lesson 5 - The Phrases
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HOW TO WRITE COMPOUND COMPONENT OF A SENTENCE
lesson 5
The Phrases
1 The Prepositional Phrase
2 The Infinitive Phrase
3 The Participle Phrase
4 The Gerund Phrase
5 The Nominative Absolute Phrase
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THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
WHAT IS A PHRASE?
A phrase is syntactic unit consisting of a group of related words
which does not contain a subject and a predicate and which
functions as a part of speech.
How many phrases are there?
There are five kinds of phrases:
1. The Prepositional Phrase
2. The Infinitive Phrase
3. The Participle Phrase
4. The Gerund Phrase
5. The Nominative Absolute Phrase
I. THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
A. THE PREPOSITION
1. WHAT IS A PREPOSITION?
The preposition is an expression that governs a noun, a pronoun
or a noun equivalent in the objective case and joins it to some
other elements in the sentence in which it appears. This noun,
pronoun noun equivalent is called the OBJECT OF THE PREP-
OSITION.
2. HOW MANY KINDS OF PREPOSITION ARE THERE?
There are two kinds of preposition:
(1) SIMPLE PREPOSITION
(2) COMPOUND/PHRASAL PREPOSITION
A simple preposition consists of only one word: AT, ALONG,
ACROSS, AMONG, AGAINST, BESIDE, BETWEEN, FOR,
FROM, INTO, TO, OF, UNDER, WITH, WITHIN, WITHOUT
etc.
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THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
A compound preposition consists at least two words:
APART FROM, AT BACK OF, AS TO, BECAUSE OF, BY
MEANS OF, BY WAYS OF, DUE TO, IN FRONT OF,
INSTEAD OF, IN VIEW OF, NEXT TO, ON ACCOUNT OF,
REGARDED OF, THANK TO, WITH RESPECT TO, WITH
REGARD TO, etc.
3. WHAT OTHER PARTS OF SPEECH MAY BE USED AS PREP-
OSITION?
(a) A few conjunction, chiefly conjunction of time, may
be used as prepositions: SINCE, UNTIL, BEFORE,
AFTER, WHILE, WHEN
Cö ta ơ vơi ba dò tư ngay me cö ta mết.
X She has lived with her aunt since her mother died.
Chung töi la hai ngươi ban thên tư thơi trung hoc.
X We have been close friends since high school.
Ho ra ₫i vao thang 4 năm 75, va tư ₫o ₫ḯn nay chung töi khöng con
nghe tin gò cua ho ca.
X They left in April 1975, and since then we haven’t heard of/
from them again.
Tư sang tơi giơ töi chưa co gò trong bung hḯt.
X I haven’t had nothing in my stomach since early morning.
Töi ơ lai vơi ho cho ₫ḯn sau giang sinh.
X I stayed with them until after Christmas.
Em se chơ cho ₫ḯn khi anh vï̀.
X I will wait until you are back
Töi chơ cö ta cho ₫ḯn nưa ₫ïm.
X I waited for her until midnight.
(b) ADVERBIAL PARTICLES may be used as preposi-
tions: ON/OFF, UP/DOWN, IN/OUT, ABOUT,
AROUND, THROUGH, OVER
Bo giay ra.
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THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
X Take your shoes off.
Take off your shoes.
X Take them off.
Anh ta nga ngưa va bị gay cö̉.
X He fell off the horse and broke his neck.
Lam ơn tăt hḯt ₫en va quat trươc khi rơi phong.
X Please switch off the lights and fans before leaving the room.
Viïn phến tư tư rơi khoi ban.
X The chalk ran slowly off the desk.
Bo tay anh ra khoi vai töi.
X Take your hand off my shoulder!
(c) A few PARTICIPLES, chiefly present participles,
may be used as prepositions: ACCORDING TO,
REGARDING, CONCERNING, CONSIDERING,
EXCLUDING, INCLUDING, EXCEPTING, FOL-
LOWING (as), OWING TO, WANTING (without)
etc.
