{ Variation in Order}. 373. The components of some groups admit of more than one mode of arrangement. The following may be used in a direct or inverted order.
來往 lé ’wong, { communication}. 氣力 k’í‘ lih, { strength}. 笑談 siau‘ da{ n}, { laughing and talking}. 征戰 tsung tsé{ n}‘ { to fight}. 週身上下 tseu sun ’zong ’{ a}u, { the whole body} (or 下上). 歡喜 hwe{ n} ’h’í, { pleased}. 勿論損益 veh lun‘ ’sun yuh, { without regarding whether it be injurious or beneficial}. 小大 ’siao dú‘, { small, great}. 黑白 huh, báh, { black, white}. 南北東西 né{ n} póh tóng sí, { south, north, east and west}. 靈魂 ling { w}ung, { the soul}. 彎轉 wa{ n} ’tsé{ n}, { to turn around}. 長短 dzáng ’tö{ n}, { long and short}.
Obs. The number of groups variable in order, is comparatively extremely small. The number of cases in English, where one particular order of coordinate words is maintained, is by no means small; e.g. { long and happy reign; far and near; kings and queens}.
374. The following principles of arrangement may be distinguished in the apposition of verbs.
{ a}. The auxiliaries of the future tense, and the imperative and potential moods precede their verb. 要 yau‘, 會 { w}é‘, 能 nung.
總要去 ’tsóng yau‘ k’í‘, { you must go}. 我會寫 ’ngú { w}é‘ ’siá, { I can write}. 勿能來 veh nung lé, { he cannot come}. 勿要來 veh yau‘ lé, { I do not wish to come; or do not come}. 勿會話要來 veh zung { w}ó‘ yau‘ lé, { I did not say, I should come}. 儂也要來 nóng‘ ’{ á} yau‘ lé, { you must come}.
{ b}. When the object of a verb is an action, it is expressed by a verb in Chinese, instead of a verbal derivative, or infinitive, or gerund form, such as would be used in languages having grammatical forms.
勿免死 veh ’míe{ n} ’sí, { cannot avoid dying}. 勿想吃 veh ’siáng k’iuh, { I do not think of eating}. 勿算逃走 veh sö{ n}‘ dau ’tseu, { not to be regarded as flight}. 勿敢做 veh ’ké{ n} tsú‘, { he does not dare do it}. 幾時想修 ’kí zz ’siáng sieu, { when do you think of reforming}. 打算謀反 ’táng sö{ n}‘ meu ’fa{ n}, { to meditate a revolt}. 愛吃酒 é‘ k’iuk ’tsieu, { to be fond of drinking wine}.
{ c}. The auxiliary verbs expressive of direction and motion, beginning and completion, etc. follow the principal verb.
買進來 ’má tsing‘ lé, { to buy in}. 抱進抱出 ’{ p}au tsing‘ ’{ p}au t’seh, { to carry in and out in one’s arms}.
{ d}. Priority in time often determines the order of verbs.