<p>The usual 一起 grammar structure is</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Subj. + 一起 + Verb + Obj.<br />
<sub><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22together%22_with_%22yiqi%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Expressing &quot;together&quot; with &quot;yiqi&quot;</a></sub></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Adding 要 after 一起 interferes with this structure: it's possible to misinterpret 要 as the verb.</p>
<h3>Comparison</h3>
<p>There's actually three places 要 (which <a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Auxiliary_verb_%22yao%22_and_its_multiple_meanings" rel="nofollow noreferrer">has a few meanings</a>) can be added:</p>
<ol>
<li>
<blockquote>
<p>今天晚上老板<strong>要</strong>和我们一起加班。<br />
Tonight, [the] boss <strong>[wants to/needs to/is going to]</strong> <em>work overtime together with us</em>.</p>
</blockquote>
</li>
</ol>
<p>So we have:</p>
<ul>
<li>the subject is 老板 = &quot;[the] boss&quot;,</li>
<li>the verb is 要, and</li>
<li>and what they want to do is 和我们一起加班 = &quot;to work overtime together with us&quot;.</li>
</ul>
<p>This seems unproblematic, and probably the most natural.</p>
<ol start="2">
<li>
<blockquote>
<p>今天晚上老板和我们<strong>要</strong>一起加班。<br />
Tonight, [the] boss and us <strong>[want to/need to/are going to]</strong> <em>work overtime together</em>.</p>
</blockquote>
</li>
</ol>
<p>So we have:</p>
<ul>
<li>the subject is 老板和我们 = &quot;[the] boss and us&quot;,</li>
<li>the verb is 要 = &quot;want to&quot;, and</li>
<li>and what they want to do is 一起加班 = &quot;to work overtime together&quot;.</li>
</ul>
<p>This also seems unproblematic.</p>
<ol start="3">
<li>
<blockquote>
<p>今天晚上老板和我们一起<strong>要</strong>加班。<br />
Tonight, [the] boss and us together <strong>[want to/need to/are going to]</strong> <em>work overtime</em>.</p>
</blockquote>
</li>
</ol>
<p>This one is more complicated:</p>
<ul>
<li>the subject is 老板和我们 = &quot;[the] boss and us&quot;,</li>
<li>the verb is 一起要 = &quot;together want to&quot; or &quot;together need to&quot; or &quot;together [are] going to&quot; (??), and</li>
<li>and what they together [want to/need to/are going to] do is 加班 = &quot;to work overtime&quot;.</li>
</ul>
<p>I feel this one is ambiguous because what follows 一起 is 要, so it's possible to interpret 一起 as applying to 要 and not necessarily to 加班.  Something in English to indicate the difference:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We don't work at the same company, but we're together wanting to work overtime to save money for an upcoming concert.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>But realistically, it's a very contrived interpretation.  So I don't believe the Chinese here is wrong, it just sounds a bit weird.</p>
<h3>Baidu</h3>
<p>Compare the Baidu search results:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.baidu.com/s?wd=%22%E8%A6%81%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E5%8A%A0%E7%8F%AD%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>&quot;要一起加班&quot;</code></a> (19) vs. <a href="https://www.baidu.com/s?wd=%22%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E8%A6%81%E5%8A%A0%E7%8F%AD%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>&quot;一起要加班&quot;</code></a> (0),</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baidu.com/s?wd=%22%E8%A6%81%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E5%81%9A%E9%A5%AD%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>&quot;要一起做饭&quot;</code></a> (29) vs. <a href="https://www.baidu.com/s?wd=%22%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E8%A6%81%E5%81%9A%E9%A5%AD%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>&quot;一起要做饭&quot;</code></a> (2),</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baidu.com/s?&amp;wd=%22%E8%A6%81%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E9%80%9B%E8%A1%97%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>&quot;要一起逛街&quot;</code></a> (62) vs. <a href="https://www.baidu.com/s?&amp;wd=%22%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E8%A6%81%E9%80%9B%E8%A1%97%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>&quot;一起要逛街&quot;</code></a> (1),</li>
<li><a href="https://www.baidu.com/s?&amp;wd=%22%E8%A6%81%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E5%AD%A6%E4%B9%A0%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>&quot;要一起学习&quot;</code></a> (76,000) vs. <a href="https://www.baidu.com/s?&amp;wd=%22%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E8%A6%81%E5%AD%A6%E4%B9%A0%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><code>&quot;一起要学习&quot;</code></a> (17).</li>
</ul>
<p>(The number 76,000 is likely hugely inaccurate, but there's a lot.)</p>
<p>We consistently see that <code>一起[2-character verb]</code> does not want a 要 in between.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-17T04:10:54.503Z
2019-12-17T04:10:54.503Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
Becky 李蓓
<p>When 要 is used to mean &quot;do something&quot;, it usually means &quot;will do sth&quot; or &quot;want to do sth&quot;, and also sometimes &quot;need to do sth&quot;.</p>
<p>In your original sentence, 要 can mean both &quot;will&quot; or &quot;want to&quot; depending on the context. See the following examples.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>今天事情比较多，所以今天晚上老板要和我们一起加班 (There is too much to do today, hence the boss <strong>will</strong> join us in working overtime tonight).</p>
<p>老板想知道我们加班时到底有没有认真干活，所以今天晚上老板要和我们一起加班 (The boss wants to know whether we are taking the overtime seriously and <strong>wants to</strong> join us tonight).</p>
</blockquote>
<p>As for the position, I am not sure whether there is an explanation involving grammar. The second one does not sound natural while the first one does.</p>
<p>I can come up with an example where 要 is placed right before the verb, only with slight modification to your sentence:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>今天晚上老板和我们一样要加班 (The boss has to work overtime tonight just like us).</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-16T16:32:10.070Z
The grammar was a bit lost on me since I read that 要 comes before the verb but I guess, at times, it's just about which one sounds better.
QuarterOne
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-16T16:44:51.350Z
@QuarterOne There is one possible explanation. Note that 和我们一起 is used to describe the verb 加班 and therefore you should think of 和我们一起加班 as an integral part.
trisct
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-16T16:45:55.073Z
The examples clarified it to an extent. Sorta like the boss wants/is going to do something so you just attach 要 to 老板.(The boss is GOING TO join us,together, we'll work overtime).  I understand now. Thanks!
QuarterOne
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-16T16:46:53.747Z
@QuarterOne Whereas in my last example sentence, 和我们一样 describes the boss: the boss is in the same situation as us where he has to work overtime.
trisct
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-16T16:26:36.733Z
2019-12-16T16:33:50.170Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
trisct
<p>Think about this sentence first:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>今天晚上老板要和我们一起. // The boss will/want to be with us tonight</p>
</blockquote>