Thiḯu sư chên thêt thò khöng co tònh ban thưc sư.
X Wanting honesty true friendship is impossible.
Theo sau quyḯt ₫ịnh cua toa an, bao ₫öng ₫a xay ra nhiï̀u nơi ơ tiï̉u
bang California.
X Following the decision of the court, violence erupted/broke out
in many places in California.
Thanh cöng cua hăn la nhơ ơ may măn hơn la kha năng thưc sư.
X His success is owing to his good luck rather than his ability.
Gia cua TV la 400 ₫ö, kï̉ ca gia trị gia tăng.
X The TV set costs $400, including VAT.
B. THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
1. WHAT IS A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE?
The prepositional phrase is a syntactic unit consisting of a prep-
osition followed by a noun, a pronoun or a noun equivalent as
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THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
its object and functioning as a noun, as an adjective, an adverb
or sometimes as an absolute expression.
The object of the preposition may be a:
a. Preposition (simple or compound)
b. Conjunction used as preposition
c. Present participle (simple or compound)
d. Adverbial particle
THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PREPOSITION
O of a Preposition = N
Anh chang ₫ưng canh cưa sö̉ la ban trai mơi cua cö ta.
X The boy standing by the window is her new boyfriend.
Mon qua nay danh cho ngươi ₫an ba ₫a cung töi chia xe ngot bui
trong cuöc ₫ơi khö́n nan nay.
X This (gift) is for the woman who has shared with me both joy
and sorrow in this damn life.
O of a Preposition = proN
Đa co nhiï̀u mết mat giưa töi va cö ta.
X There are so many things lost between her and me.
Hònh như ₫a co chut hiï̉u lềm giưa chung ta.
X There seems to have been some misunderstanding between us.
Con nïn nghĩ ₫ḯn ngươi khac nhiï̀u hơn; con nghĩ ₫ḯn mònh nhiï̀u
qua.
You should start thinking more of others; you have been think-
ing too muchof
yourself.
O of a Preposition = N-Equi
Preposition
The O of the Preposition
M
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THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
Chung töi chưa găp lai nhau tư sau ₫ö Giang Sinh.
X We haven’t met again since after Christmas.
Cö ta bo ₫i ma khöng tư gia chung töi.
X She left without saying goodbye to us.
Hăn thñch trïu choc ngươi khac.
X He’s fond of teasing people.
Vến ₫ï̀ lam thḯ nao ₫ï̉ gêy quy cho dư an se ₫ươc thao luên chiï̀u
nay.
X The question of how to raise enough fund for the project will be
discussedthis afternoon.
Em sơ ₫iï̀u anh sơ va em thñch ₫iï̀u anh thñch.
X I’m afraid of what you are afraid of, and I’m interested in what
you are interested in.
a. What Other Part of Speech May Function as the Object of a
Preposition?
(a) In as much as an adjective may function as a noun, it
may function as object of preposition.
Me Teresa suö́t ₫ơi la ban cua nhưng ngươi cung cưc va ngươi ₫au
khö̉.
X Mother Teresa was a friend of the needies and the miserables
all her life.
Mưa rơi ₫ï̀u trïn nhưng ngươi ngheo cung như ngươi giau.
X Rain falls upon the poor and the rich alike.
Hö́ sêu giưa ngươi giau va ngươi ngheo hònh như ngay cang sêu.
X The gap between the rich and the poor seems to be getting
wider and wider.
Chung ta nïn hö̃ trơ ngươi neo ₫ơn.
We should extend our help to
the helpless.
(b) In as much as an adverb may function as a noun, it
may function as object of preposition.
Bêy giơ dươi ếy la mua găt phai khöng?
It is harvest time down
there, isn’t it?
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THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
Đêy ₫i Đa lat bao xa?
X How far is it from here to Dalat?
Tư ₫êy ₫i Đa lat khoang 6 tiḯng ₫i xe.
X It is about 6 hours driving from here to Dalat.
