Mandarin Chinese reference
扫墓
sǎomù
to visit a grave; tomb sweeping
Verb pattern · 10 form tables
Mandarin verbs do not change for tense. These tables show aspect, negation, questions and sentence patterns. Short phrases omit the subject; full examples retain theirs.
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Aspect
Plain statement
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | sǎomùvisit a grave |
Completed action
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | sǎo le mùvisited a grave |
Experience
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | sǎo guo mùhave visited a grave before |
In progress
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zài sǎomùbe visiting a grave |
Future
About to
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yào sǎomù lebe about to visit a grave |
Will / can
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | huì sǎomùwill visit a grave |
Negative
Not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | bù sǎomùdo not visit a grave |
Did not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | méi sǎomùdid not visit a grave |
Questions
Yes no question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | sǎomù ma?do you visit a grave? |
A not A question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | sǎo bu sǎo mù?do you visit a grave? |
Forms from the Loquus reference. Only supplied forms are shown. Browse all Mandarin Chinese entries.