Chinese verbs
The verb carries most of what a sentence does: who, when, whether it is done or still going on. Here you will find the grammar around it, the verbs that do not follow the rules, and practice.
Where to go from here
How a verb changes its form is covered by the grammar topics below. When to use which form is the question of the tenses, and that has a page of its own. The verbs you simply have to know one by one have one too.
The 7 grammar topics around the verb
Each with an explanation, a form table, example sentences and exercises of its own.
1Would like and want: xiǎng and yàoXiǎng is a gentle wish, yào a firm intention or a need — and “don’t want to” is bù xiǎng.1Can because you learned it: huìHuì is “can” for a skill you have learned — and also “will” for what is likely to happen.2Néng and kěyǐ: able to and allowed toNéng is being able in the circumstances, kěyǐ is being allowed — and when you ask permission, both will do.2Should: yīnggāiYīnggāi gives advice or says what is right — and also what you would expect to be the case.3Must and need not: děi, bìxū and búyòngDěi is the everyday “have to”, bìxū the firm “must” of rules — and the negative of both is búyòng.2Maybe and probably: kěnéngKěnéng says something may be so — before the verb, or at the start of the sentence for the whole statement.3Willing, daring, agreeing: yuànyì, gǎn and kěnYuànyì is being willing, gǎn having the nerve, and kěn agreeing to do what you were asked.
Practise 1456 verbs
The verbs from the core vocabulary, across all the topic lists.