Ho ra ₫i vao thang 4 năm 75.
X They left in April 1975, and since then we haven’t heard of
them again.
Trong nay trơi nong như ₫iïn, ơ ngoai ếy thò sao?
X It’s hot like hell down here. what is it like up there?
Ngoai kia năng lïn rưc rơ; tai sao em ngö̀i trong nay khoc than?
X The sun is shinning out there; why are you sitting in here
weeping like that?
(c) A noun in the possessive case can be used as object
of preposition.
Ho cươi nhau ơ nha thơ St. Domain.
X They were married at St. Domain’s.
Töi găp hăn ta lền ₫ều ơ nha hang Maxim.
X I first met him at Maxim’s.
Töi mua cai vñ nay ơ P&T.
X I bought this purse at P&T’s.
2. THE DIFFERENT USES OF PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
As a syntactic unit, the prepositional phrase usually functions as
an adjective, as an adverb or as a noun. It also sometimes used
as an absolute expression.
a. The Prepositional Phrase Used as a Noun
(a) As the Subject of a Sentence.
Sau giơ lam viïc thò thuên tiïn cho moi ngươi.
X After work is convenient for everyone.
Tư thư hai ₫ḯn thư sau la möt sư chơ ₫ơi kha dai.
X From Monday to Friday is a long wait.
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THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
Dươi bong cêy nay thương la nơi chung töi chơi ₫ua vơi nhau.
X Under this tree used to be the place where we would play
together.
Bïn canh dong suö́i thương la nơi căm trai ly tương.
X By the stream is an ideal place for camping.
Khoang giưa thang năm la thơi gian tö́t nhết ₫ï̉ trö̀ng băp
X About the middle of May is the best time to plant corn.
(b) As the Object of a Verb
In this case, it normally appears in pattern 4.
X I consider at lunch convenient for everyone.
(c) As the Object of a Preposition
Chung töi chưa găp lai nhau tư sau tḯt tơi nay.
X We haven’t met since after Tet.
Măt trăng tư tư nhö lïn sau răng tre.
X The moon is rising slowly from behind the bamboos.
Töi ₫ơi cö ta cho ₫ḯn sau nưa ₫ïm.
X I waited for her until after midnight.
Tiḯng cho sua vu vơ vong lai tư bïn kia söng.
X The vague barking of a dog came from across the river.
Cu gia keo möt chiḯc rương nho ra tư giương.
X The old man pulled out a small box from under the bed.
Töi thếy khoi bö́c lïn tư sau tram xăng.
X I saw smoke rising from behind the gas station.
Tiḯng ₫öng văng lai tư sau nha.
The noise came from
behind the house.
Töi lăng nghe tiḯng noi tư bïn trong töi.
I listened to that voice from
within me.
(d) As the Subjective Complement (SC)
X The best time to plant corn is about the middle of May.
X The time that is convenient for everyone is at lunch.
X An ideal place for camping is by a stream.
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THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
(e) As an Appositive
Thơi gian ₫ươc chon, vao bưa com trưa thò khöng thuên tiïn cho moi
ngươi.
X The chosen time, at lunch, is convenient for everyone.
Co möt nơi ma hên thu rết dï̃ phat sinh: trong möt qua tim trö́ng
văng sư hiï̉u biet va thöng cam.
X There is one place where hatred is likely to arise: in a heart
void of U & S.
b. The Use of the Prepositional Phrase as an Adverb
An adverb is a word that usually modifies (a) an adjective (b)
a verb (c) another adverb
(a) Modifier of an Adjective
Möt qua tim trö́ng văng sư hiï̉u biḯt va thöng cam thò khöng khac gò
möt căn nguc ₫en tö́i
X A heart vacant of U & S is only a dark prison cell.
Trai tim cua cö ta, trö́ng văng sư hiï̉u biḯt thöng cam, thò chỉ la möt
căn nguc ₫en tö́i.
X Her heart, empty of U & S, is only a dark prison cell.
