǒ <em>lái</em> bàobao.</span><span class="trans">Let me hold it.</span>
*你 写 得 好看 ，你 <em>来</em> 吧 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xiě de hǎokàn, nǐ <em>lái</em> ba.</span><span class="trans">You write well. You write it.</span>
*如果 你 觉得 我 做饭 不 好吃 ，你 <em>来</em> 做 ！<span class="pinyin">Rúguǒ nǐ juéde wǒ zuòfàn bù hǎochī, nǐ <em>lái</em> zuò!</span><span class="trans">If you don't think my food is tasty, then you cook!</span>
</div>

== See also ==

== Sources and further reading ==

===Books===

* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (p. 54) [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]

=== Academic Articles ===

* 现代汉语形式动词研究 [http://www.doc88.com/p-060195242529.html Research on Dummy Verb in Modern Chinese]

* 現代漢語中的形式動詞 [http://aclweb.org/anthology-new/O/O05/O05-5008.pdf Dummy Verbs in Contemporary Chinese]


[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|来|B1|来⋯⋯|让 我 <em>来</em> 吧。|grammar point|ASG98FZK}}
{{POS|Verbs}}
{{Used for|Addressing people}}
{{Subprop|Verbs}}
{{Translation|do}}