Learn Hardcore Chinese: nǐ gēn shéi yìqǐ qù kàn diànyǐng?

It’s a preposition meaning “with.” It introduces the companion of the action: Subject + 跟 + person + (一起) + Verb (+ Object). Example: 你跟他(一起)去看电影 — “(You) go watch a movie with him (together).”

Do I have to include 一起 (yìqǐ)? What changes if I drop it?

No, it’s optional. 一起 emphasizes doing the action “together.”

With it: 你跟谁一起去看电影？ (strong “together” feel)
Without it: 你跟谁去看电影？ (still “with whom,” just less emphasis) You cannot use 一起 alone to take an object; you need 跟/和 before the person (✗ 你谁一起去… is ungrammatical).

Why is 谁 (who) in the middle of the sentence instead of at the front?

In Mandarin, question words stay in the spot where the answer would appear (they’re “in-situ”). Here, 谁 is the object of 跟, so it comes after 跟. You can also ask: 谁跟你一起去看电影？ (Who is going with you?), which flips the perspective but keeps 谁 in the position it would occupy in the answer.

Can I use 和 (hé) instead of 跟 (gēn)?

Yes. 你和谁一起去看电影？ is natural. Nuance:

跟 is very common and feels slightly more colloquial for “with.”
和 is also common and neutral as “and/with.” Very formal alternatives: 与 (yǔ), 同 (tóng).

How do I pronounce 谁 — shéi or shuí?

Both exist. In everyday speech you’ll most often hear shéi. shuí is also correct and is more common in reading, recitation, or certain regions.

Why is 一 in 一起 pronounced yì (fourth tone) and not yī (first tone)?

Tone sandhi for 一 (yī):

Before a fourth-tone syllable, it becomes yí (second tone): 一样 yíyàng.
Before first/second/third tones, it becomes yì (fourth tone): 一起 yìqǐ (起 is third tone). So 一起 is pronounced yìqǐ.

Why is 去 placed before 看? What does 去看 mean?

去 + Verb means “go (somewhere) to do [Verb].” So 去看 is “go (to) watch.” It highlights the motion/outing aspect. Without 去, 看电影 just means “watch a movie” (could be at home or anywhere; context decides).

Where do time and place words go in this sentence?

Typical order: Subject + Time + 跟/和 + Person + 一起 + 去 + Place + Verb + Object. Examples:

你明天跟谁一起去看电影？
你明天跟谁一起去电影院看电影？ Time usually comes right after the subject; place fits naturally after 去.

How do I answer this question naturally in Chinese?

Common patterns:

我跟小王一起去。
我和同事去看电影。
我一个人去。/ 我自己去。
还没决定。/ 我还不知道。 Often the verb phrase can be dropped in short answers: 跟小王。

Can I add 吗 at the end of this question?

No. Wh-questions in Chinese do not take 吗. If you want a yes–no question, rephrase: 你跟他一起去看电影吗？

Can I omit the subject 你?

Yes, if context is clear: 跟谁一起去看电影？ Dropping obvious subjects is common in conversation.

How do I say this more politely?

Use 您 and a polite “which person”:

您跟哪位一起去看电影？ This is common in service or formal contexts.

How do I ask about a past event? Where does 了 go?

Two common options (both natural; slight nuance):

你跟谁一起去看电影了？ (了 at the end; new info/occurrence)
你跟谁一起去看了电影？ (了 after 看; emphasizes completion of watching)

Do I need a measure word for 电影?

Not in the base phrase 看电影. Use a classifier only when counting:

一部电影 (a movie as a work)
一场电影 (one screening/showing) Example: 我看了一部/一场电影。

Where exactly should 一起 go? Can I say 你一起跟他去看电影?

Most natural placement is: 你跟他一起去看电影 (…跟 + person + 一起 + 去/Verb…). “你一起跟他去看电影” can occur but is less neutral and can sound awkward; prefer the standard placement.

Which is more natural: 你跟谁一起去看电影 or 谁跟你一起去看电影?

Both are common. The first frames it from “your plan (you)… with whom?”; the second spotlights “who” as the doer. Choose based on what you want to focus on.

How do I show it’s a plan or intention?

Add a modal:

你要跟谁一起去看电影？ (plan/schedule)
你会跟谁一起去看电影？ (likely to)
你打算跟谁一起去看电影？ (intend to)

Does 看电影 always mean going to a theater?

Not necessarily. 看电影 just means “watch a movie.” With 去看电影, it often implies going out (e.g., to a cinema). Context decides; you can specify: 去电影院看电影.

Can I add casual particles at the end?

Yes, to soften or make it conversational:

你跟谁一起去看电影啊？ (casual)
你跟谁一起去看电影呢？ (gently prompting, inviting detail)