跟 vs 对 (with vs toward)
IntroducedA partner marker does not guarantee a reply
- You tell someone the news, without saying whether they answered.
- I我with跟him他variant of 说说(completed / change)了this这个news消息。 — with跟 introduces the person addressed in this context.
You tell someone the news, without saying whether they answered. What does 我跟他说了这个消息。 communicate?
跟 introduces the person addressed in this context. 跟他商量 implies joint discussion, but 跟他说 does not itself prove a two-way exchange. 对他说 also directs speech towards him.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is with跟 vs toward对 (with vs toward). 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him他discuss商量。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: He smiled at me: 他 ____ 我笑了。
对 = to / toward (one-way): 对我笑了.
Read examples in context
he他toward对me我smile笑了。
- In the opening example, I我with跟him他variant of 说说(completed / change)了this这个news消息。: with跟 introduces the person addressed in this context.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Which word fits the ordinary joint-discussion expression ____他商量?
跟他商量 is a joint discussion. 跟他说 does not itself prove that the other person replied.
Know the boundary
- with跟him他discuss商量 implies joint discussion, but with跟him他variant of 说说 does not itself prove a two-way exchange.
- toward对him他variant of 说说 also directs speech towards him.
跟他说 proves that the listener took a turn replying.
跟 can introduce a conversational partner or addressee. A reply is not asserted in 跟他说 alone.
In the opening situation: 跟 introduces the person addressed in this context.
跟他商量 implies joint discussion, but 跟他说 does not itself prove a two-way exchange. 对他说 also directs speech towards him. 跟 introduces the person addressed in this context.
Use the distinction
- with跟 introduces the person addressed in this context.
- with跟him他discuss商量 implies joint discussion, but with跟him他variant of 说说 does not itself prove a two-way exchange. toward对him他variant of 说说 also directs speech towards him.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Comparing similar conjunctions.
You tell someone the news, without saying whether they answered. 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.