同 and 与 as Object-Introducing Prepositions in Chinese
同 / 与 + 对象 + 动词
同 and 与 can introduce the person or organization involved in an action, much like 跟 in neutral speech. The prepositional phrase precedes the verb: 同老师商量, 与公司合作. Both are more common in formal or written contexts than conversational 跟. They also function as conjunctions, so syntax and meaning determine the analysis.
Published July 28, 2026
Reviewed July 28, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + 同 / 与 + Person or Organization + Verb Phrase
Read the structure
同 and 与 can introduce the person or organization involved in an action, much like 跟 in neutral speech. The prepositional phrase precedes the verb: 同老师商量, 与公司合作. Both are more common in formal or written contexts than conversational 跟. They also function as conjunctions, so syntax and meaning determine the analysis. Keep the model Subject + 同 / 与 + Person or Organization + Verb Phrase visible while you compare each sentence.
我想同老师商量这个问题。
I want to discuss this issue with the teacher.
Choose the right context
Introduce the counterpart in discussion, cooperation, contact, or comparison. Place the complete 同 or 与 phrase before the action verb. Choose these forms when a more formal register suits the context.
学校正在与公司合作。
The school is cooperating with a company.
Respect the boundary
Do not insert the verb between the preposition and its object. Do not place the counterpart after a completed intransitive predicate. Do not assume every 同 or 与 is a preposition; they can coordinate nouns.
我想同商量老师这个问题。
(I want to discuss this issue with the teacher.)
Repair the pattern
The verb splits the preposition from its object: 同 first combines with its object 老师; the complete prepositional phrase precedes 商量. The object follows the completed predicate: 与 must introduce 公司 before the predicate 合作.
我想同老师商量这个问题。
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.
我想同老师商量这个问题。
I want to discuss this issue with the teacher.
我想
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
同
同 / 与
This part occupies the 同 / 与 position in the model pattern.
老师
Person or Organization
This part occupies the Person or Organization position in the model pattern.
商量
Verb Phrase
This part occupies the Verb Phrase position in the model pattern.
这个
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
问题
同 / 与
This part occupies the 同 / 与 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.
我想同老师商量这个问题。
I want to discuss this issue with the teacher.
学校正在与公司合作。
The school is cooperating with a company.
他不愿同别人争论。
He is unwilling to argue with others.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Introduce the counterpart in discussion, cooperation, contact, or comparison.
- Place the complete 同 or 与 phrase before the action verb.
- Choose these forms when a more formal register suits the context.
Do not use it when
- Do not insert the verb between the preposition and its object.
- Do not place the counterpart after a completed intransitive predicate.
- Do not assume every 同 or 与 is a preposition; they can coordinate nouns.
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.
我想同商量老师这个问题。
我想同老师商量这个问题。
The verb splits the preposition from its object
同 first combines with its object 老师; the complete prepositional phrase precedes 商量.
学校正在与合作公司。
学校正在与公司合作。
The object follows the completed predicate
与 must introduce 公司 before the predicate 合作.
我想同商量老师这个问题。
同 first combines with its object 老师; the complete prepositional phrase precedes 商量.
学校正在与合作公司。
与 must introduce 公司 before the predicate 合作.
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 同 / 与 + 对象 + 动词.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 同 / 与 + 对象 + 动词. 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
同 and 与 as Object-Introducing Prepositions Questions
How are 同 and 与 different from 跟?
They overlap in this object-introducing use. 跟 is common in conversation, while 同 and especially 与 favor more formal or written contexts.
How can I tell a preposition from a conjunction?
A conjunction coordinates two parallel noun phrases. A prepositional phrase introduces a participant related to the following predicate and cannot freely exchange its two sides.
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: Appendix A, Level 6 item 【六15】 同1、与1, PDF p. 235
Lists 同 and 与 introducing an object before the action at Level 6.
Official source现代汉语的词性分类
华侨大学华文教育研究院 · 华侨大学 · 2024
Locator: Word-class lesson, sections on prepositions and conjunctions
Explains that 和、跟、同、与 have both preposition and conjunction uses and provides syntactic diagnostics.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Conjunctions 同 and 与, printed p. 95
Documents the formal and regional register tendencies of 同 and the literary tendency of 与, supporting the register boundary.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
跟跟 for Doing Something Together
Compare formal 同 or 与 with conversational 跟 before an action participant.
Easy to confuse
跟/和Coordinating Nouns with 跟 and 和
Distinguish a participant-introducing preposition from a conjunction coordinating parallel noun phrases.
Compare
对……对: Directing an Attitude or Action
Compare reciprocal involvement with 同 or 与 against a directed attitude or action using 对.
Compare
同/与Formal Coordination with 同 and 与
Compare the same written forms used as conjunctions rather than prepositions.
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Easy to confuse
Compare formal 同 or 与 with conversational 跟 before an action participant.