Pattern
Subject + verb phrase + verb phrase
Core idea
Chinese often places two verb phrases in a row when one action leads to, enables, or explains the purpose of another.
This is especially common with movement verbs: go somewhere to do something, come somewhere to do something, sit down and rest.
What learners often miss
English often needs “and” or “to.” Chinese usually lets the order do the work:
first action or movement, then the next action.
Do not add 和 just because English has “and.” 和 joins nouns more naturally than it joins this kind of action sequence.
Examples
我去商店买东西。
Wǒ qù shāngdiàn mǎi dōngxi.
I go to the store to buy things.
他来我家吃饭。
Tā lái wǒ jiā chīfàn.
He comes to my house to eat.
她坐下来休息。
Tā zuò xiàlai xiūxi.
She sits down to rest.
Common mistakes
Avoid
我去商店和买东西。
Use
我去商店买东西。
When one action explains the purpose of another, Chinese usually places the verb phrases in sequence without a conjunction.