跟 + Person + Verb (with someone)
IntroducedA conversation has a partner
- You talk with a friend rather than talk only about the friend.
- I我with跟friends朋友chat聊天。 — with跟friends朋友 identifies the conversation partner.
You talk with a friend rather than talk only about the friend. What does 我跟朋友聊天。 communicate?
跟朋友 identifies the conversation partner. 关于朋友的话题 means a topic about friends. 跟 in this use can often be replaced by 和; another 跟 in 跟着他走 means follow him, a different construction.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is with跟 + Person + Verb (with someone). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
I我with跟friends朋友chat聊天。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Chat with friends: 我 ____ 朋友聊天。
跟 + Person + Verb = with someone: 跟朋友聊天.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, I我with跟friends朋友chat聊天。: with跟friends朋友 identifies the conversation partner.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Where does 跟 + person go?
跟 + person comes BEFORE the verb, unlike English “with …” after.
Build: “Chat with friends.”
Subj + 跟 + Person + Verb: 我 + 跟朋友 + 聊天.
Know the boundary
- pertaining to关于friends朋友(modifier / structural particle)的subject (of a talk or…话题 means a topic about friends.
- with跟 in this use can often be replaced by and / with和; another with跟 in to follow after跟着he / him他to walk走 means follow him, a different construction.
跟, 和 and 与 can all mean “with / and”.
Yes: 跟 (spoken), 和, 与 (formal) — all “with / and”.
In the opening situation: 跟朋友 identifies the conversation partner.
关于朋友的话题 means a topic about friends. 跟 in this use can often be replaced by 和; another 跟 in 跟着他走 means follow him, a different construction. 跟朋友 identifies the conversation partner.
Use the distinction
- with跟friends朋友 identifies the conversation partner.
- pertaining to关于friends朋友(modifier / structural particle)的subject (of a talk or…话题 means a topic about friends. with跟 in this use can often be replaced by and / with和; another with跟 in to follow after跟着he / him他to walk走 means follow him, a different construction.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Conjunctions.
You talk with a friend rather than talk only about the friend. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.