thu tram's guide to viet grammar
phong ba bão táp không bằng ngữ pháp Tiếng Việt (Literally "storms cannot be compared to the Vietnamese grammar")
Welcome to thu tram's guide to viet grammar!
The Common Grammar Guide.
Dedicated to all those who learn, want to learn, and will learn.
This grammar guide is an open and community-maintained project (inspired by yoku.bi). We accept all kinds of helpful contributions.
You are welcome to join our discord community for feedback, comments, reviews, or just to chat.
If you want to contribute, you can view the project on github and file issues and pull requests.
DO NOT skip reading the Before you begin and Preamble pages. They give you instructions on how to use this guide.
Before you begin
What you need
This guide assumes that you're learning vocabulary outside this guide. It can't teach you enough words to be useful without getting in the way of the grammar.
If you need more guidance for things other than grammar, try reading the guide.
How to use this guide and Learn Vietnamese
Basically, this guide is a primer. This guide takes a very specific stance: The only way to acquire language features and become fluent is to consume them in a real context. This guide doesn't try to drill you, and that's a good thing.
When you read this guide, don't try to memorize it. It won't work.
You shouldn't spend a week on each lesson. In fact, one new lesson a day might be too slow, even if you're also reviewing old lessons.
Every single main lesson in this guide covers basic grammar. You should read the entire thing as quickly as possible. It's important to get stuff in your head sooner rather than later. It gives it time to grow, subconsciously, and even if you didn't feel like you learned it the first time, it makes it easier to remember it for good next time. Just don't get stuck reviewing it forever.
After you get far enough in this guide, you should start trying to consume Vietnamese content. Especially reading. This guide will tell you when it's a good time to start, but if you want to try earlier you don't need to wait.
Trying to read on a regular basis, even if you can't do it for more than five minutes, tells you exactly what your weak points are, and gives you a sense of progress. This guide exposes you to grammar to let you break down things, but you need to consume real Vietnamese to turn that exposure into acquisition.
The most efficient way to learn vocabulary is to start picking up words from media you enjoy, then memorize them with flashcards. This is called mining. Anki is the recommended flashcard program because it uses Spaced Repetition, which shows you stuff less often the better you know it. You can use frequency lists or shared decks prepared by other people at first if you don't want to mine or find the process of immersing in Vietnamese media still too hard. A good starter deck is the Basic Vietnamese for English Speakers deck.
If you want to speak Vietnamese, you must consume audible spoken Vietnamese, otherwise you'll sound unnatural. It doesn't matter if it's hoạt hình or news or living in Vietnam, you just have to consume it in the spoken unwritten form. This can come after you learn how to read, but you should passively expose yourself to it (with anything: drama, tv shows, truyện tranh, hoạt hình, etc) as early as possible, otherwise it'll take a long time for your brain to pick up on nuanced sound differences. If you spend most of your time reading and ignore the spoken language, you can also acquire unnatural pronunciation that might be harder to fix later.
"Help!"
Don't sweat it. Try to find a way to use this guide in a nice low stress way. Don't angst out about something being hard. Some things just take time.
If you still don't know what to do, or you came back here confused:
- Start learning the basics (vocabulary) outside this guide.
- Start studying vocabulary outside this guide.
- Remind yourself that Vietnamese is not a literal transposition of English word-by-word.
- A lot of concepts will not make sense in terms of literal English.
- You can't acquire a language without consuming it.
- Until you consume enough Vietnamese, some things simply won't click.
- Always keep moving forward. That's what gives you the language.
Do not memorize this guide. It won't work. It might even be bad for you.
Still stuck?
It's true that everyone learns the same way when it comes to mastery, fluency, exposure, and real world experience, but it's not true that everyone learns the same way when it comes to deliberate study. This guide is deliberate study, and it might not be right for everyone. If it doesn't start working after two weeks, try other resources. Reading explanations about the same thing in different places can make it easier to understand.
Just make sure you don't burn yourself out trying to master them. Mastery only comes from real world experience, and in the case of language learning, that means reading and listening.
Preamble
This guide will cover most of the grammar needed to understand basic Vietnamese. It's not going to go into too much detail, and it won't cover much vocabulary. If you are reading this in a browser, install a dictionary lookup extension like Yomitan so you can easily look up the words in the example sentences. Some words are basically grammar, though, so they will come up in specific lessons.
There are no exercises:
- Skill building, as in reading a grammar explanation and answering questions about it, doesn't work when it comes to learning a new language.
- A lot of people are poisoned by modern education and will basically fry their brains if there's anything to "work" on.
- Grammar guides are a terrible place to learn vocabulary.
Not even the best linguists in the entire world can explain simple ideas like "gonna" with any less than an impenetrable book-length essay. That's not a matter of philosophy, it's a matter of explaining what things really mean, or how they work. Simple incomplete explanations are good, but have holes in them. This guide tries to walk the line and warn you about things it can't explain, but it's really hard. As a reader, you are expected to be flexible and take things written here at "face value". Understand that this is how Vietnamese works, and that asking why is often not going to lead you anywhere.
This grammar guide does its best to give you some basic exposure to Vietnamese grammar. It can't teach you it. It can only introduce you to it. Your job is to turn that exposure into acquisition. The exposure is just a foot in the door.
And, by all means, if something is too hard, skip it. You're not trying to memorize something so you can identify it with 100% precision when you're consuming Vietnamese.
You're trying to get something into your head. If you can't, that's fine, you'll pick it up naturally later.
Don't look back.
Lesson 1: Topic–comment and basic word order
Vietnamese sentences are often organized around what you are talking about first, and then what you want to say about it. This is called the topic–comment pattern, and it is one of the most important things to notice early on.
At a basic level, Vietnamese can look similar to English. You will often see sentences that resemble Subject–Verb–Object order. However, Vietnamese is not built around the subject in the same way English is. Instead, sentences are frequently shaped by context and topic.
Consider a simple sentence:
Anh ăn cơm. “He eats rice.”
This looks straightforward. But Vietnamese allows much more flexibility than English. The sentence does not have to be built strictly around “he” as a grammatical subject. What matters more is what the sentence is about.
Very often, Vietnamese brings the topic to the front and then adds a comment about it:
Sách này tôi đọc rồi. “This book, I’ve already read.”
Here, sách này (“this book”) is the topic. The rest of the sentence is a comment about that topic.
Because context carries so much weight, Vietnamese frequently drops explicit subjects when they are obvious:
Ăn rồi. “(I/you/he) already ate.”
Who ate is not stated, because the situation already makes it clear. This happens constantly in real Vietnamese.
Word order is therefore more flexible than in English. Elements can move to the front to set context, emphasize something, or clarify what the speaker is talking about. Meaning is not determined by position alone, but by how the sentence fits into the surrounding context.
Xong bài tập hôm nay rồi. (I) have already done my homework for today.
A useful thing to remember is that Vietnamese sentences are shaped less by fixed rules and more by information flow. You will see many variations in real input. The important part for now is to notice the pattern: topic first, then comment, with context doing much of the work.
Lesson 2: State and identity with and without “là”
Vietnamese does not use a single word like “to be” for everything. Instead, it expresses identity and state in different ways, often depending on what kind of word comes next and what the context is.
When you are defining or identifying someone or something with a noun, Vietnamese commonly uses là to link the two parts:
Tôi là sinh viên. “I’m a student.”
Anh ấy là bác sĩ. “He’s a doctor.”
Here, là connects one noun to another and signals identity or classification.
When you are describing how someone or something is, Vietnamese usually does not use là. Adjectives and stative verbs work directly as the predicate:
Tôi mệt. “I’m tired.”
