4. DATIVE

+ gěi 给 + indirect object (+ le 了) Pointing out the recipient of the direct object as a result of the action.


  1. Wǒ bǎ zuòyè jiāogěi lǎoshī le.
    我把作业交给老师了。
    I have turned in my homework to the teacher.


  2. Bǎ zhèxiē shū màigěi jiù shūdiàn ba.
    把这些书卖给旧书店吧。
    Let 's sell these books to the used-book store.


  3. Tā bǎ nèi jiàn hóng máoyī sònggěi wǒ le.
    她把那件红毛衣送给我了。
    She gave that red sweater to me.

    Note 1: If a sentence is to state that the object has been passed to a new recipient, the predicate verb must take gěi 给 or a similar verb capable of introducing the recipient of the object. The Bǎ 把 construction is required in such a sentence. See 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3. Only verbs that imply 'transfer' or 'transaction', such as jiāo 交, sòng 送, mài 卖, jiè 借, huán 还, jì 寄, dài 带, chuán 传, etc. can be used with gěi 给 and an indirect object in a bǎ 把 sentence. Other verbs taking gěi 给 may not be used in a bǎ 把 sentence.


  1. Wǒ bǎ xìn xiěgěi wǒ péngyou le. (Ungrammatical)
    我把信写给我朋友了。
    (I wrote the letter to my friend.)

    If the direct object is not definite, specific or known to the listener, and the speaker intends to simply point out what it is that has been transferred or to narrate what someone has done as one of the events that has happened, bǎ 把 may not be necessary.


  2. Wǒ sònggěi Xiǎo Wáng yì zhī bǐ.
    我送给小王一支笔。
    I gave Young Wang a pen.

    If the direct object is definite, specific or something that the listener knows or understands, bǎ 把 construction must be used.


  3. Wǒ sònggěi Xiǎo Wáng nàxiē bǐ le. (Ungrammatical)
    我送给小王那些笔了。
    (I gave those pens to Young Wang.)