# The 把 sentence construction

The 把 bǎ construction is used to talk about, for example: handling or disposing of a particular object (such as sending a particular letter to somewhere); saying a particular sentence clearly; or putting something somewhere.

The verbs used in 把 bǎ sentences take complicated forms such resultative complements, directional complements and the complement of degree. Because of the complex use of verbs in the 把 bǎ construction, it is important to learn or revise the grammar points that are in the other sections relating to the 把 bǎ construction before embarking on this section.

Although 把 bǎ is not often used as a verb in modern Chinese, it still retains the meaning of to hold or to grasp. In this section I will introduce 把 bǎ as a co-verb in the 把 bǎ construction. Please note in this context that sequence is important in Chinese when it comes to describing actions. The first action in a sequence should come first in an utterance. The way to learn co-verb sentences properly is to understand the description of sequence in Chinese word order.

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To send a letter to China. To put a cup on the table. To finish drinking the wine.

The following two patterns are commonly used to form 把 bǎ sentences.

1. A sentence with a verb and direct and indirect objects

S | (没)把 | O direct | V+ other element | O indirect
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
小 李 | 把 | 信 | 寄 给 了 | 小 王
Xiǎo Lǐ | bǎ | xìn | jì gěi le | Xiǎo Wang

Xiao Li has sent the letter to Xiao Wang.

S | (没)把 | O direct | V+ other element | O indirect
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
小 李 | 把 | 信 | 寄 到 | 中国 去 了
Xiǎo Lǐ | bǎ | xìn | jì dào | Zhōngguó qù le

Xiao Li has sent the letter to China.

These two sentences show how the direct and indirect objects are connected by the verb complements 寄 给 jì gěi send to and 寄 到 jì dào send to. (The complement 给 gěi to is followed by persons and the complement 到 dào to is followed by places.) The above examples also demonstrate that ‘aspect’ 了le is placed after the verbs: in the first example it is placed after 寄 给 jì gěi send to and in the second example it is placed after 去 qù.

2. A sentence with a verb and an object

S | (没)把 | O | V+ other element
--- | --- | --- | ---
你 | 没 把 | 话 | 说 清 楚
nǐ | méi bǎ | huà | shuō qīngchǔ

You didn’t say it clearly.

The negation 没 méi did not is placed before the co-verb 把 bǎ in the above sentence. Modal verbs, adverbial 地de and co-verb phrases can also precede 把 bǎ. For example

S | 把 | O | V+ other element
--- | --- | --- | ---
你 | 要 把 | 话 | 说 清 楚 吗？
nǐ | yào bǎ | huà | shuō qīngchu ma

Would you like to say it clearly?

S | 把 | O | V+ other element
--- | --- | --- | ---
你 | 在这儿 把 | 话 | 说 清 楚。
nǐ | zài zhèr bǎ | huà | shuō qīngchu

Say it clearly here.

S | 把 | O | V+ other element
--- | --- | --- | ---
你 | 一句一句地 把 | 话 | 说 清 楚。
nǐ | yí jùyí jù de bǎ | huà | shuō qīngchu

Say it clearly, sentence by sentence.

The following list consists of five types of the most common elements that can be attached to verbs in 把 sentences.

1. Complement of degree

S | --- | --- | --- | --- |  | 把 | O | V+ complement of degree
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
你 | 把 | 话 | 说 得 非 常 清 楚。 |  |  |  |  |
nǐ | bǎ | huà | shuō de fēicháng qīngchu |  |  |  |  |

You’ve said it very clearly indeed.

2. Resultative complements apart from 见

S | 把 | O | V+ resultative complement
--- | --- | --- | ---
你 | 把 | 话 | 说 错 了。
nǐ | bǎ | huà | shuō chuò le

You’ve said it wrong.

3. Directional complements

S | 把 | O | V+ directional complement
--- | --- | --- | ---
你 | 把 | 衬衫 | 拿 进来。
nǐ | bǎ | chènshān | ná jìnlai

Bring in the shirt.

4. …action measures

S | 把 | O | V+ action measure
--- | --- | --- | ---
你 | 把 | 房间 | 整 理一下。
nǐ | bǎ | fángjiān | zhěnglǐ yíxià

Tidy up the room a little.

5. …着(as a continuous aspect)

S | 把 | O | V+ 着
--- | --- | --- | ---
你 | 把 | 门 | 开 着。
nǐ | bǎ | mén | kāi zhe

Leave the door open.

Potential verb complements are not used in the 把 bǎ construction; instead the modal verb 能 néng is placed before 把 bǎ.

S | 把 | O | V+ other element
--- | --- | --- | ---
你 | 能 把 | 饭 | 吃 完 吗?
nǐ | néng bǎ | fàn | chī wán ma

Can you finish this meal?

Assignments

Frequently asked questions Click on the following links to view the answers

1. When can I use 把 sentences?
2. How can I form a sentence with 把?
3. What are the commonly used attached verb elements in the 把 construction?
4. Apart from a subject of a sentence, what other elements which can be placed before 把?
5. Where should the negation 不 be placed if the 得 (complement of degree) construction is used in a 把 sentence?
6. Sometimes a 把 sentence contains only a simple main verb and the particle 了. Does that mean that any simple verb + 了 can be used in 把 sentences?
7. Is it right that the 把 construction can only be used for real objects, and not for abstract objects?
8. What shouldn't be used in 把 sentences?
9. When can I avoid using 把?