Cô ấy cao. “She’s tall.”
Trời lạnh. “It’s cold.”
In these sentences, there is no linking word. The description itself functions as the core of the sentence. This is very common and natural in Vietnamese.
You may also hear sentences like: Cô ấy thì cao. or Trời thì lạnh. Here, thì marks the topic and adds a slight sense of contrast or framing, often implying “as for her” or “as for the weather.” These sentences are still grammatical, but they carry a bit more structure and emphasis. In neutral descriptions, especially when no contrast is intended, the simpler forms without thì sound more natural and are used more often.
Many Vietnamese sentences express “being” without any explicit word for it. Meaning comes from context rather than from a verb like “is” or “are”.
Sometimes là can appear for emphasis or contrast, especially when the speaker wants to clearly frame something as an identity rather than a description. Most of the time, though, its presence or absence simply follows the structure of the sentence and what kind of meaning is being expressed.
Lesson 3: Nouns and bare nouns
In Vietnamese, nouns usually appear in their bare form. There are no articles like “a” or “the”, and nouns do not change form to show plural. The same noun can refer to one thing, many things, or an entire category.
Because of this, meaning comes mainly from context, not from the noun itself.
Tôi thích cà phê. “I like coffee.”
Here, cà phê refers to coffee in general. The same bare noun can also be used in more specific situations:
Tôi mua cà phê. “I bought coffee.”
Depending on context, this could mean some coffee, a coffee drink, or coffee as a product. The form of the noun does not change.
Bare nouns can also refer to whole classes or concepts:
Mèo thích cá. “Cats like fish.”
Or to something specific when the situation already makes it clear:
Bé mèo đâu rồi? “Where’s the cat?”
Vietnamese sometimes adds small words to make a noun more specific or limited, but this is optional. The bare noun remains the default.
Mấy con mèo chạy mất rồi. “Those few cats ran away.”
Tôi cần một quyển sách. “I need a book.”
These added words help narrow down meaning, but they are not required for a noun to work in a sentence.
The key thing to notice is that Vietnamese nouns themselves do not encode number or definiteness. Instead, listeners rely on context and, when needed, simple markers to understand whether a noun is general, specific, singular, or plural.
Vietnamese verbs: one form, many meanings
Vietnamese verbs stay in a single form. They do not change for person, number, or time. This makes verbs feel stable on the surface, while meaning comes from context and surrounding words.
A verb looks the same whether the subject is “I,” “she,” or “they,” and whether it refers to now, before, or later.
How verbs work in sentences
The verb itself does not show tense. Instead, time and aspect are understood from context, time words, or small helper words placed around the verb.
The verb can stand directly as the predicate. There is no need for a linking verb like “to be.”
Tôi đi. (I go / I’m going.)
Cô ấy đi. (She goes / She’s going.)
The verb đi stays exactly the same in both sentences.
Time comes from outside the verb
Time is usually clear from the situation or from time expressions, not from changing the verb.
Hôm qua tôi ăn phở. (Yesterday I ate phở.)
Bây giờ tôi ăn. (Right now I’m eating.)
Mai tôi ăn phở. (Tomorrow I’ll eat phở.)
(yep, we eat Phở all day)
The verb ăn does not change. Words like hôm qua, bây giờ, mai guide how the sentence is understood.
Verbs as direct descriptions
Verbs can describe actions or states without any extra linking word.
Tôi chạy nhanh. (I run fast / I’m running fast.)
Trời mưa. (It’s raining.)
Here, the verb itself carries the core meaning of the sentence.
Notes
Because verbs do not show tense on their own, Vietnamese relies heavily on context. In conversation, time is often understood without being stated. When needed, speakers add time words or small markers to make things clearer, but the verb form itself stays the same.
Lesson 5: Adjectives as stative verbs (states)
In Vietnamese, describing a person or an object is remarkably straightforward. You don't need to juggle different forms of the verb "to be" (am, is, are) because the descriptive words themselves already do that work for you. We call these stative verbs because they describe a state of being rather than an action.
No “to be,” no là
Because words like đẹp (beautiful), cao (tall), or mệt (tired) already include the meaning of “is / am / are” (or: the “to be” meaning is already inside the adjective), you do not use là. “Subject + adjective” is already a complete sentence.
Em đẹp. (You’re beautiful.)
Cô ấy cao. (She’s tall.)
Trà nóng. (The tea is hot.)
Using là here (Em là đẹp) sounds unnatural, because nothing extra is needed to link the subject and the description.
States, not actions
These words describe how someone or something is, not what they are doing.
Em đói. (I’m hungry.) → a state
Em ăn. (I eat / I’m eating.) → an action
Even though they feel different in English, Vietnamese treats both in a similar sentence pattern.
Negation works like verbs
Adjectives are negated directly with không, just like verbs.
Cô ấy không mệt. (She isn’t tired.)
Phòng này không lớn. (This room isn’t big.)
Nothing changes in the adjective itself; không simply comes before it.
Topic–comment feel
Often, the sentence feels like “as for X, here’s how it is.” The adjective functions as the comment about the topic.
Trời lạnh. (It’s cold.)
Tiếng Việt khó. (Vietnamese is difficult.)
The description alone completes the idea. No object is needed.
Note: These adjective sentences are naturally simple and complete on their own. In real speech, speakers may add small words for emphasis or tone, but the core pattern stays the same: the adjective directly describes the subject, without là and without changing form.
Lesson 6: Modifying nouns with adjectives and verb phrases
Describing nouns: main idea first
When Vietnamese describes a thing, it names the thing first and then adds details. You hear what it is before you hear what it’s like or what it does. This logic stays the same whether the description is a single word or a whole action.
Descriptions come after the noun
Unlike English, adjectives follow the noun they describe.
xe đỏ (a red car)
người cao (a tall person)
The noun comes first. The description comes after.
Adjectives as modifiers
The same adjectives you’ve seen as full sentences (Trời lạnh, Cô ấy cao) can also sit after a noun and act as labels.
cà phê nóng (hot coffee)
áo đẹp (a beautiful shirt)
Actions as descriptions (no “who / which / that”)
Vietnamese doesn’t use words like who, which, or that. Instead, an entire verb phrase can follow a noun and describe it directly.
người ăn bánh mì (the person eating bánh mì)
bạn học tiếng Việt (the friend studying Vietnamese)
cửa hàng bán hoa (the shop that sells flowers)
Stacking details
You can add more than one detail after a noun. Each word further narrows down what you mean. Noticing the flow: When multiple descriptions follow a noun, they usually flow from more general to more identifying details. There is no strict order you need to memorize — just notice how speakers naturally add information step by step.
xe đỏ cũ (an old red car)
nhà nhỏ yên tĩnh (a small, quiet house)
Everything comes after the noun.
Seeing the pattern in sentences
Tôi thích cà phê nóng. (I like hot coffee.)
Cô ấy mua xe cũ. (She bought a used car.)
Đây là người sống ở Hà Nội. (This is the person who lives in Hanoi.)
Because there are no linking words, a noun followed by a verb can briefly look like a full sentence. With context, you’ll naturally notice when the verb is just giving extra information about the noun rather than starting a new idea.
Lesson 7: Possession with “của” and noun–noun structures
Possession: who owns what
Vietnamese talks about possession by naming the thing first, then the person or thing it belongs to. This follows the same “main idea first” pattern you’ve already seen with adjectives and descriptions.
When you say xe tôi, you are literally saying “car me.” The owned item comes first; the owner follows.