Möt ngươi thñch tiï̀n se ₫au khö̉ vò tiï̀n.
X A person interested in money is likely to suffer because of
money.
Töi sung sương vơi nhưng gò töi ₫ang co.
X I’m happy with what I have.
Töi man nguyïn vï̀ cac con cua töi.
X I’m happy about my children.
Öng chu rết bưc böi vï̀ chuyïn xay ra.
X The boss is very unhappy about what has happened.
Töi mưng cho chị.
X I’m happy for you.
Dĩ nhiïn, em yïu nhưng gò anh yïu, va em sơ nhưng gò anh sơ.
X Of course, I’m interested in what you are interested in, and I’m
afraid of what you are afraid of.
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THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
(b) Modifier of a Verb or a Predicate
Modifier may be a phrase or a clause.
• Phrase: GP/IP/PP
• Clause: that cls/how cls/Wh cls
Cö ếy lai xe ₫i lam khi chö̀ng bị bïnh.
X She drives to work when her husband is ill.
Chung töi chưa găp lai nhau tư năm 75 ₫ḯn nay,
X We haven’t met since 1975.
Sai gon ₫a thay ₫ö̉i nhiï̀u lăm trong 10 năm qua.
X SG has changed a lot in the past 10 years.
Cö ếy lai xe ₫ưa con ₫i hoc khi chö̀ng ö́m
X She drives the children to school when her husband is ill.
Chung töi mua căn nha nay tư năm 1982.
X We bought this house in 1982.
Chung töi tö́t nghiïp ₫ai hoc vao thang 4 năm 98.
We finished college in April, 1998.
Hăn noi băng möt giong buö̀n ba răng hăn phai tư bo y ₫ịnh hoc lïn
₫ai hoc.
X We said in gloomy voice that he had to give up the idea of
going to college.
Con gai töi ₫a phan nan töi vï̀ viïc ₫a khöng cöng băng vơi no.
My daughter has blamed me for not being fair to her.
Cam ơn anh ₫a cết cöng giup ₫ơ con gai töi.
S
P: V
M
M
P1
S
P: V O
M
M
P2
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THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
X Thank you so much for having taken (time) trouble to help my
daughter.
Con gai töi cho töi möt cai höp thuö́c va möt cai höp quet vao ngay
sinh nhêt thư 56 cua töi.
X My daughter gave me a cigarette case and a lighter for my 56th
birthday.
Ngay xưa ngay xưa, co möt lao ngư öng sö́ng vơi ₫ưa con gai ₫öc
nhết bïn canh dong söng.
X Once upon a time, there lived an old fisherman with his daugh-
ter by the river.
Bö́ cua hăn bị chḯt trong WWII.
X His father was killed in the WWII [P8]
(c) Modifier of Another Adverb
Cö ta khöng yïu töi ₫u ₫ï̉ töi cươi cö ta
X She doesn’t love me enough for me to marry her.
Cö ta ₫a phến ₫ếu ₫u ₫ï̉ tăng lương cho cö ta.
X She has been working hard enough for us to give her promo-
tion.
Me a, öng ta qua gia ₫ï̉ con lếy öng ta.
Mother, he’s too
old for me to marry.
Qua nong ₫ï̉ chung ta co thï̉ lam viïc trong ₫o.
It’s too hot
for us to work in.
Cö ta qua ₫ep ₫ï̉ hăn co thï̉ quïn ₫i.
She is too
beautiful for him to forget.
Hăn qua ngao man ₫ï̉ ho co thï̉ tha thư
S
P: V O1 O2
M
M
P3
ADJ + ENOUGH/TOO FOR SB TO DO ST
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THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
He is too arrogant for them to forgive.
c. The Use of Prepositional Phrase as an Adjective
(a) Modifier of a N
M phrase: PP, IP, GP
clause: that/wh/how
Möt cuöc sö́ng khöng muc ₫ñch la möt con thuyï̀n khöng bḯn ₫êu.