<p>To do what? <em>加班，work overtime.</em> </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>今天晚上老板要和我们一起  <strong>加班</strong>。//The boss will be with us tonight <strong>to work overtime</strong>.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Taking 加班 as a complement might help you.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-16T19:45:33.993Z
2019-12-16T20:25:56.137Z
2019-12-16T20:25:56.137Z
dan
<blockquote>
  <p>今天晚上老板<strong>要</strong>和我们一起加班。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>What purpose does 要 have here (in this specific location)?
I thought it would be;</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>今天晚上老板和我们一起<strong>要</strong>加班。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I know 要 also means 'to do smth' so I get why it's needed, but why in that specific position? Because I thought 要 came before the verb.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-16T16:19:30.807Z
The short answer is 要=will.
trisct
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-16T16:23:39.843Z
@trisct But still. Can't you just put 要 before 加班 to mean the same thing? (The boss and us, together, WILL work overtime.)
QuarterOne
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-16T16:27:58.273Z
I see what you mean. But that doesn't sound natural. And I doubt it that this can be explained by grammar.
trisct
<grammar><sentence-structure>
Purpose of 要's location in 今天晚上老板要和我们一起加班。
# Purpose of 要's location in 今天晚上老板要和我们一起加班。

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-12-16)

> 今天晚上老板**要**和我们一起加班。

What purpose does 要 have here (in this specific location)?
I thought it would be;

> 今天晚上老板和我们一起**要**加班。

I know 要 also means 'to do smth' so I get why it's needed, but why in that specific position? Because I thought 要 came before the verb.

**Tags:** grammar, sentence-structure

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The short answer is 要=will.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 But still. Can't you just put 要 before 加班 to mean the same thing? (The boss and us, together, WILL work overtime.)  
> **username_1**: I see what you mean. But that doesn't sound natural. And I doubt it that this can be explained by grammar.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-12-17. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

The usual 一起 grammar structure is

> Subj. + 一起 + Verb + Obj.  
> [Expressing "together" with "yiqi"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22together%22_with_%22yiqi%22)

Adding 要 after 一起 interferes with this structure: it's possible to misinterpret 要 as the verb.

### Comparison

There's actually three places 要 (which [has a few meanings](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Auxiliary_verb_%22yao%22_and_its_multiple_meanings)) can be added:

1. > 今天晚上老板**要**和我们一起加班。  
   > Tonight, [the] boss **[wants to/needs to/is going to]** *work overtime together with us*.

