Mandarin Chinese reference
游泳
yóuyǒng
to swim
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) | yóuyǒngswim |
Completed action
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yóu le yǒngswam |
Experience
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yóu guo yǒnghave swum before |
In progress
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zài yóuyǒngbe swimming |
Future
About to
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yào yóuyǒng lebe about to swim |
Will / can
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | huì yóuyǒngwill swim; can swim |
Negative
Not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | bù yóuyǒngdo not swim |
Did not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | méi yóuyǒngdid not swim |
Questions
Yes no question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yóuyǒng ma?do you swim? |
A not A question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yóu bu yóu yǒng?do you swim? |
Forms from the Loquus reference. Only supplied forms are shown. Browse all Mandarin Chinese entries.