X A life without a purpose is a boat without a landing place.
Möt ngay khöng hoc la möt ngay mết ₫i.
X A day without learning is a day lost.
Nhưng tơ bao thơi trang ơ sg ₫a chon cö ta la ngươi mễu trong năm.
X The fashion magazines in Sai Gon has chosen her as the model
of the year.
Töi se khöng lếy möt ngươi ₫an öng khöng co cao vong.
I will never marry a man without ambition.
Cö̉ng thiïn ₫ang ơ ₫êu?
Where is the gate
of Heaven?
Khöng co ai ơ gền, cö ta cam thếy kho ma ₫ö́i pho vơi tònh thḯ nay.
X Without anyone within reach, she found it hard to cope with
this situation.
(b) Subject Complement (SC)
Điïn thoai bị hư.
N
prepositional phrase
P: V SC
M
s
M
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THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
X The telephone is out of order.
Căn nha con tö́t, tuy nhiïn gia hơi chut.
X The house is in good condition; however, the rent is a bit too
high.
Hoa hö̀ng nao lai chăng co gai.
X No roses are without thorns.
Khöng co gò trïn ₫ơi nay ma khöng co gia cua no ca.
X There is nothing on this earth that is without a price.
Cai tui nay băng da thêt.
X This bag is of genuine leather.
Cai ₫ö̀ng hö̀ băng vang.
X This watch is of pure gold.
Viïn kim cương ₫ang gia hơn anh nghĩ.
X The diamond is of greater value than you think.
Đanh bac ơ Viït Nam la pham phap.
X It’s against the law to gamble in VN.
Tư ₫o ₫ḯn giơ töi luön ung hö nư quyï̀n.
X I have been in favor of feminism.
Vến ₫ï̀ nay quan trong hơn chung ta nghĩ nhiï̀u.
X This problem is of greater importance than we thought.
Bêy giơ nang như möt chiḯc la trong cơn gio manh.
X She is now like a leaf in a strong wind.
Nhên vö thêp toan.
X No one is without defects.
Tö́i nay em trưc.
X I’m on duty tonight.
Con khöng bao giơ nïn bo rơi möt ngươi ban ₫ang găp kho khăn.
X You should never abandon a friend who is in trouble.
Chương trònh ₫ang ₫ươc tiḯn hanh.
The program is in progress.
Chung ta nïn cö́ găng giup ₫ơ nhưng ngươi neo ₫ơn.
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THE PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE
X We should try to help those who are in need.
Lơi khuyïn cua anh rết co ñch cho töi.
X Your advice is of great help to me.
Sinh nhêt cua töi la vao ngay thư 6 tuền sau.
My birthday is on next Friday.
(c) Object Complement (OC)
Töi cho răng vến ₫ï̀ nay quan trong hơn chung ta nghĩ.
X I consider this matter of greater importance than we thought.
Töi nghĩ cuö́n sach nay rết gia trị ₫ö́i vơi anh.
X I think this book of great value to you.
Töi nghĩ lơi khai cua hăn khöng anh hương gò ca.
X I think his testimony is of no consequence.
Töi nghĩ ₫êy la möt ₫iï̉m hếp dễn du khach trong cung như ngoai
nươc.
X I think this spot is, among others, of great interest to both
domestice and foreign tourists.
d. The Prepsositional Phrase Used Absolutely (or as an Abso-
lute Expression)
In this case, the phrase has no grammatical functions in the sen-
tence in which it appears. In other words, it doesn’t modify any
particular words in a sentence. In fact, it either governs the idea
of a whole sentence or effects transition of some sort.
Dễu sao ₫i nưa no vễn la con anh.
X After all, he’s your son.
Chung chung, chung töi khöng co gò phan nan.
X On the whole, we have nothing to complain about.
Băng moi gia, hay cho chung töi moi dư kiïn.
