<p>[这么 +v ] = [v + like this/ this way]</p>
<p>[那么 + v] = [v + like that/ that way]</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>大家都[<strong>这么</strong>][说] = everyone [says it] [<strong>like that</strong>]</p>
<p>你不该[<strong>那么</strong>][做] = you shouldn't [do it] [<strong>like that</strong>]</p>
<p>~</p>
<p>[这么 + adj ] = [ this + adj]</p>
<p>[那么 + adj ] = [ that + adj]</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>[<strong>这么</strong>][坏] = [<strong>this</strong>][bad]</p>
<p>[<strong>那么</strong>][好] = [<strong>that</strong>][good]</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-15T18:16:56.827Z
Maybe for completeness, could you provide an example with 这么 / 那么 + verb + object? Does it sound good 你不该那么做菜 - *You shouldn't cook the dish like that.*?
Puco4
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-15T19:02:46.113Z
做菜 in 你不该那么做菜 can be a single  verb for 'cook' but you can treat 做 as a verb and 菜 as an object
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-15T19:13:43.423Z
In SWC, the correct structure is [那样 + v + object ], but many people use 那样 and 那么 interchangeably.  I tried to argue [那么 +adj ] and [ 那样 + v ], but they just insist  [那么  + v ] = [ 那样 + v ], So I gave up and accepted the way they use  那样 and 那么 interchangeably
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-15T19:34:34.263Z
What does it mean SWC?
Puco4
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-15T19:37:12.667Z
Standard Written Chinese
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-15T17:55:51.203Z
2020-08-15T17:55:51.203Z
Tang Ho
<p>I have some confusion with the use of 这么 (<em>this, so</em>) and 那么 (<em>that, so</em>). I found these examples (from Pleco):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>大家都<strong>这么说</strong>。</p>
<p>Dàjiā dōu zhème shuō.</p>
<p>Everyone says <strong>this / so</strong>.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>你不该<strong>那么做</strong>。</p>
<p>Nǐ bù gāi <strong>nàme zuò</strong>.</p>
<p>You shouldn't do <strong>that</strong>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>where 这么 / 那么 are placed <em>before</em> the action verb. Grammatically, I understand they are <strong>pronouns</strong> acting as the <strong>object</strong> of the verb. However, in Mandarin typically the object goes <em>after</em> the verb. What is the rationale for placing 这么 / 那么 before it? Are they an exception to the standard order of <code>verb + object</code>?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-15T17:42:10.893Z
[这么 +v ] = [v + like this/ this way] ; [那么 + v]  = [v + like that/ that way]
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-15T17:45:07.317Z
@TangHo Ah ok, so then grammatically they are like an adverb and are placed before the verb.
Puco4
<grammar><usage><sentence-structure><syntax>
Why 这么 / 那么 are placed before the action verb?
# Why 这么 / 那么 are placed before the action verb?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-08-15)

I have some confusion with the use of 这么 (*this, so*) and 那么 (*that, so*). I found these examples (from Pleco):

> 大家都**这么说**。
>
> Dàjiā dōu zhème shuō.
>
> Everyone says **this / so**.

> 你不该**那么做**。
>
> Nǐ bù gāi **nàme zuò**.
>
> You shouldn't do **that**.

where 这么 / 那么 are placed *before* the action verb. Grammatically, I understand they are **pronouns** acting as the **object** of the verb. However, in Mandarin typically the object goes *after* the verb. What is the rationale for placing 这么 / 那么 before it? Are they an exception to the standard order of `verb + object`?

**Tags:** grammar, usage, sentence-structure, syntax
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: [这么 +v ] = [v + like this/ this way] ; [那么 + v]  = [v + like that/ that way]  
> **username_0**: @TangHo Ah ok, so then grammatically they are like an adverb and are placed before the verb.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-08-15. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

[这么 +v ] = [v + like this/ this way]

[那么 + v] = [v + like that/ that way]

Example:

大家都[**这么**][说] = everyone [says it] [**like that**]

你不该[**那么**][做] = you shouldn't [do it] [**like that**]

~

[这么 + adj ] = [ this + adj]

[那么 + adj ] = [ that + adj]

Example:

[**这么**][坏] = [**this**][bad]

[**那么**][好] = [**that**][good]

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Maybe for completeness, could you provide an example with 这么 / 那么 + verb + object? Does it sound good 你不该那么做菜 - *You shouldn't cook the dish like that.*?  
> **username_1**: 做菜 in 你不该那么做菜 can be a single  verb for 'cook' but you can treat 做 as a verb and 菜 as an object  
> **username_1**: In SWC, the correct structure is [那样 + v + object ], but many people use 那样 and 那么 interchangeably.  I tried to argue [那么 +adj ] and [ 那样 + v ], but they just insist  [那么  + v ] = [ 那样 + v ], So I gave up and accepted the way they use  那样 and 那么 interchangeably  
> **username_0**: What does it mean SWC?  
> **username_1**: Standard Written Chinese  

---