The owner follows the owned
This word order is very stable. Whether you are talking about objects or people, the pattern stays the same.
xe tôi (my car)
sách Lan (Lan’s book)
bạn tôi (my friend)
The meaning comes from the order, not from special endings or markers.
The optional marker của
Vietnamese also has the word của, which clearly signals “belonging to” or “of.” It can appear between the object and the owner.
xe của tôi (my car)
nhà của anh ấy (his house)
Using của makes the relationship explicit, but it is not always required.
Direct noun–noun possession
In everyday speech, especially with close relationships or familiar items, của is often dropped. The two nouns are simply placed next to each other.
mẹ tôi (my mother)
tay em (your hand)
nhà mẹ (mom’s house)
Relationship and ownership use the same structure
The same pattern works for people and for things. There is no grammatical difference between “relationship” and “ownership” — context does the work.
bố tôi (my dad)
công ty bố tôi (my dad’s company)
Clarifying with của
You will notice của more often in longer sentences or when the speaker wants to avoid confusion or add emphasis.
ý kiến của người bạn tôi gặp hôm qua (the opinion of the friend I met yesterday)
Lesson 8: Existence with "có" and "không có"
Vietnamese uses the word có to express two main ideas: possession ("to have") and existence ("there is" / "there are"). This flexibility means you often use the same word whether you own something or are just pointing out that it exists.
The "Place + Có + Thing" Pattern
When stating that something exists in a specific location, the standard pattern is simply: Location + có + Thing.
Trong tủ lạnh có sữa. "In the fridge (there) is milk."
Trên bàn có sách. "On the table (there) are books."
The "Empty" Subject
If the location is obvious or general, you can start a sentence directly with Có. You don't need a placeholder subject like "There" in English.
Có ai ở nhà không? "Is there anyone at home?"
Có nhiều người ở đây. "There are many people here."
Basic Negation with "Không có"
To say that something does not exist or is not present, place không before có.
Hôm nay không có nắng. "Today (there is) no sun."
Ở đây không có gì cả. "Here (there is) nothing at all."
Simple Question Structure
To ask if something exists or if someone has something, use the frame Có... không?
Có vấn đề gì không? "Is there any problem?"
Bạn có tiền không? "Do you have money?"
Examples
Trong phòng này có hai cái ghế. "In this room (there) are two chairs."
Ngày mai không có lớp học. "Tomorrow (there is) no class."
Anh ấy có xe máy mới. "He has a new motorbike."
Note on flexibility
Notice that Vietnamese doesn't distinguish between singular ("there is") and plural ("there are"). Có covers both. Also, in casual speech, if the context is clear, the location might be omitted entirely, focusing just on the existence of the object.
Lesson 9: Location with "ở"
To talk about where someone or something is located, Vietnamese uses the word ở. It functions much like the English words "at," "in," or "on," depending on the context.
Positioning with "ở"
When you want to say where something is, the standard pattern is simply: Subject + ở + Location.
Tôi ở nhà. "I am at home."
Sữa ở trong tủ lạnh. "The milk is in the fridge."
Action + Place
If there is an action, ở usually follows the verb to show where the action is happening.
Em ăn cơm ở trường. "I eat rice at school."
Chúng tôi gặp nhau ở quán cà phê. "We met each other at the café."
Asking for Location
To ask "where?", use the phrase ở đâu. The question word stays in the same position where the answer would be.
Bạn sống ở đâu? "You live where?" (Where do you live?)
Sách của tôi ở đâu? "My book is where?" (Where is my book?)
Location vs. Existence
It is important to notice the difference between ở and có. While có focuses on the existence of something ("There is milk"), ở focuses on the location of a specific thing ("The milk is in the fridge").
Trong tủ lạnh có sữa. (Existence) "In the fridge (there) is milk."
Sữa ở trong tủ lạnh. (Location) "The milk is in the fridge."
Examples
Anh ấy đang ở công ty. "He is at the office right now."
Mẹ đang nấu ăn ở trong bếp. "Mom is cooking in the kitchen."
Chìa khóa ở trên bàn. "The key is on the table."
Note on flexibility
In very casual speech, especially with common locations, you might sometimes hear people drop ở if the meaning is perfectly clear (e.g., "Tôi nhà" meaning "I'm (at) home"). However, using ở is the standard way to ground an action or a person in a specific place.
Lesson 10: Basic negation with "không", "chưa", "chẳng"
To negate a statement in Vietnamese, you generally place a negation word directly before the verb or adjective you want to negate. The three most common words are không, chưa, and chẳng.
Universal negation with "không"
This is the standard, all-purpose negation. It is used for facts, habits, or general statements.
Tôi không đói. "I am not hungry."
Anh ấy không đi làm. "He is not going to work."
The "not yet" concept with "chưa"
One of the most important patterns in Vietnamese is the distinction between "not" and "not yet." If something hasn't happened but might or should happen in the future, you use chưa.
Tôi chưa ăn cơm. "I have not eaten yet."
Trời chưa mưa. "It has not rained yet."
Emotional negation with "chẳng"
This is a more casual and sometimes more emphatic way of saying "not." It often carries a bit of emotion or a dismissive tone.
Nó chẳng nói gì cả. "He did not say anything at all!"
Pre-verb placement
In all these cases, the negation word comes right before the action or the quality. Unlike English, which sometimes uses "don't," "doesn't," or "isn't," Vietnamese keeps it simple by just swapping the negation word.
Họ chẳng bao giờ đến muộn. "They never come late (not ever)."
Examples
Em không biết. "I don't know."
Tôi không thích trà. "I don't like tea."
Mai chưa về. "Mai has not returned yet."
Note on nuance
The choice between không and chưa is very common in daily life. If someone asks if you've done something, answering with chưa is often more natural than không, because it implies that you might do it later. As you immerse more, you'll start to feel the slight "attitude" that chẳng adds to a sentence.
Lesson 11: Yes–no questions
Creating a yes–no question in Vietnamese is often as simple as adding a question word to the end of a regular statement. You do not need to change the word order or use helper verbs.
Ending with "không"
The most common way to turn a statement into a question is to add không at the end.
Bạn đói không? "Are you hungry?"
Em hiểu không? "Do you understand?"
The "Có... không?" Frame
You might also see the pattern có ... không. This makes the question slightly more formal or explicit, but the meaning remains the same.
Bạn có đói không? "Are you hungry?"
Chị có mệt không? "Are you tired?"
Checking Completion with "chưa"
When asking if something has happened yet, use chưa at the end instead of không.
Anh ăn cơm chưa? "Have you eaten yet?"
Trời mưa chưa? "Has it rained yet?"
Verb-Based Responses
To answer, you usually repeat the verb or the adjective.
- To say "yes," repeat the verb or just say có.
- To say "no," say không or chưa followed by the verb.
– Đi không? (Want to go?) – Đi. (Yes.) – Không đi. (No.)
Examples
Phim hay không? "Is the movie good?"
Bạn có xe không? "Do you have a car?"
Học xong chưa? "Finished studying yet?"
Note on flexibility
Vietnamese questions are very melodic. You’ll notice that the tone of your voice stays relatively steady, and the word at the end (không or chưa) does all the work of signaling that an answer is expected. As you listen, treat these words as simple "question markers."
Lesson 12: Question words and placement
In Vietnamese, question words generally stay in the exact same spot where the answer would go. You don't need to move words to the front of the sentence.
Static Question Words
Common question words include ai (who), gì (what), đâu (where), and khi nào (when). Notice how they sit in the sentence exactly where the information is missing.
Replacing with "ai" or "gì"
To ask "who" or "what," simply swap the person or thing with the question word.
