Stringing Verbs Together

Level 2

In Vietnamese, you can place verbs right next to each other to show a sequence of actions or a purpose. You do not need to add words like "and" or "to" between them.

How It Works

How it works:
You place the second verb directly after the first verb, or immediately after the first verb's object. The verbs can share the same subject, or the object of the first verb can act as the subject of the second verb (e.g., Tôi mời anh ấy đi ăn - I invite him to go eat).

Structures:
• Subject + Verb 1 + (Object 1) + Verb 2 + (Object 2)
• Subject + Verb 1 + Verb 2 + Object
• Subject + Verb 1 + Object 1 (Subject of Verb 2) + Verb 2

Common Types of SVCs:

  • Sequential / Purpose: Actions happen one after another (e.g., đi mua - go and buy). The order matches the real-world chronology.
  • Manner / Simultaneous: One verb describes the posture or manner of the other (e.g., đứng nhìn - stand and look).
  • Directional: The second verb shows the direction of the first (e.g., chạy ra - run out).
  • Resultative: The second verb shows the result of the first (e.g., tìm thấy - look for and find).
  • Failed Result: By placing không before the second verb, you show that the action was attempted but failed (e.g., tìm không thấy - look for but not find, nghe không hiểu - listen but not understand).
  • Benefactive: The second verb indicates a beneficiary, often using cho (to give) (e.g., mua cho - buy for, làm cho - do for).

Key Rules:

  • Negation and Tense: To negate the entire sequence, place negation words like không before the first verb. Tense/aspect markers like đã, đang, or sẽ also go before the first verb. However, you can place a negation word before the second verb to negate only that specific action or to indicate a failed result.
  • Object Placement: The position of the object depends on the verbs. For motion verbs, the destination usually goes immediately after the motion verb (e.g., đi chợ mua rau - go to the market to buy vegetables). For manipulation verbs, the object being handled goes after the manipulation verb (e.g., lấy sách đọc - take the book to read).
  • Dropping linking words: While you can grammatically use và (and) or rồi (already / and then) to connect actions, dropping them creates a true Serial Verb Construction, which sounds much more natural and fluid.
  • No infinitives: The second verb is not an "infinitive" (like "to buy" in English). It is just a regular verb in its base form.

Compared to purpose clauses:
While you can use để (in order to) to heavily emphasize a purpose, native speakers usually drop it for everyday actions. Saying Tôi đi chợ mua rau is much more natural than Tôi đi chợ để mua rau.

Examples (4)

  1. Tôi đi chợ mua rau.

    I go to the market to buy vegetables.

    Word by Word: I go market buy vegetables.

    The verbs 'đi' (go) and 'mua' (buy) are strung together. There is no need for 'to' or 'and'.

  2. Cô ấy đứng dậy nói chuyện.

    She stands up to speak.

    Word by Word: She stand up speak.

    The first action is a posture change (đứng dậy), followed immediately by the purpose (nói chuyện).

  3. Chúng tôi về nhà ăn cơm.

    We go home to eat.

    Word by Word: We return home eat rice.

    A very common everyday sequence. Adding 'để' (in order to) here would sound unnaturally formal.

  4. Anh ấy lấy sách ra đọc.

    He takes the book out to read.

    Word by Word: He take book out read.

    The second verb (đọc) comes directly after the object and direction of the first verb (lấy sách ra).

Common Mistakes

  • Thinking you must always use 'và' (and) or 'rồi' (and then) to connect sequential actions.

    Tôi đi chợ và mua rau.
    Tôi đi chợ mua rau.

    While using 'và' or 'rồi' to connect actions is grammatically correct for creating coordinate sentences, it is often unnecessary. For closely linked actions, dropping the linking words to form a Serial Verb Construction sounds much more natural and fluid.

  • Overusing 'để' (in order to) for simple, everyday purposes.

    Tôi về nhà để ăn cơm.
    Tôi về nhà ăn cơm.

    While using 'để' is grammatically correct for emphasizing a specific purpose, it makes everyday sentences sound wordy and disjointed. The bare serial verb construction is the most natural choice.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Stringing Verbs TogetherLevel 2

Learn This First

To understand serial verb constructions, you need to be comfortable with the fact that Vietnamese verbs never change their spelling or ending. Because there is no conjugation, verbs can be placed one after another to describe a sequence of events or a purpose (like 'go market buy food') without needing words like 'to' or 'and' between them.

Learn Next

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