AdverbsHSK 5
Advanced uses of 总
总 combines with modal verbs like 会, 得, 要, or 能 to express that something is inevitable, bound to happen, or that something ought to be done. It adds a tone of 'after all' or 'surely,' often appearing with 吧 at the end. A common mistake is to use 总 alone without a modal verb in these advanced patterns.
Structure
总 + 会 / 得 / 要 / 能 + Verb Phrase (+ 吧)
The modal verb is required; 总 alone cannot convey this meaning. The pattern often ends with 吧 to soften the statement.
Examples
- 这里是他家，他总会回来的。Zhèlǐ shì tā jiā, tā zǒng huì huílái de.This is his home. He will always come back.
- 咱们总得想个办法啊。Zánmen zǒng děi xiǎng ge bànfǎ a.We're going to have to come up with some kind of solution.
- 不管发生了什么，人总要吃饭吧。Bùguǎn fāshēng le shénme, rén zǒng yào chīfàn ba.No matter what happens, people still have to eat, right?
- 他是你爸爸，你总要礼貌一点吧。Tā shì nǐ bàba, nǐ zǒng yào lǐmào yīdiǎn ba.He is your father, so you ought to be a little more polite.
- 你拿了人家的钱，总得帮人家做事吧。Nǐ ná le rénjiā de qián, zǒng děi bāng rénjiā zuòshì ba.You took their money, so you're going to have to help them with the work.