HSK 3
V O 来／去
V O lái／ qù
(complements of direction)
Structure
Verb + Object + 来／去 (lái/qù)
How it works
This structure uses 'lái' (come) or 'qù' (go) as directional complements to indicate the direction of an action relative to the speaker. When the verb has a noun object, the object is placed between the verb and 'lái' or 'qù'. Use 'lái' if the action moves toward the speaker and 'qù' if it moves away.
Examples
老师进教室来了。
Lǎoshī jìn jiàoshì lái le.
The teacher came into the classroom.
我带一些水果去。
Wǒ dài yīxiē shuǐguǒ qù.
I will take some fruit (there).
他已经回校舍去了。
Tā yǐjīng huí xiàoshè qù le.
He has already gone back to the dormitory.
Common mistakes
Putting the object after 'lái' or 'qù' (e.g., saying '进来了教室' instead of '进教室来了').
Tip
If the object is a place (like home, school, or office), it MUST be placed before 'lái' or 'qù'.
More HSK 3 grammar
See V O 来／去 in real Chinese
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