Anh ấy là Nam. (He is Nam.) Anh ấy là ai? (He is who?)
Bạn ăn phở. (You eat pho.) Bạn ăn gì? (You eat what?)
Placement for "Where" and "When"
The words đâu (where) and bao giờ (when) also stay in their logical positions.
Chị đi đâu? "You are going where?"
Bao giờ anh về? "When are you returning?"
No Inversion
Unlike English, which rearranges sentences to form questions ("What are you doing?"), Vietnamese never inverts the order.
Bạn làm nghề gì? "You do what profession?"
Examples
Cái nào đẹp? "Which one (is) beautiful?"
Ai nấu cơm? "Who cooks?"
Sách của tôi ở đâu? "My book is where?"
Note on nuance
Because question words stay in place, Vietnamese grammar feels very consistent. You don't have to "gear up" for a question by changing the start of the sentence. Just speak the sentence as a fact, but insert the "unknown" word where the answer belongs.
Lesson 13: Sentence-final particles
Vietnamese uses small words called particles at the end of sentences to add mood, emotion, or politeness. They function like "flavor words" that shape how the sentence feels.
Politeness with "ạ"
The particle ạ is used at the very end of a sentence to show respect to someone older or higher in status. It doesn't change the meaning, only the tone.
Chào cô ạ. "Hello (ma'am)."
Con cảm ơn mẹ ạ. "Thank you, Mom."
Agreement with "nhé"
Use nhé to suggest something or check that the other person is okay with a plan. It translates roughly to "okay?" or "shall we?"
Chúng ta đi nhé? "Shall we go, okay?"
Ăn cơm nhé! "Let's eat, okay!"
Confirmation with "à" and "hả"
À expresses realization or mild surprise.
Anh là người Mỹ à? "Oh, so you are American?"
Hả is a casual way to convert a statement into a question, like "huh?" or "right?"
Đẹp hả? "It's beautiful, right?"
Shared Sentiment with "nhỉ"
Use nhỉ to invite the other person to agree with your observation, or when musing to yourself.
Hôm nay trời đẹp nhỉ? "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?"
Examples
Em chưa biết à? "You don't know yet? (Oh!)"
Nóng quá nhỉ? "It's so hot, don't you think?"
Đi chơi nhé? "Let's go out, okay?"
Note on nuance
These particles are the "secret sauce" of natural Vietnamese. Ạ is the safest one to use for politeness. Nhé is very friendly and common. Listen to the tone of voice people use with these words—that melody is part of the grammar.
Lesson 14: Time words and time placement
In Vietnamese, talking about when something happens is very flexible. You can place time information at the start or the end of the sentence.
Anchoring with Time
Putting the time word at the very beginning sets the context for the whole sentence. This is the most common way to "anchor" your statement.
Hôm qua tôi đi Hà Nội. "Yesterday I went to Hanoi."
Năm sau chúng tôi kết hôn. "Next year we get married."
Time as a Detail
You can also switch the position and put the time at the end. This treats the time as a secondary detail.
Tôi đi Hà Nội hôm qua. "I went to Hanoi yesterday."
Broad to Narrow Timing
When you have multiple time words, Vietnamese lists the larger unit before the smaller unit (e.g., "Morning" then "8 o'clock").
Sáng nay lúc 9 giờ. "This morning at 9 o'clock."
Time as a Tense Marker
Since verbs don't conjugate, the time word itself does the job of showing past or future. You don't need extra words like "will" or "did" if the time is stated.
Ngày mai tôi làm việc. "Tomorrow I (will) work."
Examples
Bây giờ em bận rồi. "I am busy now."
Anh ăn cơm lúc 7 giờ. "I eat rice at 7 o'clock."
Gặp lại bạn sau nhé! "See you later!"
Note on flexibility
While both positions work, placing time at the front is a great habit for beginners because it clearly establishes "when" before you get into "what." Also, notice that if the time is obvious from context, Vietnamese speakers often drop the time word entirely.
Lesson 15: Aspect markers: đã, đang, sẽ, rồi, từng
Since verbs don't change form, Vietnamese uses "aspect markers"—small words placed before or after the verb—to clarify the status of an action.
Process markers
Three common markers go before the verb:
- đang (ongoing / -ing)
- đã (past / completion)
- sẽ (future / will)
Tôi đang học. "I am studying."
Tôi sẽ đi. "I will go."
Completion with "rồi"
Rồi goes at the end of a sentence to show that something is already finished or a state has changed ("already").
Tôi ăn rồi. "I (have) eaten already."
Em làm xong rồi. "I finished already."
Experience with "từng"
Use từng before a verb to express that you have "once" or "ever" done something in the past.
Tôi từng đến Pháp. "I have once been to France."
Redundancy Avoidance
These markers are often optional. If you say "Tomorrow I go," the word "Tomorrow" is enough; you don't strictly need sẽ. Vietnamese tends to drop đã and sẽ if the context is clear, but đang and rồi are used frequently to emphasize the flow of events.
Examples
Mẹ đang nấu cơm. "Mom is cooking."
Bạn từng ăn món này chưa? "Have you ever eaten this dish?"
Anh ấy sẽ gọi lại sau. "He will call back later."
Note on nuance
Think of these words as highlighters. You use them when you want to spotlight when or how the action is happening. If the timing isn't the point, you can often leave them out.
Lesson 16: Completed vs ongoing actions
Vietnamese sharply distinguishes between an action that is currently happening and one that has reached a result.
Focusing on the Result with "xong"
The word xong indicates "finished" or "done." Placing xong after a verb emphasizes that the task is completed.
Tôi ăn xong rồi. "I (am) finished eating already."
Đọc xong cuốn sách này. "Finished reading this book."
Continuous States with "vẫn"
To say that something is still happening and hasn't ended, use vẫn (or vẫn đang) before the verb.
Trời vẫn đang mưa. "It is still raining."
Họ vẫn làm việc. "They still work."
Checking Status
A very common daily phrase is Xong chưa? (Done yet?).
Học xong chưa? "Finished studying yet?"
Process vs. Climax
Notice the logic:
- Đang (Process): In the middle of doing it.
- Xong (Climax): The moment it is done.
Em đang viết thư. (Process) "I am writing a letter."
Viết xong chưa? (Result check) "Finished writing yet?"
Examples
Anh ấy vẫn chờ. "He is still waiting."
Chưa làm xong. "Not finished yet."
Note on nuance
Xong implies a specific task or action is effectively over. It is very satisfying to use. Contrast this with rồi (already), which just marks a change. You often hear them together: Xong rồi (It's done already!).
Lesson 17: Serial verb constructions
In Vietnamese, you can often string verbs or actions together in a continuous flow without needing words like "to" or "and."
Flowing Actions
If you are doing a series of related things, you just list them in the order they happen.
Tôi đi mua cơm ăn. "I go (to) buy rice (to) eat."
Verb Stacking
You'll see common combinations that act as a single idea, like đi mua (go buy) or về nhà (go home).
Mẹ đi chợ mua rau. "Mom goes to market (to) buy vegetables."
Bridging with "xong"
Use xong (finished) to link one action ending and the next beginning immediately.
Làm xong đi ngủ. "Finish work (and then) go to sleep."
Ăn xong đi chơi! "Finish eating (and then) let's go out!"
Intention through Motion
Movement verbs like đi (go) or đến (come) often act as helper verbs that set the direction for the main action.
Anh đi lấy nước nhé? "Shall I go (and) get water?"
Tôi chạy ra mở cửa. "I run out (to) open the door."
