Table Of ContentVietnamese
Vietnamese: An Essential Grammar is a concise and user-friendly reference
guide to modern Vietnamese. It presents a fresh and accessible description of the
language in short, readable sections.
Features include:
• Clear and up-to-date examples of modern usage.
• Special attention to those points which often cause problems to English-
speaking learners.
• Vietnamese / English comparisons and contrasts highlighted throughout.
The final section covers pronunciation, providing an introduction to the syllable
structure of Vietnamese, and highlighting common errors made by English-
speaking learners. Accompanying audio tracks for this chapter are available at
www.routledge.com/9781138210707.
Vietnamese: An Essential Grammar is ideal for learners involved in independent
study and for students in schools, colleges, universities and adult classes of all
types.
Binh Ngo is the Director of the Vietnamese Language Program in the Department
of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University, USA.
Routledge Essential Grammars
Essential Grammars describe clearly and succinctly the core rules of each
language and are up-to-date and practical reference guides to the most important
aspects of languages used by contemporary native speakers. They are designed for
elementary to intermediate learners and present an accessible description of the
language, focusing on the real patterns of use today.
Essential Grammars are a reference source for the learner and user of the
language, irrespective of level, setting out the complexities of the language in
short, readable sections that are clear and free from jargon.
Essential Grammars are ideal either for independent study or for students in
schools, colleges, universities and adult classes of all types.
Essential Grammars are available for the following languages:
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Routledge-Essential-Grammars/book-series/SE0549
Vietnamese
An Essential Grammar
Binh Ngo
First published 2021
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2021 Binh Ngo
The right of Binh Ngo to be identifed as author of this work has
been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
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Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identifcation and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ngo, Binh, author.
Title: Vietnamese : an essential grammar / Binh Ngo.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2020. | Series:
Routledge essential grammars | Includes bibliographical references
and index.
Identifers: LCCN 2020007686 (print) | LCCN 2020007687 (ebook) |
ISBN 9781138210714 (hardback) | ISBN 9781138210707 (paperback) |
ISBN 9781315454610 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Vietnamese language—Grammar.
Classifcation: LCC PL4374 .N215 2020 (print) | LCC PL4374 (ebook) |
DDC 495.9/225—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020007686
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020007687
ISBN: 978-1-138-21071-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-21070-7 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-45461-0 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
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Visit the eResources: www.routledge.com/9781138210707
Contents
Preface xxvi
Introduction xxviii
1 Vietnamese language xxviii
2 How this book is organized xxix
3 Symbols, abbreviations, contractions and typography xxxi
Chapter 1 Nouns, noun phrases and their
components 1
1.1 Introduction to the Vietnamese nouns 1
1.2 Classification of nouns 2
1.2.1 Common nouns vs. proper nouns 2
1.2.2 Concrete nouns vs. abstract nouns 4
1.2.3 Countable nouns vs. uncountable nouns 4
1.2.3.1 Abstract nouns denoting concepts 4
1.2.3.2 Mass nouns denoting material and
substance 5
1.2.3.3 Collective nouns denoting groups
of people and sets of items 5
1.3 Noun phrases and their components 5
1.3.1 Noun phrase #1: number + classifier + noun 5
1.3.1.1 Numbers 5
1.3.1.1.1 Cardinal numbers 5
1.3.1.1.2 Ordinal numbers 8
1.3.1.1.3 Decimals, fractions and
percentage 8
1.3.1.1.4 Addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division 9
v
Contents 1.3.1.1.5 Twice, twice as much/
many . . . , three times
+ comparative adjective
in Vietnamese 10
1.3.1.1.6 Half and and a half in
Vietnamese 10
1.3.1.1.7 Dates and clock time 11
1.3.1.1.8 Approximations: several,
a few, some; few, little,
many, much in Vietnamese 16
