Verb + verb with no 'to': thích học, đi ăn

verb chains

Pattern: [verb 1] + [verb 2] (+ [verb 3])

A1 · estimate

Two verbs can sit side by side with nothing between them, where English needs "to", "-ing" or "and": Tôi thích nấu ăn. I like cooking. Mình đi ăn nha. Let's go and eat. Anh về ngủ đi. Go home and get some sleep. (The đi at the end isn't "go" here: it makes it a suggestion.)

The verbs never change form. Học is "learn", "to learn" and "learning" all at once: Em thích học tiếng Việt, Em bắt đầu học tiếng Việt.

Three in a row are normal: Em muốn đi coi phim. I want to go and see a film.

Verbs that often come first include thích (like), muốn (want), đi (go), về (go home), bắt đầu (start), nhớ (remember to) and quên (forget to): Đừng quên mua sữa nha. Don't forget to buy milk.

Để means "in order to", for a real purpose; it's never a plain "to" after thích or muốn. Đi plus a place needs no "to" either: đi chợ, đi Đà Lạt.

Examples

Highlighted words are what Saigon and Hà Nội say differently.

  • Tôi thích nấu ăn.

    I like cooking.

  • Saigon

    Tối nay mình đi ăn nha.

    Hà Nội

    Tối nay mình đi ăn nhé.

    Let's go out to eat tonight.

  • Saigon

    Em muốn đi coi phim.

    Hà Nội

    Em muốn đi xem phim.

    I want to go and see a film.

  • Saigon

    Đừng quên mua sữa nha.

    Hà Nội

    Đừng quên mua sữa nhé.

    Don't forget to buy milk.

  • Anh về ngủ đi.

    Go home and get some sleep.

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