Examples
Em về nhà lấy đồ. "I'm going home (to) get my things."
Bạn đi học về chưa? "Have you gone to school (and) come back yet?"
Tôi ngồi đọc sách. "I sit (and) read a book."
Note on nuance
This pattern makes Vietnamese feel very direct and fast. Instead of building complex sentences with connectors, you just list the actions as they occur in your mind.
Lesson 18: Result verbs and complements
In Vietnamese, actions are often split into two parts: the effort (what you try to do) and the result (what actually happens).
Sensing the Result
Verbs of perception often come in pairs: nhìn (look) vs. thấy (see). To say you actually perceive something, you add thấy.
Tôi nghe thấy tiếng chim hót. "I hear (perceive) birds singing."
Bạn có nhìn thấy con mèo không? "Do you see (find with eyes) the cat?"
Success markers with "được"
The word được after a verb shows successful completion or ability to achieve the result.
Tôi mua được vé rồi. "I (successfully) bought the ticket."
Em tìm được chìa khóa rồi! "I (successfully) found the keys!"
Negative outcomes with "mất"
Conversely, mất implies that something is lost, gone, or regrettably finished.
Tôi quên mất rồi. "I forgot (completely)."
Anh ấy đi đâu mất rồi. "He disappeared somewhere."
Action + Outcome
The structure is consistent: [Verb of Action] + [Result Word].
- Nhìn thấy: Look + See
- Tìm được: Search + Find
- Quên mất: Forget + Completely
Examples
Bạn nghe thấy không? "Can you hear it?"
Tôi làm được bài này. "I can do this exercise."
Mất chìa khóa mất rồi. "(I) lost the keys."
Note on nuance
Using these result verbs clarifies whether you just tried or actually succeeded. Without the result word, the first verb often just implies the attempt or the process.
Lesson 19: Adverbs and adverb placement
Adverbs describe how or how often an action happens. In Vietnamese, their position depends on the type of information they provide.
Post-Verb Manner
Words that describe how an action is done (quality) usually go after the verb.
Anh ấy chạy nhanh. "He runs fast."
Em nói chậm thôi. "Speak slowly please."
Pre-Verb Frequency
Words describing how often something happens usually go before the verb.
Tôi thường đi bộ. "I often walk."
Họ ít khi ăn tối ở ngoài. "They rarely eat out."
Double Words for Emphasis
Vietnamese frequently repeats an adverb (reduplication) to soften the meaning or make it more vivid.
Đi thong thả. "Go leisurely/calmly."
Flexible Quality Words
Many adverbs are simply adjectives used in new spots. Nhanh means "fast" (adjective) or "quickly" (adverb) depending on where it sits.
Xe nhanh. (Adjective) Chạy nhanh. (Adverb)
Examples
Bạn làm việc rất giỏi. "You work very well."
Con mèo ngủ ngon. "The cat sleeps soundly."
Chúng tôi hay gặp nhau. "We frequently meet each other."
Note on nuance
Pay attention to the rhythm: frequency first, action second, manner last. This pattern helps you naturally place descriptive words in the right spot.
Lesson 20: Degree words (rất, khá, hơi, quá, lắm)
Degree words describe intensity—"very," "a bit," or "too." Vietnamese places some before the adjective and some after.
Front-Loaded Intensity
These words appear before the adjective:
- rất (very)
- hơi (a bit / somewhat)
- khá (quite / pretty)
Món này rất ngon. "This dish is very delicious."
Hôm nay hơi lạnh. "It's a bit cold today."
End-Loaded Emphasis
These words appear after the adjective for clearer emotional impact:
- lắm (very / extremely)
- quá (too / so!)
Anh ấy hiền lắm. "He is very gentle."
Cái này đắt quá! "This thing is too expensive!"
Tone and Mood
Lắm feels more conversational than rất. Quá is often used to show excitement or strong feeling, similar to "so!" in English.
Đẹp lắm! (Expressive) Rất đẹp. (Neutral fact)
Excessive vs. Emphatic
While quá can mean "too much" (excessive), context usually clarifies whether you are complaining or just praising.
Nóng quá! "So hot!" (or "Too hot!")
Examples
Bài này hơi khó. "This lesson is a bit difficult."
Trời đẹp quá nhỉ? "The weather is so beautiful, isn't it?"
Khá tốt. "Quite good."
Note on nuance
Using quá at the end of an adjective is a great way to sound authentic when you are impressed or reacting to something in the moment.
Lesson 21: Comparison with “hơn”, “bằng”, “nhất”
To compare things in Vietnamese, you don't need to change the adjective itself (like "tall" to "taller"). You simply add a comparison word after it.
Scaling with "hơn"
To say something is "more" than something else, place hơn immediately after the adjective.
Anh ấy cao hơn tôi. "He is taller than me."
Hôm nay nóng hơn hôm qua. "Today is hotter than yesterday."
The Top Tier with "nhất"
To say something is the "most," add nhất at the end.
Món này ngon nhất. "This dish is the most delicious."
Ai là người giỏi nhất? "Who is the best (most talented)?"
Equality with "bằng"
To say two things are equal in a specific quality, use bằng.
Tôi chạy nhanh bằng anh ấy. "I run as fast as him."
Nhà tôi to bằng nhà bạn. "My house is as big as your house."
Floating Comparisons
If the context is clear, you can stop right after the comparison word without naming the second item.
Cái này đẹp hơn. "This one is more beautiful."
Examples
Tiếng Việt khó hơn tiếng Anh không? "Is Vietnamese harder than English?"
Sách này hay nhất. "This book is the best."
Note on nuance
Nhất is very versatile—you can combine it with almost any quality to show it's at the top of its class. Listen for how people use nhất to give high praise (or strong criticism!).
Lesson 22: Equality and difference
When comparing things, you often want to say they are the "same" or "different." Vietnamese uses specific words to link these concepts.
Similarity with "giống"
To say two things look or feel the same, use giống. It implies a strong resemblance.
Hai cái này giống nhau. "These two are alike (same as each other)."
Con giống bố. "The child is like (resembles) the father."
Contrast with "khác"
To say things are different, use khác. It can also mean "another" or "else."
Màu này khác màu kia. "This color is different (from) that color."
Cho tôi cái khác. "Give me another one."
Likeness with "như"
Như is used for comparisons of manner ("like" or "as"). It’s often used in similes.
Đẹp như tranh. "Beautiful as a painting."
Làm như vậy. "Do it like that."
Collective Identity with "cùng"
Cùng shows that two things share the same space, time, or category (co-).
Chúng tôi cùng một lớp. "We are in the same class."
Họ sống cùng nhà. "They live in the same (co-reside) house."
Examples
Hai chị em nhìn giống nhau quá! "The two sisters look so much alike!"
Mỗi người có một ý kiến khác. "Each person has a different opinion."
Note on nuance
Giống is about resemblance, while bằng (from the previous lesson) is about equal measurement. You can be cao bằng (as tall as) someone without being giống (looking like) them.
Lesson 23: Direction and movement verbs
In Vietnamese, movement is very specific. Many verbs have "direction" built into them, or use a directional suffix to show exactly where the action is headed.
The Five Core Directions
- ra: Outward / North / To a busy place
- vào: Inward / South / To a quiet place
- lên: Up / To highlands
- xuống: Down / To lowlands / From a vehicle
- về: Return / Home
Directional Suffixes
You attach these words to the end of action verbs to show the path of movement.
Đi lên. "Go up."
Nhìn xuống. "Look down."
Chạy ra ngoài. "Run out outside."