S P: V O OC
M
M
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THE INFINITIVE PHRASE
By any means, let us have all the facts
II. THE INFINITIVE PHRASE
A. THE INFINITIVE
1. WHAT IS AN INFINITIVE?
The infinitive is a basic form of a verb, and it may be with TO
or without TO. There are four basic forms of a verb:
(a) The Infinitive with to: TO WRITE
without to: WRITE
(b) The Past : WROTE
(c) The Past Participle : WRITTEN
(d) The Present Participle : WRITING
B. INFINITIVE PHRASE
1. WHAT IS AN IP?
The infinitive phrase is a syntactic unit which consists of an
infinitive and any complements or modifiers it may take.
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THE INFINITIVE PHRASE
a. The Basic Forms of the IP
There are 7 basic forms of them:
1. The SIMPLE PRESENT INFINITIVE in the active
voice:
TO DO ST
2. The PRESENT PROGRESSIVE INFINITIVE in the
active voice
TO BE DOING ST
3. THE SIMPLE PRESENT INFINITIVE in passive
voice
TO BE DONE
4. THE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE INFINITIVE in
passive voice
TO BEING DONE
5. THE SIMPLE PERFECT INFINITIVE in the active
voice
TO HAVE DONE
6. THE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE INFINITIVE in the
active voice
TO HAVE BEEN DOING
7. THE PERFECT INFINITIVE in the passive voice
TO HAVE BEEN DONE
Hiïn thơi cö ta dương như rết bên
She seems to be very busy at present.
PRESENT
simple
progressive
simple
progressive
simple
progressive
simple
progressive
PERFECT
active
active
passive
passive
to do
to be doing
to be done
to being done
to have done
to have been doing
to have been done
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THE INFINITIVE PHRASE
Cö ta dương như ₫a thay ₫ö̉i y ₫ịnh.
She seems to have changed her mind.
Hònh như ₫a co vai thay ₫ö̉i trong chương trònh.
There seems to have been some changes in the program.
Chung ta hònh như ₫a bị hiï̉u lềm.
We seem to have been misunderstood.
b. How to Make an IP Negative?
• The Use of the Adverb NOT in initial position
Thònh thoang rết kho ma khöng noi lao.
X It’s hard not to tell lies sometimes.
Hăn quyḯt ₫ịnh khöng lếy cö ta.
X He decided not to marry her.
Ho bao töi khöng ₫uơc chơ anh ơ ₫êy.
X They told me not to wait for you here.
Hăn chưa quyḯt la co lếy nang khöng.
X He hasn’t decided to marry her yet.
• The Use of the Adverb NEVER
Bö́ me töi thương day töi khöng bao giơ ăn căp cai gò cua ai.
X My parents often teach me never to steal anything from any-
body.
Nang quyḯt ₫ịnh khöng bao giơ găp hăn nưa.
X She decided never to see him again.
Chung töi ₫ươc day dö̃ ₫ưng bao giơ kiḯm sö́ng băng cach lương gat
ngươi khac.
X are always taught never to earn a living by fraud.
NOT TO DO ST
NEVER TO DO SOMETHING (AGAIN)
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THE INFINITIVE PHRASE
2. THE DIFFERENT USE OF IP
The infinitive phrase used as a noun, as an adjective or as an
adverb; it is sometimes used absolutely or as an absolute
expression.
a. IP Used as a Noun
(a) As the Subject of a Sentence [P6A]
Đöi luc thêt kho ma khöng noi dö́i.
X It’s hard not to tell lies sometimes.
Thơi buö̉i nay ma giư mònh thăng thăn rết kho.
X It’s hard to keep oneself upright these days.
Co cha me dï̃ thương la möt ₫iï̀u ₫ai hanh.
X It’s a blessing to have nice parents.
Cền möt tïn tröm ₫ï̉ băt möt tïn tröm.
X It takes a thief to catch a thief.
Thếy phu nư bị phên biït giơi tñnh lam töi bưc mònh.
X It annoys me to see woman being discriminated.
Thếy ngươi khac vui ve la töi vui ve.
