39.8 Serial Verb Constructions VI (Successive Actions)

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In Grammar and Vocabulary 8.5, 16.4, 18.2, 23.2 and 38.9, we learned to form serial verb constructions.

We will see another meaning relationship in this lesson: the actions in the verb phrases happen in successive order. That is, the action in the first verb phrase happens first, and then the action in the second verb phrase happens next.

SubjectVerb Phrase 1
(Action 1)		Verb Phrase 2
(Action 2)
你行到去最尾轉右。
nei5haang4 dou3 heoi3 zeoi3 mei5zyun3 jau6.
youwalk to the endturn right
Walk to the end and turn right.
The first verb phrase 行到去最尾 haang4 dou3 heoi3 zeoi3 mei5 and the second verb phrase 轉右 zyun3 jau6 are successive actions. The speaker asks the listener to first walk to the end and then turn right.
SubjectVerb Phrase 1
(Action 1)		Verb Phrase 2
(Action 2)
你上返嚟轉左。
nei5soeng5 faan1 lai4zyun3 zo2.
youcome back upturn left
Come back up and turn left.
The first verb phrase 上返嚟 soeng5 faan1 lai4 and the second verb phrase 轉左 zyun3 zo2 are successive actions. The speaker asks the listener to first come back up and then turn left.