和 and 对 for “With” and “To”
Use 和 + person for doing something with someone, and 对 + person for who your words or attitude are aimed at; both go before the verb.
Pattern
subject + 和 / 对 + person + verb (phrase)
和 + person means “with”; 对 + person means “to” or “toward.” The whole pair goes before the main verb or adjective.
我想和朋友一起去看电影。
When to use 和 and 对 for “With” and “To”
和 and 对 can work as prepositions: they come before a person, and the pair goes before the main verb. 和 + person means “with”: you and that person do the action together, as in 我和朋友一起去. 对 + person means “to” or “toward”: it shows who your words, look or attitude are aimed at, as in 老师对我们说 or 他对我很好. Words like 不, 想 and 也 go before 和 or 对: 我不想和他一起去.
老师对我们说：“明天见！”
The teacher said to us, “See you tomorrow!”
他对我很好。
He is very good to me.
我不想和他一起去。
I don’t want to go with him.
我每天和妈妈一起做饭。
I cook with my mom every day.
Common traps
- 和 + person goes before the verb: 我和朋友去商店, not 我去商店和朋友.
- Put 不 and 想 before 和: 我不想和他去, not 我和他不想去 when you mean “I don’t want to go with him.”
- Calling or doing something for someone uses 给: 给妈妈打电话, not 对妈妈打电话.
Targeted drill
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