X It always gives me pleasure to see others happy.
Sö́ng la tranh ₫ếu.
X To live is to struggle.
Yïu em la yïu cai em la.
X To love me is to love what I am.
Chiḯm ₫ươc trai tim cua ngươi phu nư dï̃ hơn giư trai tim ếy.
X It’s easier to win a woman’s heart than to keep it.
Đưng bên têm vï̀ qua khư hay tương lai la ₫iï̀u khön ngoan.
It’s a wise thing not to worry about past or future.
M
P: V SC
trueS
P: V SC
trueS
IT
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THE INFINITIVE PHRASE
Leo xuö́ng möt ngon ₫ö̀i kho hơn leo lïn; cung vêy, sö́ng tuö̉i gia kho
hơn sö́ng tuoi tre.
It’s harder to climb downhill and to climb uphill; likewise, it’s
harder to live one old age than to live one’s youth.
Cền sư thöng cam, hiï̉u biḯt va tha thư ₫ï̉ xêy dưng möt cuöc hön
nhên thanh cöng.
It takes U, S and F to build a happy marriage.
Tranh hiï̉u lềm ke khac dï̃ hơn tranh bị ngươi khac hiï̉u lềm.
It’s easier to avoid misunderstanding the others than to avoid
being misunderstood.
(b) As the O of a V, normally a DO [P2, P3]
V CHOOSE; DECIDE; EXPECT; INTEND/HOPE;
LEARN; PLAN; TRY; WANT; WISH
Töi muö́n cươi nang cang sơm cang tö́t.
I wish to marry her as soon as possible.
Cö ta chon ơ lai khi gia ₫ònh cö ta ra ₫i.
She choose to stay when her family left.
Chị phai cö́ găng ₫ưng pham lö̃i nưa.
You should try not to repeat this mistake in the future.
Chung ta phai cö́ hoc tư tḯ vơi chñnh mònh ₫ï̉ tư tḯ vơi ngươi khac.
We should learn to be kind to ourselves in order to be ready
kind to others.
Chung ta phai hoc kiïn nhễn.
We must learn to be patient.
Con gai a, hay cö́ găng ₫ưng xếu vơi chñnh mònh.
Daughter, try not to be mean to yourself.
Con trai chung töi muö́n thếy căn nha mơi cua chung töi cang sơm
cang tö́t.
CHOOSE TO DO SOMETHING
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THE INFINITIVE PHRASE
Our son wants to see our new house asap.
Töi luön cö́ găng lam vưa long me töi.
I’ve always tried to please my mom.
Bö́ töi muö́n ₫ươc chön cết bïn canh me töi.
My father wishes to be buried besides my mother.
[P2]
Bêy giơ töi khöng biḯt phai lam gò nưa.
I don’t know what to do now.
Me a, me co biḯt tòm möt ngươi ₫an öng như vêy ơ ₫êu khöng?
Mother, do you know where to find such a man?
Cö ta chưa quyḯt ₫ịnh la co nhên lơi cều hön cua hăn hay khöng.
She hasn’t decided whether to accept his offer of marriage or
not.
Ban quan trị ₫ang thao luên phai xêy nha may mơi hay nêng cếp
nha may cu.
The board of directors are discussing whether to build a new
factory or to upgrade the old one.
Hoi me con ₫ï̉ bònh hoa ơ ₫êu.
Ask your mother where to put this flower pot.
Vến ₫ï̀ la ₫ều tư vao dư
an nay bao nhiïu tiï̀n?
The question is how much to invest in the project.
Vến ₫ï̀ la phai lam gò bêy giơ.
The point is what to do now.
Vến ₫ï̀ la lam sao huy ₫öng ₫ươc möt sö́ tiï̀n măt lơn như vêy trong
möt thơi gian ngăn như vêy.
The problem is how to collect that much cash in such a short
time.
A connective must be used before an IP when neces-
sary. In other word, an IP can be introduced by a
question word such as HOW, WHEN, WHERE,
WHY etc.