The Inward/Outward Perspective
The logic of ra and vào is perspective-based. Going from a small room to the street is ra. Going from the street into a house is vào.
Mời bạn vào nhà. "Please come in (to the house)."
Home as a Destination
When going to the place where you live or belong, you always use về.
Tôi về nhà. "I return home."
Bao giờ bạn về nước? "When do you return to (your) country?"
Examples
Anh ấy đi ra Hà Nội. "He is going out (north) to Hanoi."
Chúng ta đi lên tầng hai nhé. "Let's go up to the second floor, okay?"
Note on nuance
This system is deeply ingrained. You rarely just "go" somewhere; you go "out," "in," "up," or "down" to it. Pay attention to how locals use ra and vào for things like "logging in" (vào) or "going out to eat" (ra quán).
Lesson 24: Arrival, departure, and destination
Talking about travel involves clearly marking the start, the end, and the path in between.
Initiating with "đi"
Đi means "to go," but it also functions as the marker for leaving or starting a journey.
Tôi đi sân bay. "I go to the airport."
Anh ấy vừa đi rồi. "He just left already."
Concluding with "đến"
Use đến (or tới) to emphasize arrival or reaching a specific point.
Chúng tôi đã đến nơi. "We have arrived at the place."
Khi nào bạn đến? "When will you arrive?"
Pathways with "từ... đến"
The standard structure for a route is từ (from) ... đến (to).
Đi từ nhà đến trường. "Go from home to school."
Chuyến bay từ Sài Gòn đến Bangkok. "Flight from Saigon to Bangkok."
Time as a Destination
Đến is also used to show that a specific time has "arrived."
Đến giờ rồi. "Arrived (at the) hour already. (It's time.)"
Examples
Bạn đi tới đâu rồi? "Where have you reached (so far)?"
Đi tới cuối đường. "Go until/to the end of the road."
Note on nuance
Đến and tới are often interchangeable, but đến feels slightly more like hitting a target, while tới can feel like moving toward it.
Lesson 25: Giving and receiving (cho, đưa, nhận)
Transactions—moving something from one person to another—center around three key verbs: cho, đưa, and nhận.
The Act of Giving with "cho"
Cho is the general word for "giving." It applies to gifts, favors, or even permission.
Bố cho con tiền. "Dad gives me money."
Cho tôi một ly nước. "Give me a glass of water."
Physical Hand-off with "đưa"
Đưa implies a physical transfer—passing something from hand to hand.
Làm ơn đưa tôi cái chén. "Please hand me the bowl."
Anh ấy đưa mẹ đi bệnh viện. "He takes/transports Mom to the hospital."
Acceptance with "nhận"
To receive or accept something, use nhận.
Tôi đã nhận được quà. "I (successfully) received the gift."
Bạn có nhận ra tôi không? "Do you recognize (receive) me?"
Transaction Order
You have flexibility in where you place the recipient.
Tặng hoa cho bạn. "(I) give flowers to you."
Tặng bạn hoa. "(I) give you flowers."
Examples
Chị cho em mượn sách nhé? "Can you give (let) me borrow the book?"
Cho mình hỏi một chút. "Give (let) me ask a bit."
Note on nuance
Cho is incredibly common. It isn't just for objects; you "give" permission, "give" a refund, or "give" a ride. Start noticing how often cho appears even when nothing physical is changing hands.
Lesson 26: Benefactive constructions (làm cho ai)
In Vietnamese, doing something for someone else uses the word cho (to give) as a connector. It bridges the action to the beneficiary.
Doing Actions "For" Others
The pattern is: [Action] + cho + [Person].
Mẹ nấu cơm cho con. "Mom cooks rice for me."
Anh mua hoa cho vợ. "He buys flowers for (his) wife."
Instructional "cho"
You also use cho when communicating information to someone.
Nói cho tôi biết. "Tell (for) me (to) know. (Tell me.)"
Giải thích cho tôi hiểu. "Explain (for) me (to) understand."
Permissive "cho"
In some contexts, cho means "let" or "allow."
Để cho em làm. "Let (for) me do it."
Favor-Based Logic
The person receiving the "good" usually follows the cho. You are literally "giving" the result of the action to them.
Hãy làm cho tôi một việc. "Please do a favor for me."
Examples
Chị viết thư cho bạn. "She writes a letter for/to (her) friend."
Mua cho con cái này nhé? "Buy this for me, okay?"
Note on nuance
In English, we switch between "to," "for," and "at." In Vietnamese, cho covers most situations where an action is directed toward someone's benefit. It simplifies the logic: Action -> Give -> Person.
Lesson 27: Ability with “có thể”, “biết”
To say "can" in Vietnamese, you must distinguish between knowing how to do something and being able to do it.
Skill-Based "biết"
Use biết when talking about a learned skill or knowledge. It means "to know" or "know how."
Tôi biết bơi. "I know (how to) swim."
Anh ấy biết lái xe. "He knows (how to) drive."
Circumstantial "có thể"
Use có thể for general possibility or physical capability in the moment.
Hôm nay tôi có thể về muộn. "Today I can (might) return late."
Bạn có thể giúp tôi không? "Can you help me?"
Achievement-Based "được"
Putting được at the end of a sentence emphasizes that the result is achievable or manageable.
Tôi làm được. "I can do it (successfully)."
Bạn có ăn được cay không? "Can you eat spicy (food)? (Are you able to handle it?)"
Knowledge vs. Capability
Notice the difference:
- Biết tiếng Việt: I know the language (skill).
- Nói được tiếng Việt: I can physically speak it (active capability).
Examples
Em không biết nấu ăn. "I don't know how to cook."
Tôi có thể đi bộ 10km. "I can walk 10km."
Note on nuance
If you ask someone "Do you know spicy food?" (biết ăn cay), it sounds strange—like asking if they've met the food. Instead, use ăn được (can eat/handle). Use biết only for things you have to learn, like swimming, languages, or driving.
Lesson 28: Permission and prohibition (được, không được)
Asking for permission and setting rules centers around the word được (allowed/possible).
Asking "Can I?" with "được không?"
To ask for permission, add được không to the end of your sentence.
Tôi ngồi đây được không? "Can I sit here? (Is it okay?)"
Em dùng điện thoại được không ạ? "May I use the phone?"
The "Yes" of Permission
To say "yes," simply say được.
– Đi chơi nhé? "Go out okay?" – Được. "Okay/Allowed."
Strong Prohibition with "không được"
To say "must not," place không được before the action. This is a strict command.
Bạn không được hút thuốc ở đây. "You must not smoke here."
Chỗ này không được đỗ xe. "Parking is not allowed here."
Authority and Allowance
Được carries the weight of approval. It implies that the action is validated by someone else or by the rules.
Mọi người được vào tự do. "Everyone is allowed to enter freely."
Examples
Con được ăn kẹo không? "Am I allowed to eat candy?"
Không được nói chuyện. "Talking is not allowed."
Note on nuance
Được is a very positive word. It can mean "to get," "to succeed," or "to be allowed." When you see it before a verb (được đi), it usually means "allowed to go." When you see không được before a verb, it is a hard "stop" sign.
Lesson 29: Obligation and necessity (phải, cần, nên)
Vietnamese separates "must," "need," and "should" into three clear words: phải, cần, and nên.
Compulsion with "phải"
Use phải for absolute requirements or external obligations ("must" / "have to").
Tôi phải đi bây giờ. "I must go now."
Ngày mai anh phải đi làm. "Tomorrow I have to go to work."
Requirement with "cần"
Use cần for logical needs or necessities ("need").
Bạn cần uống nước. "You need to drink water."
