Prepositional Phrases

Key prepositions each serve a specific function such as location, direction, time, manner, or cause, and they are usually followed by a noun or noun phrase that completes their meaning. Learning a handful of common prepositions lets you form clear and natural-sounding phrases.

A prepositional phrase normally places the preposition zài 在, cóng 从, or another marker before the noun phrase, and the phrase functions as an adverbial giving time, place, manner, cause, etc. In spoken Mandarin, short prepositional phrases often come right before the verb they modify.

Some prepositions like gěi 给, wèi 为/给, and duì 对 can introduce an indirect object or mark the beneficiary or target of an action, and they are commonly used in datives and giving constructions. Choosing between them depends on register and subtle nuance, but gěi 给 is the most colloquial.

Time prepositional phrases use prepositions like zài 在 or cóng 从 to mark when something happens, and they are followed by time nouns or time expressions. For durations, phrases like dào 到 can mark an endpoint, and for habitual actions, time phrases usually come at the sentence beginning.

Place prepositional phrases typically use zài 在 to mark location, and they are followed by places or locative nouns; dào 到 can indicate direction toward a place, while cóng 从 marks origin. For more precise location, short phrases can be added after the noun to show position.

Prepositional phrases begin with a preposition like zài 在, cóng 从, dào 到, etc., and are followed by a noun phrase that together specify time, place, manner, cause, or target. Practicing common prepositions and slotting in familiar nouns will make your descriptions more precise and natural.