Compound complements of direction
In Chinese, a compound complement of direction (verb + 上/下/进/出/回/过/起 + 来/去) indicates the direction of an action and its movement relative to the speaker (来 = toward the speaker, 去 = away from the speaker).
Grammar Rules
1. Place as object: when the object is a location or place, it must be placed before 来 (lái) or 去 (qù).
Verb + 进 / 出 / 下... + Place + 来 / 去
2. General item as object: when the object is a regular item, it can be placed either before or after 来 / 去.
Completed action: if the action is already completed and fulfilled, the object usually goes after 来/去 + 了.
1. Basic Examples
老师拿出一本书来
小狗从房间跑出来
我给你拿过去吧
坐久了还可以站起来休息一会儿
2. Location as the object (place comes before 来/去)
老师走进教室来
弟弟跑下楼去
周太太走进咖啡店去
下课了，同学们走出教室去
3. General item as the object (both positions are valid)
哥哥买回一个西瓜来
哥哥买回来一个西瓜
请大家拿出笔记本来
请大家拿出来笔记本
爸爸从国外带回一些礼物来
爸爸从国外带回来一些礼物
小刚买回来很多东西
小刚买回很多东西来
Important Note: completed actions
When the action has been completed, the particle 了 is used, and the item object is usually placed after 来/去:
哥哥买回来了一个西瓜
爸爸带回来了一些礼物