Verbs: 是, 有, verb-object verbs and modal verbs (会, 想, 要, 应该, 可以; H: 得, 必须, 能)

Welcome to Mastering Verbs in GCSE Chinese!

Verbs are the engine of any Chinese sentence! In your AQA GCSE Chinese (Spoken Mandarin 8673) exam—whether you are tackling Listening, Speaking, Reading, or Writing—getting your verbs right is the secret to scoring top marks. Don't worry if Mandarin grammar feels very different from English at first. Mandarin verbs do not conjugate (no changing endings for past, present, or future!), which actually makes things much simpler once you learn the core patterns.

In this guide, we will break down the essential verbs specified in the AQA syllabus: the linking verb 是, the verb of possession and existence 有, special Verb-Object compounds, and the crucial Modal Verbs. Both Simplified and Traditional character forms are included so you feel completely confident whichever script you choose!

1. The Linking Verb: 是 (shì) – "To Be"

In English, we use "am", "is", and "are". In Mandarin, we use one simple word: 是 (shì).

How to Use 是

Rule: Use 是 strictly to link a noun or pronoun to another noun or noun phrase (identifying identity, role, or nationality).

Pattern: Subject + 是 (shì) + Noun / Identity

Examples:

• 我是学生 / 我是學生 (wǒ shì xuésheng) – I am a student.
• 他是老师 / 他是老師 (tā shì lǎoshī) – He is a teacher.
• 这是我的书 / 這是我的書 (zhè shì wǒ de shū) – This is my book.

How to Make It Negative

To say "is not" or "am not", place 不 (bù) in front of 是 to make 不是 (bú shì).

• 他不是英国人 / 他不是英國人 (tā bú shì yīngguó rén) – He is not British.

⚠️ The #1 Golden Rule & Common Trap

Never use 是 with adjectives!
In English, we say "He is tall" or "The food is delicious". In Chinese, adjectives act as verbs on their own and are linked using intensifiers like 很 (hěn), NOT 是.
• Incorrect: 他是高 (*tā shì gāo)
• Correct: 他很高 (tā hěn gāo – He is tall).

Key Takeaway: Use 是 (shì) only when the next word is a noun/identity, and negate it with 不是 (bú shì).

2. Possession & Existence: 有 (yǒu) – "To Have" / "There Is, There Are"

The verb 有 (yǒu) does double duty in Mandarin: it shows that someone owns something, or that something exists somewhere.

A. Possession ("To Have")

Pattern: Subject + 有 (yǒu) + Object
• 我有一只狗 / 我有一隻狗 (wǒ yǒu yì zhī gǒu) – I have a dog.
• 她有两个哥哥 / 她有兩個哥哥 (tā yǒu liǎng gè gēge) – She has two older brothers.

B. Existence ("There is" / "There are")

Pattern: Place / Location + 有 (yǒu) + Object
• 桌子上有书 / 桌子上有書 (zhuōzi shang yǒu shū) – There are books on the table.
• 学校里有一家商店 / 學校裡有一家商店 (xuéxiào lǐ yǒu yì jiā shāngdiàn) – There is a shop inside the school.

How to Make It Negative: The "没" Rule

Crucial Rule: 有 is NEVER negated with 不. You must always use 没 (méi)!

• Correct: 没有 / 沒有 (méiyǒu)
• Incorrect: 不有 (*bù yǒu – this does not exist in Chinese!)
• 我没有手机 / 我沒有手機 (wǒ méiyǒu shǒujī) – I do not have a mobile phone.

Key Takeaway: 有 (yǒu) means "to have" or "there is/are". Always negate it with 没有 / 沒有 (méiyǒu).

3. Verb-Object Verbs (离合词 / 離合詞)

Some verbs in Mandarin naturally come pre-packaged as a pair: a verb action attached to an object. Even though they translate as a single English word (like "to dance" or "to sleep"), in Chinese they are compound pairs.

Core AQA Specification Examples:

• 唱歌 (chàng gē) – to sing (literally: "to sing songs")
• 跳舞 (tiào wǔ) – to dance (literally: "to jump dances")
• 睡觉 / 睡覺 (shuì jiào) – to sleep (literally: "to sleep a sleep")
• 游泳 (yóu yǒng) – to swim (literally: "to swim a swim")
• 看书 / 看書 (kàn shū) – to read (literally: "to look at books")

How to Use Verb-Object Verbs Correctly

Because these verbs already contain their own object, you cannot simply stick extra words onto the very end.

