The frequency complement (2)

A verb can take both a frequency complement and an object at the same time.

The kind of object matters: a thing usually follows the frequency; a pronoun goes before it.

1. When the object is a thing

Verb + number + 次 + object

Meaning: to do something … times.

因(Yīn)为(wèi)我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)再(zài)吃(chī)一(yí)次(cì)烤(kǎo)鸭(yā)，再(zài)喝(hē)一(yí)次(cì)奶(nǎi)茶(chá)。

Because I want to eat roast duck once more and drink milk tea once more.

吃 + 一次 + 烤鸭 eat + once + roast duck

喝 + 一次 + 奶茶 drink + once + milk tea

再(zài)again

吃(chī)一(yí)次(cì)烤(kǎo)鸭(yā)eat roast duck once more

喝(hē)一(yí)次(cì)奶(nǎi)茶(chá)drink milk tea once more

Here 烤鸭 and 奶茶 are things, so they follow 一次.

Verb + pronoun + number + 次

Meaning: to do something to him / you / me … times.

我(Wǒ)想(xiǎng)找(zhǎo)他(tā)一(yí)次(cì)。

I want to look for him once.

找 + 他 + 一次 look for + him + once

我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)I want to

找(zhǎo)look for

他(tā)him

一(yí)次(cì)once

Here 他 is a pronoun, so it precedes 一次.

安(Ān)妮(nī)来(lái)过(guo)这儿(zhèr)两(liǎng)次(cì)。

Annie has been here twice.

来过 + 这儿 + 两次 has come + here + twice

安(Ān)妮(nī)Annie

来(lái)过(guo)has come

这儿(zhèr)here

两(liǎng)次(cì)twice

Here 这儿 names a place and comes before 两次.

Object is a thing: verb + number + 次 + thing

吃一次烤鸭 — eat roast duck once 喝一次奶茶 — drink milk tea once

Object is a pronoun: verb + pronoun + number + 次

找他一次 — look for him once

The frequency complement — number + 次 — states how many times the action happened.