The simple directional complement (2)

A verb can take a simple directional complement and an object at the same time.

The kind of object matters: a place goes BEFORE 来 / 去; a thing may go either before or after 来 / 去.

1. When the object is a place

Verb + place + 来 / 去

That is, the place name comes before 来 / 去.

Examples

你(Nǐ)们(men)太(tài)客(kè)气(qi)了(le)，还(hái)拿(ná)这(zhè)么(me)多(duō)礼(lǐ)物(wù)来(lái)！

You are too kind, and you've brought so many gifts!

拿 + 这么多礼物 + 来 carry + so many gifts + this way

你(nǐ)们(men)太(tài)客(kè)气(qi)了(le)you are too kind

拿(ná)carry

这(zhè)么(me)多(duō)礼(lǐ)物(wù)so many gifts

来(lái)marks movement toward here

Here 礼物 is a thing, and it stands before 来.

家(Jiā)月(yuè)给(gěi)我(wǒ)送(sòng)来(lái)了(le)一(yì)本(běn)书(shū)。

Jiayue brought me a book.

送 + 来 + 一本书 bring + this way + a book

家(Jiā)月(yuè)Jiayue

给(gěi)我(wǒ)to me

送(sòng)来(lái)bring over

一(yì)本(běn)书(shū)a book

Here 一本书 is a thing and stands after 来. So with a thing, both orders work: 拿 + 礼物 + 来 or 送 + 来 + 一本书

上(Shàng)课(kè)了(le)，你(nǐ)们(men)快(kuài)进(jìn)教(jiào)室(shì)来(lái)吧(ba)。

Class has started — come into the classroom quickly.

进 + 教室 + 来 enter + classroom + this way

上(shàng)课(kè)了(le)class has started

你(nǐ)们(men)you

快(kuài)quickly

进(jìn)教(jiào)室(shì)来(lái)come into the classroom

吧(ba)an urging tone

Here 教室 is a place, so it comes before 来: 进教室来

With the other directional complements

Verbs like 开、买、拿、请、送、要、找、走 also combine with 上、下、进、出、回、过. The verb usually takes an object, and the object most often follows 上 / 下 / 进 / 出 / 回 / 过.

Verb + 上 / 下 / 进 / 出 / 回 / 过 + object

爸(Bà)爸(ba)今(jīn)天(tiān)买(mǎi)回(huí)了(le)很(hěn)多(duō)水(shuǐ)果(guǒ)。

Dad bought a lot of fruit and brought it home today.

买 + 回 + 很多水果 buy + back + a lot of fruit

爸(bà)爸(ba)dad

今(jīn)天(tiān)today

买(mǎi)回(huí)buy and bring back

很(hěn)多(duō)水(shuǐ)果(guǒ)a lot of fruit

Here 回 marks the direction of returning.

妈(Mā)妈(ma)拿(ná)出(chū)了(le)二(èr)十(shí)块(kuài)钱(qián)，让(ràng)小(Xiǎo)雪(xuě)自(zì)己(jǐ)去(qù)买(mǎi)点儿(diǎnr)吃(chī)的(de)。

Mum took out twenty yuan and told Xiaoxue to go and buy something to eat herself.

拿 + 出 + 二十块钱 take + out + twenty yuan

妈(mā)妈(ma)mum

拿(ná)出(chū)take out

二(èr)十(shí)块(kuài)钱(qián)twenty yuan

让(ràng)小(Xiǎo)雪(xuě)tell Xiaoxue to

自(zì)己(jǐ)去(qù)买(mǎi)go and buy it herself

点儿(diǎnr)吃(chī)的(de)something to eat

Here 出 marks movement from inside to outside.

Quick rule

When the object is a place:

Verb + place + 来 / 去

进教室来 — come into the classroom

When the object is a thing, it may go either before or after 来 / 去:

拿礼物来 — bring a gift 送来一本书 — bring a book over

With the other directional complements:

Verb + 上 / 下 / 进 / 出 / 回 / 过 + object

买回很多水果 — buy and bring back a lot of fruit 拿出二十块钱 — take out twenty yuan