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Grammar and Notes

3.1 The conjunction yŭ 與

Yŭ is most generally, and correctly, explained as the conjunction equivalent to “and”
when two nouns or noun phrases are linked. For example:

翟黃與任座魏文侯臣也。
Zhai Huang and Ren Zuo were ministers of Marquis Wen of Wei.

Here, yŭ simply links two nouns in parallel to create a complex subject.

However, yŭ frequently is better translated as “together with,” as in the opening phrase of
the text of this lesson:

魏文侯與士大夫坐。
Marquis Wen of Wei was sitting together with his knights and grandees.

The distinction is that in this sentence, the phrase yŭ shì dàfu is adverbial. It described the
“manner” in which the Marquis sat; it is not part of a complex subject (that is, the
sentence is not to be read, “Marquis Wen of Wei and his knights and grandees were
sitting”). The subject is not a compound of the Marquis and his courtiers; the subject is
simply the Marquis.

Thus when a phrase including yŭ precedes a verb it is always necessary to be sensitive to
whether the subject of the verb includes both elements linked by yŭ or only the first.

3.2 The interrogative hé 何

Hé is the most common question word in WYW. Its meaning is very flexible, according
to context and the verb or coverb with which it is paired. Syntactically, 何 most often

occurs as the object of a verb, or modifies the object of a verb. However, in general, 何
precedes the verb or coverb of which it is an object – that is, it is “preposed.” Hé may
also serve as an adverb, modifying a verb (e.g., “how was this verb-ed?”).

In this selection, 何 occurs in two contexts:

何如君: “in what manner [do I] perform [the role of] ruler?”

Here, 何 is best taken as adverbial, modifying rú (to perform) or, perhaps better,
modifying a binomial verb phrase, rú jun (to act as a ruler).

In the second instance,