The serial verb construction is a syntactic phenomenon common to many African and Asian languages. In this construction, two or more verbs can be juxtaposed in one clause, sharing the same subject while lacking conjunctive markings, resulting in a meaning that expresses the consecutive or simultaneous aspect of the actions of the verbs. In the Chinese languages, serial verb construction is manifested through verbal complements and coverbs.

Examples

Ewe language:

Kofí trɔ dzo kpoo   (Kofi turn-PERF leave-PERF quietly)

Kofi turned and left quietly.

Mandarin Chinese:

坐(sit) 飞机(airplane) 从(originate) 上海(Shanghai) 到(arrive) 北京(Beijing) 去(travel)

I travel from Shanghai to Beijing by airplane.

See also

• Chinese grammar