Preposition 跟 gēn

Grammar Point:
The Chinese word 跟 gēn has several functions depending on the context. As a preposition, it is often used to mean “with”, “and”, “from” or “to.”

Structure

With (Doing something together)

When 跟 gēn is used to mean “with” in the sense of accompanying someone or being together, it is often paired with 一起 yìqǐ, which means “together.” If you want to negate it, you need to add 不 bù before 跟 gēn or adverbs instead of before verbs.

你nǐ想xiǎng跟gēn朋友péngyǒu一起yìqǐ去qù中國Zhōngguó嗎ma？ 你nǐ想xiǎng跟gēn朋友péngyou一起yìqǐ去qù中国Zhōngguó吗ma？
Do you want to go to China with friends?

我wǒ不bù跟gēn他tā一起yìqǐ看kàn電影diànyǐng我wǒ不bù跟gēn他tā一起yìqǐ看kàn电影diànyǐng
I don’t watch movies with him.

我wǒ想xiǎng跟gēn她tā結婚jiéhūn我wǒ想xiǎng跟gēn她tā结婚jiéhūn
I want to marry her.

但是dànshì她tā不bù想xiǎng跟gēn你nǐ結婚jiéhūn但是dànshì她tā不bù想xiǎng跟gēn你nǐ结婚jiéhūn
But she doesn’t want to marry you.

And (Linking two people or things as equals)

我wǒ想xiǎng喝hē這個zhège跟gēn那個nàge我wǒ想xiǎng喝hē这个zhège跟gēn那个nàge
I want to drink this one and that one.

我wǒ喜歡xǐhuān兔子tùzi、 小鳥xiǎoniǎo、 貓māo跟gēn狗gǒu我wǒ喜欢xǐhuan兔子tùzi， 小鸟xiǎoniǎo， 猫māo跟gēn狗gǒu
I like rabbits, birds, cats, and dogs.

我wǒ跟gēn他tā是shì公司gōngsī同事tóngshì我wǒ跟gēn他tā是shì公司gōngsī同事tóngshì
He and I are colleagues in the company.

我wǒ要yào買mǎi一yì杯bēi咖啡kāfēi跟gēn一yí塊kuài蛋糕dàngāo我wǒ要yào买mǎi一yì杯bēi咖啡kāfēi跟gēn一yí块kuài蛋糕dàngāo
I want to buy a cup of coffee and a piece of cake.

From (Receiving from someone)

我wǒ跟gēnTiffany 老師lǎoshī學xué中文zhōngwén我wǒ跟gēnTiffany 老师lǎoshī学xué中文zhōngwén
I learn Chinese from Teacher Tiffany.

你nǐ可以kěyǐ跟gēn櫃檯guìtái拿ná鑰匙yàoshǐ你nǐ可以kěyǐ跟gēn柜台guìtái拿ná钥匙yàoshi
You can get the key from the front desk.

我wǒ跟gēn朋友péngyǒu借jiè了le一yì本běn書shū我wǒ跟gēn朋友péngyou借jiè了le一yì本běn书shū
I borrowed a book from my friend.

我wǒ跟gēn老闆lǎobǎn要yào了le一yì張zhāng紙zhǐ我wǒ跟gēn老板lǎobǎn要yào了le一yì张zhāng纸zhǐ
I asked a paper from the owner.

To (Speaking to someone)

我wǒ跟gēn老闆lǎobǎn說shuō我wǒ要yào請假qǐngjià我wǒ跟gēn老板lǎobǎn说shuō我wǒ要yào请假qǐngjià
I told my boss I want to take a leave.

你nǐ沒méi跟gēn媽媽māma說shuō了le這zhè件jiàn事shì嗎ma？ 你nǐ没méi跟gēn妈妈māma说shuō了le这zhè件jiàn事shì吗ma？
Haven’t you told mom about this?

他tā跟gēn你nǐ講jiǎng了le什麼shénme？ 他tā跟gēn你nǐ讲jiǎng了le什么shénme？
What did he say to you?

我wǒ跟gēn他tā確認quèrèn過guò了le我wǒ跟gēn他tā确认quèrèn过guò了le
I have confirmed with him.