Coordinating Nouns with 跟 and 和 in Chinese
跟/和
跟 and 和 can join parallel noun phrases meaning and. The coordinated phrase can be a subject or object, and a following 都 often gives the predicate scope over both members. This coordinating use links equals; it does not replace a conjunction that connects two complete contrasting or causal clauses.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Noun Phrase + 跟/和 + Noun Phrase
Read the structure
跟 and 和 can join parallel noun phrases meaning and. The coordinated phrase can be a subject or object, and a following 都 often gives the predicate scope over both members. This coordinating use links equals; it does not replace a conjunction that connects two complete contrasting or causal clauses. Keep the model Noun Phrase + 跟/和 + Noun Phrase visible while you compare each sentence.
我和弟弟都学习中文。
My younger brother and I both study Chinese.
Choose the right context
Join two people as a compound subject before one shared predicate. Join two objects selected by the same verb. Add 都 after a coordinated subject when the predicate applies to both members.
爸爸跟妈妈在家。
Dad and Mom are at home.
Respect the boundary
Do not leave the second coordinated noun without a shared predicate or larger phrase. Do not place 都 between 跟/和 and the second noun. Do not use noun coordination alone to express cause, contrast, or sequence between clauses.
我和都弟弟学习中文。
(My brother and I both study Chinese.)
Repair the pattern
Scope adverb splits the coordinated nouns: 和 must directly join the two noun phrases; 都 follows the complete coordinated subject and scopes over it. Coordinator precedes both coordinated nouns: 和 must stand between the two parallel objects 茶 and 咖啡; it cannot precede the entire pair.
我和弟弟都学习中文。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
我和弟弟都学习中文。
My younger brother and I both study Chinese.
我
Noun Phrase
This part occupies the Noun Phrase position in the model pattern.
和
跟/和
This part occupies the 跟/和 position in the model pattern.
弟弟
Noun Phrase
This part occupies the Noun Phrase position in the model pattern.
都
Noun Phrase
This part occupies the Noun Phrase position in the model pattern.
学习
跟/和
This part occupies the 跟/和 position in the model pattern.
中文
Noun Phrase
This part occupies the Noun Phrase position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
我和弟弟都学习中文。
My younger brother and I both study Chinese.
爸爸跟妈妈在家。
Dad and Mom are at home.
我喜欢茶和咖啡。
I like tea and coffee.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Join two people as a compound subject before one shared predicate.
- Join two objects selected by the same verb.
- Add 都 after a coordinated subject when the predicate applies to both members.
Do not use it when
- Do not leave the second coordinated noun without a shared predicate or larger phrase.
- Do not place 都 between 跟/和 and the second noun.
- Do not use noun coordination alone to express cause, contrast, or sequence between clauses.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
我和都弟弟学习中文。
我和弟弟都学习中文。
Scope adverb splits the coordinated nouns
和 must directly join the two noun phrases; 都 follows the complete coordinated subject and scopes over it.
我喜欢和茶咖啡。
我喜欢茶和咖啡。
Coordinator precedes both coordinated nouns
和 must stand between the two parallel objects 茶 and 咖啡; it cannot precede the entire pair.
我和都弟弟学习中文。
和 must directly join the two noun phrases; 都 follows the complete coordinated subject and scopes over it.
我喜欢和茶咖啡。
和 must stand between the two parallel objects 茶 and 咖啡; it cannot precede the entire pair.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 跟/和.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 跟/和. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Coordinating Nouns with 跟 and 和 Questions
Is 跟 more conversational than 和?
Often yes, though both commonly coordinate nouns in speech.
Can 和 connect two full clauses?
Usually not as a general English-style and. Mandarin often uses adverbs or leaves the relation unmarked.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, Level 1 item 【一19】 (PDF p. 179)
Provides official Level 1 directory placement and examples only; it does not establish the learner-facing usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 16, §§16.1-16.2, conjunctions joining noun phrases and alternatives
Treats 跟 and 和 as coordinators between parallel noun phrases and distinguishes noun coordination from clause linking.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
同/与Formal Coordination with 同 and 与
Compare neutral coordination with more formal conjunction choices.
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及Formal Nominal Coordination with 及
Compare ordinary noun coordination with concise formal 及.
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还是/或者还是 vs 或者: Two Ways to Say Or
Separate coordination from presenting alternatives in questions or statements.
Easy to confuse
同 / 与 + 对象 + 动词同 and 与 as Object-Introducing Prepositions
Distinguish conjunctions joining nouns from prepositions introducing an action participant.
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