1.3.1.1.9 More than, over, fewer than,
under and nearly used before
a specified number or amount
in Vietnamese 18
1.3.1.1.10 Pair and couple in Vietnamese 19
1.3.1.2 Classifiers 20
1.3.1.2.1 Classifiers for different
types of nouns 20
1.3.1.2.2 Constructions in which
no classifier is used 24
1.3.2 Noun phrase #2: plural marker + classifier
+ noun 25
1.3.2.1 Plural markers 26
1.3.2.2 Determiners every, each, all, entire,
whole in Vietnamese 27
1.3.2.2.1 Cả 27
1.3.2.2.2 Tất cả 28
1.3.2.2.3 Mọi 28
1.3.2.2.4 Mỗi 29
1.3.2.2.5 Từng 30
1.3.2.2.6 Toàn and toàn bộ 31
1.3.2.3 Đều emphasizing the plurality 31
1.3.3 Noun phrase #3: noun + attributive 32
1.3.3.1 Adjectives as attributives 32
1.3.3.1.1 Positive, comparative
and superlative of the
adjectives 33
1.3.3.2 Adverbs of degree 35
1.3.3.3 Demonstrative adjectives as attributives 35
1.3.3.4 Question words gì and nào as
vi attributives 36
1.3.3.5 Nouns as attributives 38
1.3.3.5.1 Introduction of nouns Contents
functioning as attributives 38
1.3.3.5.2 Use of của 39
1.3.3.5.3 Possessive pronouns and
personal pronouns 40
1.3.3.5.4 Third personal pronouns 44
1.3.3.5.5 Personal pronouns in the
plural 45
1.3.3.5.6 Other personal pronouns 45
1.3.3.6 Verbs and verb phrases as attributives 46
1.4 Main functions of nouns and noun phrases 48
1.4.1 Subject of a sentence 48
1.4.2 Direct object of a verb 48
1.4.3 Indirect object of a verb 48
1.4.4 Subject predicative 49
1.4.5 Object predicative 49
1.4.6 Complement of a preposition 49
1.4.7 Modifier of a noun as its attributive 49
Chapter 2 Verbs, verb phrases and their
components 50
2.1 Introduction to the Vietnamese verbs 50
2.2 Types of verbs 50
2.2.1 Là and the English to be 51
2.2.2 Có and the English to have 52
2.2.3 Semantic groups of verbs 53
2.3 Verb phrase #1: tense / aspect marker + verb 53
2.3.1 Tense markers 53
2.3.2 Aspect markers 55
2.3.2.1 Vừa / mới / vừa mới 55
2.3.2.2 Sắp 56
2.3.2.3 Chưa 56
2.3.2.4 Vẫn / còn / vẫn còn 56
2.3.2.5 Đang 57
2.3.2.6 Vẫn and vẫn còn referring to
persistence 57
2.3.2.7 Rồi 58
2.3.2.8 Xong 59
2.3.2.9 Hết 60
2.3.2.10 Hẳn 61 vii
2.4 Verb phrase #2: verb + object 62
Contents 2.4.1 Verbs of giving 62
2.4.1.1 Verb + indirect object + direct object 62
2.4.1.2 Verb + direct object + cho + indirect
object 63
2.4.1.3 Verb + cho + indirect object + direct
object 63
2.4.2 Verbs of receiving 64
2.4.2.1 Verb + direct object + của + indirect
object 64
2.4.2.2 Verb + của + indirect object
+ modified direct object 65
2.4.3 Causative verbs 65
2.4.4 Verbs of speaking, thinking and perceiving 68
2.4.4.1 Verb + object 68
2.4.4.2 Verb + verb 69
1 2
2.4.4.3 Verb + preposition + noun / pronoun 69
2.4.4.4 Verb + clause 72
2.4.5 Verbs of equating 72
2.5 Verb phrase #3: verb + adjective 73
2.5.1 Adjective functioning as adverb of manner 73
2.5.2 Positive, comparative and superlative of
adjective modifying verb 74
2.5.3 Bisyllabic adjectives modifying verb 74
2.5.4 Adjectives following một cách 74
2.6 Verb phrase #4: adverb + verb, or verb + adverb 75
2.6.1 Adverbs of degree 75
2.6.1.1 Adverbs of degree modifying verbs
of feelings 75
2.6.1.2 Preference 76
2.6.1.3 [Càng] ngày càng and mỗi lúc một 77
2.6.1.4 Chỉ 78
2.6.2 Adverbs of frequency 79
2.7 Verbs of motion 81
2.7.1 Đi 81
2.7.1.1 Đi + destination 81
2.7.1.2 Đi + preposition + destination 81
2.7.2 Other verbs of motion 82
2.7.3 Verbs of motion and prepositions used with
the geographical names of Vietnam 86
2.7.4 Transitive verbs of motion with no direction 88
viii 2.8 Verbs of appearance, existence and disappearance 89
2.8.1 Có 89 Contents
2.8.2 Còn 90
2.8.3 Hết 90
2.8.4 Mất 91
2.8.5 Xuất hiện 92
2.8.6 Xảy ra and diễn ra 92
2.8.7 Biến mất 93
2.9 Verbs of reaching or bringing to a particular state
or condition 93
2.10 Modal verbs 94
2.10.1 Cần 94
2.10.2 Có thể 95
2.10.3 Dám 96
2.10.4 Định 96
2.10.5 Muốn 97
2.10.6 Nên 97
2.10.7 Phải 98
2.11 Imperatives 98
2.11.1 Hãy 99
2.11.2 Cứ 99
2.11.3 Đi 100
2.11.4 Nhé 100
2.11.5 Mời 101
2.11.6 Đã 102
2.11.7 Đừng 102
2.11.8 Không and không được 103
2.11.9 Chớ 103
2.12 Verb constructions equivalent to the English
passive voice 104
2.13 Main functions of verbs and verb phrases 105
2.13.1 Predicate of a sentence 105
2.13.2 Subject of a sentence 106
2.13.3 Object of a verb 106
2.13.4 Modifier of a noun as its attributive 106
Chapter 3 Adjectives, adjective phrases and
their components 107
3.1 Introduction to the Vietnamese adjectives 107
3.1.1 Main distinction between a Vietnamese
adjective and an English adjective 107 ix
