<p>In the sentence 什么时候还都可以</p>
<ul>
<li>the subject is 什么时候还 (the topic in topic-comment theory)</li>
<li>the predicate is 都可以</li>
</ul>
<p>可以 is 中心词 (key word or main verb), 都 is an adverb that modifies 可以.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-02T09:01:29.510Z
Does 都 modify 可以? I thought instead modifies the time 什么时候 to mean *any time*. See also [Can an 'adverb' modify 'nouns/pronouns'?](https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/76622/can-an-adverb-modify-nouns-pronouns), even though that discussion is about English language, I think in Mandarin Chinese it has the same grammatical function.
Puco4
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-02T10:25:00.110Z
@Puco4 The adverb 都 modifies the verb 可以. E. g. 我都可以. You'd think 都 modifies 我? Your quotation is not the same as your example in my opinion.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-02T10:35:54.373Z
What does it mean 我都可以? Maybe here 都 means something else and complements the verb. However, usually I have seen 都 means *all*. So for example 我们都可以 means *we all can*. And in this case, I believe 都 modifies 我们 to mean *we all*. Also, from *C. Li, S. Thompson. Mandarin Chinese, A functional reference grammar*: "都 can refer only to a preceding noun phrase, and this noun phrase is generally the topic or the subject." I believe this is the same grammar function as in English when we say *almost everyone*, *almost* is an adverb that complements *everyone* (from the previous link).
Puco4
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-02T11:21:06.150Z
@Puco4 我都可以 means I'm fine with either way.  Your sentence could insert a subject(not necessarily) 什么时候还我都可以.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-02T11:27:41.457Z
@Puco4 我们都可以 might have two meanings according to context, "we all can" and "we are fine with either(or any) way".
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-02T11:30:42.190Z
But then, I believe 都 makes reference (and complements) another omitted noun (the possible ways), and not the verb.
Puco4
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-02T13:15:44.153Z
@Puco4 Whatever makes sense to you...
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-03T09:35:58.357Z
@Puco4 都 is an adverb and syntactically goes with the verb. How you render any sentence in English is not relevant to understanding the structure of the source language. Easy test: does 我都 work alone? No. Does 都可以 work alone? Yes.
blackgreen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-02T00:08:03.587Z
2020-09-03T09:36:54.390Z
2020-09-03T09:36:54.390Z
dan
<p>Don't really like （你）还</p>
<p>Maybe this helps a little:</p>
<p>你什么时候把车还给我，都可以。我今天不需要用车。<br />
You can return my car anytime. I don't need it today.</p>
<p>你随时可以把车还给我。我今天不需要用车。<br />
You can return my car any time. I don't need it today.</p>
<p>你什么时候回来 （回家、回宾馆）， 都可以。<br />
You can come back (come home, come back to the hotel) anytime.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-02T23:14:41.247Z
2020-09-02T23:14:41.247Z
Pedroski
<p>I found this example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>你拿着用吧，什么时候还都可以。</p>
<p>Nǐ ná zheyòng ba, shénme shíhòu huán dōu kěyǐ.</p>
<p>You can have it as long as you want.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I am confused about the grammar structure behind 什么时候还都可以 (literally: any time you return it is ok). <strong>How is it possible 都 occurs after the verb 还 (to return)?</strong> Until now, I always saw 都 before any verb.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-09-01T22:47:04.727Z
Make a pause here: ```(什么时候还) 都可以```, just like```(今天还 或者 明天还) 都可以```, take the first part as one subject.
Shaw
<grammar><usage><sentence-structure><phrase><word-order>
Why is 都 placed after a verb in "什么时候还都可以"?
# Why is 都 placed after a verb in "什么时候还都可以"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-09-01)

I found this example:

> 你拿着用吧，什么时候还都可以。
>
> Nǐ ná zheyòng ba, shénme shíhòu huán dōu kěyǐ.
>
> You can have it as long as you want.

I am confused about the grammar structure behind 什么时候还都可以 (literally: any time you return it is ok). **How is it possible 都 occurs after the verb 还 (to return)?** Until now, I always saw 都 before any verb.

**Tags:** grammar, usage, sentence-structure, phrase, word-order
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Make a pause here: ```(什么时候还) 都可以```, just like```(今天还 或者 明天还) 都可以```, take the first part as one subject.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-09-02. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

In the sentence 什么时候还都可以

* the subject is 什么时候还 (the topic in topic-comment theory)
* the predicate is 都可以

可以 is 中心词 (key word or main verb), 都 is an adverb that modifies 可以.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Does 都 modify 可以? I thought instead modifies the time 什么时候 to mean *any time*. See also [Can an 'adverb' modify 'nouns/pronouns'?](https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/76622/can-an-adverb-modify-nouns-pronouns), even though that discussion is about English language, I think in Mandarin Chinese it has the same grammatical function.  
> **username_2**: @Puco4 The adverb 都 modifies the verb 可以. E. g. 我都可以. You'd think 都 modifies 我? Your quotation is not the same as your example in my opinion.  
> **username_0**: What does it mean 我都可以? Maybe here 都 means something else and complements the verb. However, usually I have seen 都 means *all*. So for example 我们都可以 means *we all can*. And in this case, I believe 都 modifies 我们 to mean *we all*. Also, from *C. Li, S. Thompson. Mandarin Chinese, A functional reference grammar*: "都 can refer only to a preceding noun phrase, and this noun phrase is generally the topic or the subject." I believe this is the same grammar function as in English when we say *almost everyone*, *almost* is an adverb that complements *everyone* (from the previous link).  
> **username_2**: @Puco4 我都可以 means I'm fine with either way.  Your sentence could insert a subject(not necessarily) 什么时候还我都可以.  
> **username_2**: @Puco4 我们都可以 might have two meanings according to context, "we all can" and "we are fine with either(or any) way".  
> **username_0**: But then, I believe 都 makes reference (and complements) another omitted noun (the possible ways), and not the verb.  
> **username_2**: @Puco4 Whatever makes sense to you...  
> **username_3**: @Puco4 都 is an adverb and syntactically goes with the verb. How you render any sentence in English is not relevant to understanding the structure of the source language. Easy test: does 我都 work alone? No. Does 都可以 work alone? Yes.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2020-09-02. Score: 1

Don't really like （你）还

Maybe this helps a little:

你什么时候把车还给我，都可以。我今天不需要用车。  
You can return my car anytime. I don't need it today.

你随时可以把车还给我。我今天不需要用车。  
You can return my car any time. I don't need it today.

你什么时候回来 （回家、回宾馆）， 都可以。  
You can come back (come home, come back to the hotel) anytime.


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