So we have:

* the subject is 老板 = "[the] boss",
* the verb is 要, and
* and what they want to do is 和我们一起加班 = "to work overtime together with us".

This seems unproblematic, and probably the most natural.

2. > 今天晚上老板和我们**要**一起加班。  
   > Tonight, [the] boss and us **[want to/need to/are going to]** *work overtime together*.

So we have:

* the subject is 老板和我们 = "[the] boss and us",
* the verb is 要 = "want to", and
* and what they want to do is 一起加班 = "to work overtime together".

This also seems unproblematic.

3. > 今天晚上老板和我们一起**要**加班。  
   > Tonight, [the] boss and us together **[want to/need to/are going to]** *work overtime*.

This one is more complicated:

* the subject is 老板和我们 = "[the] boss and us",
* the verb is 一起要 = "together want to" or "together need to" or "together [are] going to" (??), and
* and what they together [want to/need to/are going to] do is 加班 = "to work overtime".

I feel this one is ambiguous because what follows 一起 is 要, so it's possible to interpret 一起 as applying to 要 and not necessarily to 加班. Something in English to indicate the difference:

> We don't work at the same company, but we're together wanting to work overtime to save money for an upcoming concert.

But realistically, it's a very contrived interpretation. So I don't believe the Chinese here is wrong, it just sounds a bit weird.

### Baidu

Compare the Baidu search results:

* [`"要一起加班"`](https://www.baidu.com/s?wd=%22%E8%A6%81%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E5%8A%A0%E7%8F%AD%22) (19) vs. [`"一起要加班"`](https://www.baidu.com/s?wd=%22%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E8%A6%81%E5%8A%A0%E7%8F%AD%22) (0),
* [`"要一起做饭"`](https://www.baidu.com/s?wd=%22%E8%A6%81%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E5%81%9A%E9%A5%AD%22) (29) vs. [`"一起要做饭"`](https://www.baidu.com/s?wd=%22%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E8%A6%81%E5%81%9A%E9%A5%AD%22) (2),
* [`"要一起逛街"`](https://www.baidu.com/s?&wd=%22%E8%A6%81%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E9%80%9B%E8%A1%97%22) (62) vs. [`"一起要逛街"`](https://www.baidu.com/s?&wd=%22%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E8%A6%81%E9%80%9B%E8%A1%97%22) (1),
* [`"要一起学习"`](https://www.baidu.com/s?&wd=%22%E8%A6%81%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E5%AD%A6%E4%B9%A0%22) (76,000) vs. [`"一起要学习"`](https://www.baidu.com/s?&wd=%22%E4%B8%80%E8%B5%B7%E8%A6%81%E5%AD%A6%E4%B9%A0%22) (17).

(The number 76,000 is likely hugely inaccurate, but there's a lot.)

We consistently see that `一起[2-character verb]` does not want a 要 in between.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-12-16. Score: 1

When 要 is used to mean "do something", it usually means "will do sth" or "want to do sth", and also sometimes "need to do sth".

In your original sentence, 要 can mean both "will" or "want to" depending on the context. See the following examples.

> 今天事情比较多，所以今天晚上老板要和我们一起加班 (There is too much to do today, hence the boss **will** join us in working overtime tonight).
>
> 老板想知道我们加班时到底有没有认真干活，所以今天晚上老板要和我们一起加班 (The boss wants to know whether we are taking the overtime seriously and **wants to** join us tonight).

As for the position, I am not sure whether there is an explanation involving grammar. The second one does not sound natural while the first one does.

I can come up with an example where 要 is placed right before the verb, only with slight modification to your sentence:

> 今天晚上老板和我们一样要加班 (The boss has to work overtime tonight just like us).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: The grammar was a bit lost on me since I read that 要 comes before the verb but I guess, at times, it's just about which one sounds better.  
> **username_1**: @username_0 There is one possible explanation. Note that 和我们一起 is used to describe the verb 加班 and therefore you should think of 和我们一起加班 as an integral part.  
> **username_0**: The examples clarified it to an extent. Sorta like the boss wants/is going to do something so you just attach 要 to 老板.(The boss is GOING TO join us,together, we'll work overtime).  I understand now. Thanks!  
> **username_1**: @username_0 Whereas in my last example sentence, 和我们一样 describes the boss: the boss is in the same situation as us where he has to work overtime.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-12-16. Score: 0

Think about this sentence first:

> 今天晚上老板要和我们一起. // The boss will/want to be with us tonight

To do what? *加班，work overtime.*

> 今天晚上老板要和我们一起 **加班**。//The boss will be with us tonight **to work overtime**.

Taking 加班 as a complement might help you.


---

