Why 这么 / 那么 are placed before the action verb?

Question

I have some confusion with the use of 这么 (this, so) and 那么 (that, so). I found these examples (from Pleco):

大家都这么说。

Dàjiā dōu zhème shuō.

Everyone says this / so.

你不该那么做。

Nǐ bù gāi nàme zuò.

You shouldn't do that.

where 这么 / 那么 are placed before the action verb. Grammatically, I understand they are pronouns acting as the object of the verb. However, in Mandarin typically the object goes after the verb. What is the rationale for placing 这么 / 那么 before it? Are they an exception to the standard order of verb + object?

Answer 1

[这么 +v ] = [v + like this/ this way]

[那么 + v] = [v + like that/ that way]

Example:

大家都[这么][说] = everyone [says it] [like that]

你不该[那么][做] = you shouldn't [do it] [like that]

~

[这么 + adj ] = [ this + adj]

[那么 + adj ] = [ that + adj]

Example:

[这么][坏] = [this][bad]

[那么][好] = [that][good]