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Serial Verb Constructions

Chaining multiple verbs in sequence

Verbs chain without conjunctions

Two or more verbs share the same subject and appear in sequence.

💬 Examples
Tôi đi mua sắm.
I go shopping.
📝 đi (go) + mua sắm (shop) = serial
Cô ấy ngồi ăn cơm.
She sat eating rice.
📝 ngồi (sit) + ăn (eat) = manner + action
Purposive series: V1 expresses means, V2 purpose

The second verb shows why the first is done.

📊 Serial verb types
Type Example Meaning
manner ngồi ăn sit and eat (sitting while eating)
motion-purpose đi mua go (in order to) buy
result làm xong do (until) done
causative nói cho hiểu say (so that) understand
💬 Examples
Anh đi học nấu ăn.
He goes to learn cooking.
📝 đi (go) + học (learn) + nấu ăn (cook)
Tôi chạy bộ giữ gìn sức khỏe.
I jog to maintain my health.
📝 chạy bộ (jog) + purpose clause
Serial verbs must share the same subject

Each verb in the series refers to the same actor.

💬 Examples
Tôi về nhà nấu ăn.
I went home (and) cooked.
📝 same subject throughout
Anh ấy học xong rồi đi ngủ.
He finished studying and went to sleep.
📝 xong (finish) + rồi + second action