Tôi cần gặp bác sĩ. "I need to see a doctor."
Suggestion with "nên"
Use nên for advice or recommendations ("should").
Bạn nên nghỉ ngơi. "You should rest."
Chúng ta nên ăn nhiều rau. "We should eat more vegetables."
The "Right?" question
You will often hear phải không at the end of a sentence. This asks for confirmation of truth.
Bạn là sinh viên, phải không? "You are a student, right? (Is that correct?)"
Examples
Em không cần lo lắng. "You don't need to worry."
Con phải làm bài tập. "You must do homework."
Note on nuance
Phải is strong and often unavoidable. Nên is friendly and helpful. Be careful not to overuse phải when you just mean to give advice, or you might sound bossy!
Lesson 30: Wanting and intending (muốn, định)
To talk about the future, you differentiate between what you desire to do and what you plan to do.
Desire with "muốn"
Muốn expresses a general wish or want.
Tôi muốn uống cà phê. "I want to drink coffee."
Em muốn mua cái áo này. "I want to buy this shirt."
Planning with "định"
Định implies active intention or a schedule. It means "plan to" or "intend to."
Cuối tuần này tôi định về quê. "This weekend I plan to return to (my) hometown."
Anh ấy định mua nhà mới. "He intends to buy a new house."
Polite Wanting with "thích"
Often, Vietnamese speakers use thích (like) to express a preference, which functions as a soft request.
Bạn có thích đi xem phim không? "Do you like (want) to go see a movie?"
Internal vs. External Plan
Muốn is a feeling inside you. Định is a decision you have made.
Hè này bạn định đi đâu? "Where do you plan to go this summer?"
Examples
Chúng tôi không muốn làm phiền. "We don't want to bother (you)."
Tôi định học tiếng Việt. "I intend to study Vietnamese."
Note on nuance
You can muốn many things (like winning the lottery) without ever định to do anything about them. Reserve định for things you are actually going to do.
Lesson 31: Linking clauses with “và”, “nhưng”, “hoặc”
To build longer sentences, you need connectors to glue your ideas together. The most basic ones are và, nhưng, and hoặc.
Cohesion with "và"
Use và to join similar ideas or actions. Note that in casual speech, Vietnamese lists often drop và and just rely on a pause.
Tôi thích trà và cà phê. "I like tea and coffee."
Contrast with "nhưng"
Use nhưng (or nhưng mà) to pivot to an opposing thought.
Tôi muốn đi nhưng tôi bận. "I want to go, but I'm busy."
Categorizing "Or"
Vietnamese splits "or" into two words:
- Hoặc: Used in statements.
- Hay: Used in questions (asking for a choice).
Bạn có thể đi xe buýt hoặc taxi. "You can go by bus or taxi."
Bạn uống trà hay cà phê? "Do you drink tea or coffee?"
Logical Bridges
These words hold multiple ideas in one sentence.
Anh ấy cao và gầy. "He is tall and thin."
Examples
Phim hay nhưng hơi dài. "The movie is good but a bit long."
Tôi sẽ gọi hoặc nhắn tin. "I will call or text."
Note on nuance
Using hay in a statement (e.g., "I eat rice hay noodles") sounds confusing to a native speaker because it sounds like you are asking them a question. Stick to hoặc for facts and hay for choices.
Lesson 32: Cause and reason (vì, tại, do)
Explaining why something happened involves linking a cause to an effect.
Neutral Causality with "vì"
Vì is the standard word for "because." It is almost always paired with nên (so) to complete the thought.
Vì trời mưa nên tôi ở nhà. "Because it rains, (so) I stay home."
Blame with "tại"
Use tại when the reason is a mistake or something negative ("because of").
Tại anh nên chúng ta muộn. "Because of you, (so) we are late."
Formal Origin with "do"
Do is often used in formal contexts or for technical/logical reasons ("due to").
Tai nạn do bất cẩn. "Accident due to carelessness."
The "Cause... Result" Frame
The Vì ... nên ... structure acts as a frame for your sentence. Even if English drops the "so," Vietnamese usually keeps nên.
Vì mệt nênđi ngủ sớm. "Because (I'm) tired, (so) (I) go to sleep early."
Examples
Tại tắc đường nên đến trễ. "Because of traffic jam, (so) arrived late."
Vì thích tiếng Việt nên học mỗi ngày. "Because (I) like Vietnamese, (so) (I) study every day."
Note on nuance
Be careful with tại—it implies fault. If you say Tại bạn, you are accusing someone! For neutral explanations, vì is always safe.
Lesson 33: Result and consequence (nên, cho nên, thành ra)
Sometimes you want to focus specifically on the result or consequence of an action.
Expected Results with "nên"
Nên is the standard marker for logical results ("so" / "therefore").
Tôi bận nên không đi được. "I'm busy, so I can't go."
Weighty Results with "cho nên"
Cho nên is a slightly heavier, more formal version of nên.
Anh ấy học giỏi cho nên được học bổng. "He studies well, therefore he got a scholarship."
Accidental Results with "thành ra"
Thành ra introduces a specific result that wasn't necessarily planned. It means "turned out that" or "consequently."
Quên mang ô thành ra bị ướt. "Forgot umbrella, so it turned out (I) got wet."
Storytelling Logic
These words build a narrative bridge: [Event A] -> [Connector] -> [Event B].
Trời mưa to thành ra hủy chuyến đi. "Rain was heavy, consequently canceled the trip."
Examples
Thích ăn cay nên cho nhiều ớt. "(I) like spicy eating, so (I) put lots of chili."
Xe hỏng nên phải đi bộ. "Car broke, so had to walk."
Note on nuance
Thành ra often has a casual, storytelling vibe ("...and so I ended up..."). Nên is your everyday logic connector. Notice how they signal that the next part of the sentence is the "outcome."
Lesson 34: Condition with “nếu”
To talk about hypothetical situations ("if"), Vietnamese uses the nếu... thì... pattern.
The Conditional Frame
Just like "Because... so...", the "If... then..." pattern is a fixed pair: Nếu [Condition], thì [Result].
Nếu trời mưa thì tôi ở nhà. "If it rains, then I stay home."
Strong Hypotheticals with "nếu như"
Nếu như adds a "what if" flavor, often effectively emphasizing the condition.
Nếu như tôi là bạn... "If I were you..."
Short-hand Conditions
In conversation, you can drop nếu and just use thì to imply the "if."
Thích thì mua đi! "(If you) like (it), then buy (it)!"
Future Possibilities
These markers anchor thoughts about things that haven't happened yet.
Nếu rảnh thì đi cà phê. "If free, then go for coffee."
Examples
Nếu cần giúp thì gọi tôi. "If need help, then call me."
Đắt quá thì thôi. "(If it's) too expensive, then never mind."
Note on nuance
Thì is a powerful little word. In this context, it acts as the bridge that says "then this happens." Even if you don't say nếu, saying thì makes the listener understand that the first part was a condition.
Lesson 35: Purpose with “để”
To explain why you are doing something—your goal or purpose—use để (in order to / for).
The Goal Marker "để"
The pattern is Action + để + Goal.
Tôi học tiếng Việt để đi du lịch. "I study Vietnamese to travel."
Fronting the Purpose
You can put để at the start to emphasize the goal.
Để giỏi, bạn cần tập luyện. "To be good, you need to practice."
Purpose vs. Person
Distinguish between cho (for a person) and để (for a purpose).
Mua cho mẹ. (For Mom) Mua để ăn. (To eat)
Physical "Letting"
Để also means "to put," "to place," or "to leave/let."
