我每天早上喝水。
I drink water every morning.
Everyday Mandarin verbs
A few frequent verbs let you make simple, useful sentences. Read each verb in a short context, then notice where it sits after the subject.
Put the action after the subject
A simple Mandarin sentence often follows subject + verb + object: 我喝水 (I drink water), or 我看书 (I read). The verb itself does not change for “I” and “he.”
来 means come toward the speaker or the place being treated as the speaker’s point of view; 去 means go away toward another place. In everyday conversation the point of view comes from context.
Add a time or ability word
A time phrase can go before the action, as in 我每天早上喝水. Ability words such as 会, 能, and 可以 come before the main verb: 我会说中文 (I can speak Chinese).
看 can mean see or look; 看书 is a common way to say read a book. 做 is a broad verb meaning do or make, so the noun after it supplies the activity.
Examples
朋友来我家吃饭。
A friend comes to my home for a meal.
晚上我看书，也做作业。
In the evening I read and do homework too.
我会说中文。
I can speak Chinese.
Check what you remember
Which verb means “to drink” in 我喝水?
- 喝
- 吃
Which word in 我会说中文 signals an ability or learned skill?
- 会
- 来
Show answers and explanations
- 喝. 喝 is “drink”; 吃 is “eat.”
- 会. 会 comes before the action verb 说 here.