Mandarin Chinese reference
考
kǎo
to take an exam; to test
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) | kǎotake an exam |
Completed action
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | kǎo letook an exam |
Experience
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | kǎo guohave taken an exam before |
In progress
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zài kǎobe taking an exam |
Future
About to
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yào kǎo lebe about to take an exam |
Will / can
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | huì kǎowill take an exam |
Negative
Not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | bù kǎodo not take an exam |
Did not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | méi kǎodid not take an exam |
Questions
Yes no question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | kǎo ma?do you take an exam? |
A not A question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | kǎo bu kǎo?do you take an exam? |
Forms from the Loquus reference. Only supplied forms are shown. Browse all Mandarin Chinese entries.