Để tôi làm. "Let me do (it)."
Để đó. "Leave (it) there."
Examples
Em dậy sớm để chạy bộ. "I wake up early to jog."
Làm việc để kiếm tiền. "Work to earn money."
Note on nuance
Để answers the question "to what end?" (để làm gì?). It links your action to your Future intention.
Lesson 36: Lists and enumeration
Listing items or steps in Vietnamese relies on rhythm and a few specific markers.
Rhythmic Listing
Often, simple commas (pauses) are enough. The word và (and) usually only appears before the final item, if at all.
Táo, cam và xoài. "Apples, oranges, and mangoes."
Ordering with "thứ"
To rank items ("firstly, secondly"), use thứ + number.
Thứ nhất là rẻ. "First is (it's) cheap."
Thứ hai là đẹp. "Second is (it's) beautiful."
Conversational Additions
To add "oh, and also" to a list, use với lại or còn.
Tôi thích phở, với lại bánh mì. "I like pho, and (also) banh mi."
The Final "với"
In spoken lists, với (with) often replaces và as a connector.
Xanh, đỏ với vàng. "Blue, red, with (and) yellow."
Examples
Cần mua sữa, trứng với rau. "Need to buy milk, eggs, and vegetables."
Note on nuance
Thứ nhất... thứ hai... is great for organizing an argument or explaining reasons. Với lại is very casual, used when you remember one more thing to add to the pile.
Lesson 37: Contrast and adversatives (nhưng, tuy nhiên, mà)
Beyond "but," Vietnamese has other ways to signal contrast or unmet expectations.
Formal Reframing with "tuy nhiên"
Tuy nhiên is a more professional way to say "however."
Sản phẩm tốt, tuy nhiên giá cao. "Product (is) good; however, price high."
The "Wait, But" of "mà"
Mà signals a contradiction or a result that conflicts with expectation ("yet" / "but somehow").
Ăn nhiều mà không béo. "Eat much yet not fat."
Overcoming Obstacles
Use Mặc dù... nhưng... for "Although... but..."
Mặc dù mệt nhưng vui. "Although tired (but) happy."
Contrastive Topics
Mà can also link two contrary states.
Gần mà xa. "Near yet far."
Examples
Biết mà không nói. "Know but not say."
Note on nuance
Mà adds a flavor of "surprisingly." Tuy nhiên adds a flavor of "logic/formality." Choose based on who you are talking to.
Lesson 38: Concurrence and simultaneity
Describing two things happening at once involves specific patterns.
The Double-Marker "vừa... vừa"
This pattern describes two actions or qualities existing simultaneously.
Vừa đi vừa hát. "Just walk just sing. (Walking while singing)."
Vừa rẻ vừa ngon. "Both cheap and delicious."
Overlapping Timelines with "trong khi"
Trong khi means "during the time that" or "while."
Trong khi tôi nấu, bạn rửa bát. "While I cook, you wash dishes."
Pinpointing Synchronicity
Cùng lúc means "at the same instant."
Nói cùng lúc. "Speak at the same time."
Examples
Em vừa học vừa làm. "I both study and work."
Note on nuance
Vừa... vừa... is very rhythmic and common. It emphasizes that the two things are a pair. Trong khi is more about the duration of time.
Lesson 39: Relative-clause-like noun modification
Vietnamese does not use complex relative pronouns like "who," "which," or "that" in the same way English does.
Direct Attachment
Often, you simply place the description right after the noun.
Người tôi gặp. "The person (that) I met."
The "that" Marker "mà"
You can use mà as a linker to clarify the description, especially if it's long.
Cái áo mà tôi thích. "The shirt that I like."
Identifying vs. Describing
The phrase after the noun narrows down which specific thing you mean.
Món ăn mẹ nấu. "The dish (that) Mom cooked."
One Conceptual Unit
Treat the "Noun + Description" as a single block.
[Ngôi nhà màu xanh] đẹp. "[The house (that is) blue] is beautiful."
Examples
Việc bạn làm rất tốt. "The work (that) you did is very good."
Note on nuance
Start by trying to drop the "who" or "that." Just say "The man [I saw]" (Người tôi thấy). Only add mà if the sentence feels crowded or confusing.
Lesson 40: Emphasis and fronting
To emphasize something, move it to the front.
Framing with "thì"
Pull a topic to the front and add thì to say "As for X..."
Cá thì tôi thích. "Fish, (topic marker) I like."
Topic Displacement
You can freely move an object to the start to make it the focus.
Việc đó tôi biết. "That matter, I know."
Precision with "chính"
Chính means "exactly" or "the very one."
Chính là anh ấy! "It is exactly him!"
Inclusion with "cả"
Cả means "even" (including the extreme).
Quên cả tên. "Forgot even the name."
Examples
Hôm nay thì bận. "As for today, (I am) busy."
Note on nuance
Fronting makes your Vietnamese sound very natural. Instead of "I don't like meat," try "Meat, I don't like" (Thịt thì tôi không thích). It sets the context immediately.
Lesson 41: Counting and classifiers
In Vietnamese, you generally cannot just put a number directly in front of a noun. You need a "classifier" in between to categorize the object.
The Triple Pattern
The golden rule for counting is: Number + Classifier + Noun.
Hai con mèo. "Two (animate) cats."
Một cái bàn. "One (inanimate) table."
Object Categories
Classifiers tell you about the nature of the object.
- cái: General inanimate objects (tables, chairs, bottles).
- con: Animals and children.
- chiếc: Vehicles (cars, bikes) and boats.
- người: People.
Naming before Counting
The classifier acts as a unit of measure. Just as English says "two loaves of bread" or "two sheets of paper," Vietnamese requires this for almost everything.
Ba cuốn sách. "Three (bound volumes) books."
General vs. Specific
If you are talking about a category in general, you don't need the classifier. You only need it when counting or pointing at a specific item.
Tôi thích chó. (General) "I like dogs."
Tôi nuôi hai con chó. (Specific count) "I raise two (animal) dogs."
Examples
Năm người bạn. "Five (people) friends."
Bốn tờ giấy. "Four (sheets) paper."
Note on nuance
Cái is the most common classifier for things, and con for animals. If you forget the specific classifier for a detailed object (like a blurry mental image), cái is often a safe backup for inanimate things.
Lesson 42: Quantifiers (mỗi, mọi, vài, nhiều)
When you don't need an exact number, you use quantifiers to describe amounts.
Individual focus with "mỗi"
Mỗi means "each." It focuses on the individual members of a group separately.
Mỗi người một ý. "Each person (has) one opinion."
Tôi đi học mỗi ngày. "I go to school each day."
Total focus with "mọi"
Mọi means "every" or "all." It treats the group as a collective whole.
Mọi thứ đều tốt. "Every thing is good. (Everything is fine)."
Chào mọi người. "Hello every person (everyone)."
Indefinite sets with "vài"
Vài implies a small, indefinite number ("a few," "some," "several").
Chờ vài phút. "Wait a few minutes."
Tôi có vài câu hỏi. "I have a few questions."
Broad Amounts with "nhiều / ít"
Nhiều (many/much) and ít (few/little) function almost like adjectives.
Ở đây có nhiều xe. "Here has many vehicles."
Ăn ít thôi. "Eat little (only)."
Examples
Mỗi sáng tôi đều uống cà phê. "Each morning I drink coffee."
Cảm ơn mọi người. "Thank you every one."
Note on nuance
Use mỗi when you want to highlight distinctions ("Each student has a different book"). Use mọi when you want to highlight unity ("Every student passed"). And with that, you have completed the core grammar guide!