1. Inserting Modifiers or Duration in the Middle:
Place time durations, descriptions, or measure words between the verb and the object.
• Pattern: Verb + Duration/Modifier + Object
• 唱中文歌 (chàng zhōngwén gē) – to sing Chinese songs (not *唱歌中文)
• 睡了八个小时觉 / 睡了八個小時覺 (shuì le bā gè xiǎoshí jiào) – slept for eight hours (not *睡觉了八个小时)

2. Expressing How Well You Do the Action:
To say you do an activity well or poorly, repeat the verb with 得 (de):
• 我跳舞跳得很好 (wǒ tiào wǔ tiào de hěn hǎo) – I dance very well.

Key Takeaway: Treat Verb-Object verbs like a sandwich: split the verb and object apart to insert time durations or specific descriptions in the middle!

4. Modal Verbs (情态动词 / 情態動詞)

Modal verbs (also called auxiliary or "helper" verbs) express ability, permission, desire, or obligation. They tell us how or why an action is performed.

Word Order for Modal Verbs

In Chinese, modal verbs always go before the main action verb.

Positive: Subject + Modal Verb + Main Verb (+ Object)
Negative: Subject + 不 + Modal Verb + Main Verb (+ Object)

The AQA Modal Verbs Reference Guide

1. 会 / 會 (huì) – "Can / Know how to" OR "Will"

• Function: Used for an ability learned through practice/study, or a future certainty/likelihood.
• 我会社交 / 我會中文 (wǒ huì shuō zhōngwén) – I can speak Chinese (learned skill).
• 明天会下雨 / 明天會下雨 (míngtiān huì xià yǔ) – It will rain tomorrow (future possibility).

2. 想 (xiǎng) – "Would like to / Want to / Plan to"

• Function: Expresses a polite desire, wish, or intention.
• 我想去中国 / 我想去中國 (wǒ xiǎng qù zhōngguó) – I would like to go to China.

3. 要 (yào) – "Want to / Going to / Must"

• Function: Stronger than 想. Indicates strong determination, an imminent future plan, or a requirement.
• 我要买这本书 / 我要買這本書 (wǒ yào mǎi zhè běn shū) – I want to buy this book / I am going to buy this book.

4. 应该 / 應該 (yīnggāi) – "Should / Ought to"

• Function: Expresses advice, moral duty, or sensible recommendation.
• 学生应该努力学习 / 學生應該努力學習 (xuésheng yīnggāi nǔlì xuéxí) – Students should study hard.

5. 可以 (kěyǐ) – "May / Can (Permission or Possibility)"

• Function: Used to ask for or grant permission, or state that something is allowable.
• 我可以进来吗？ / 我可以進來嗎？ (wǒ kěyǐ jìnlái ma?) – May I come in?
• 这里可以拍照 / 這裡可以拍照 (zhǐlǐ kěyǐ pāizhào) – You can take photos here.

6. 能 (néng) – "Can / Able to"

• Function: Physical ability, availability, or external circumstances allowing an action.
• 我今天生病了，不能去学校 / 我今天生病了，不能去學校 (wǒ jīntiān shēngbìng le, bù néng qù xuéxiào) – I am ill today, I cannot go to school.

7. 得 (děi) – "Must / Have to" (Colloquial)

• Function: Everyday necessity or urgency in spoken and written Mandarin.
• 时间不早了，我得走了 / 時間不早了，我得走了 (shíjiān bù zǎo le, wǒ děi zǒu le) – It is late, I must leave now.

8. 必须 / 必須 (bìxū) – "Must / Essential" (Formal)

• Function: Strong, formal obligation or compulsory requirement.
• 你必须按时完成作业 / 你必須按時完成作業 (nǐ bìxū ànshí wánchéng zuòyè) – You must finish homework on time.

5. Memory Boost: 会 (huì) vs. 能 (néng) vs. 可以 (kěyǐ)

Students often wonder: "They all translate as 'can' in English, so how do I pick the right one?" Here is a simple breakdown to remember for your exams:

• 会 / 會 (huì): Did you have to learn or train to do it? (e.g. speaking a language, swimming, driving).
• 能 (néng): Are your body or schedule allowing you to do it right now? (e.g. "I am not sick, so I can run"; "I have free time, so I can come").
• 可以 (kěyǐ): Do you have permission or the green light from rules/politeness? (e.g. "May I go to the bathroom?").

6. Summary Revision Checklist

Before your exam, test yourself against these quick rules:

• Did I use 是 (shì) only for nouns and never with adjectives?
• Did I remember to negate 有 (yǒu) with 没 (méi) to make 没有 / 沒有 (and never *不有)?
• Did I split my Verb-Object verbs when adding time duration (e.g. 睡了八个小时觉)?
• Did I place all my modal verbs (想, 要, 会, 能, 可以, 应该, 必须, 得) directly before the main action verb?