51 expressing commands and permission
51.1 Commands
51.1.1 making a command
There is no specific command form in Mandarin, but there are several ways to make a command.
The simplest way is simply to state the verb:
吃! 说!/說! 坐!
Chī! Shuō! Zuò!
Eat! Speak! Sit!
The verb may sometimes be suffixed with 着/著 zhe:
吃着!/吃著! 拿着!/拿著! 坐着!/坐著!
Chīzhe! Názhe! Zuòzhe!
Eat! Hold it!/Take it! Sit!
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Commands may also take the form of a statement followed by 吧 ba.
吃吧! 给我吧! 坐吧!
給我吧!
Chī ba! Gěi wǒ ba! Zuò ba!
Eat! Give (it) to me! Sit!
Note that the particle 吧 ba at the end of the sentence may also convey suggestion:
我们看电影吧!
我們看電影吧!
Wǒmen kàn diànyǐng ba!
Let’s see a movie!
or supposition:
你是王老师吧。
你是王老師吧。
Nǐ shì Wáng lǎoshī ba.
You must be Professor Wang.
Context will make the function of 吧 ba clear in any given sentence.
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