Bei Sentences, which are called 被字句 (bèizìjù) in Chinese, are a key way to express the [passive](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Passive_voice) voice in modern Mandarin Chinese. In passive sentences, the *object* of an action becomes the subject of the sentence, and what would have been the subject of the normal (active voice) sentence, the "doer" of the action, becomes secondary and may or may not be included in the passive sentence. What is a 被 sentence? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 被 (bèi) sentences (被字句 in Chinese) are simply sentences which use a [passive](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Passive_voice) verb and the preposition 被. 被 sentences are not the only way to create the passive verb form in Chinese, but they are the most common and definitely the type to tackle first. For the sake of clarity, take these sentences for example: Why use them? ------------------------------------------------------------------- Passive sentences are used for several main reasons: 1. To indicate that one has been negatively affected. For example: 2. To shift emphasis from the "doer" of the action to the one affected by that action. For example: 3. To avoid having to mention the "doer" of the action, either because it is unknown, or for other reasons. For example: How to use them --------------------------------------------------------------------- Normal use of 被 has a few preconditions: 1. The verb to be used with 被 needs to have an object (this will become the new subject of the 被 sentence). Verbs that take objects are called *transitive verbs*. 2. If you're going to state *who the verb was done by* (the "doer"), then the subject doing the original action must be known. 3. The verb can't be too simple (for example, a one-character verb like 吃). Put simply, *something needs to come after the verb*. That "something" can be a particle, a complement, or sometimes even an additional object. We're using the most basic 被 sentence pattern for example, so that it will be easier for you to understand well: ### Structure ### Examples 被 sentence with a doer: 被 sentence without doer: ### Right or Wrong Forming 把 Sentences -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Negating 被 Sentences There's just one other complication. What if you want to make a sentence in the *negative*? To negate a 被 sentence, you need to insert 没 or 没有 (past) directly in front of 被. For the present and future, use 不. ### Question Forms of 被 Sentences You can make 被 sentences into questions in the usual three ways to form questions in Mandarin: - With a question particle - With a question word - With positive-negative verbs Some examples: ### 被 Sentences with Aspect Particles The particles 了 and 过 can both be used with 被 constructions, while 着 cannot. This is because the disposal of the object in 被 construction must be complete in some way in the context. 着 indicates an action is "ongoing," which is why it's not appropriate for a 被 construction. ### 被 Sentences with Complements Both [Result complements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Result_complement) and [Direction complements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Direction_complement) work well in 被 sentences. Some examples: ### Adverbs in 被 Sentences What if you want to include adverbs in your 被 sentence? Where should those go? They go in the same place as the *negative* adverb 没有, above. (Frequently you'll see the word "adverbial" or "adverbial adjunct" used in this case, because some words in Chinese, such as time words, act like adverbs but are technically nouns.) In the following example we'll use the adverb 刚, which is used to express that something just recently happened. See also ------------------------------------------------------- - [Passive verbs with "shou"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Passive_verbs_with_%22shou%22) - [Ba sentence](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Ba_sentence) - [Result complement](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Result_complement) - [Direction complement](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Direction_complement) Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Books - [A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/A_Practical_Chinese_Grammar_For_Foreigners_(%E5%A4%96%E5%9B%BD%E4%BA%BA%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95)) (pp. 470-7) [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA) - [Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar) (pp. 55) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2ykU1OD) - [Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Boya_Chinese_Elementary_Starter_2_(%E5%8D%9A%E9%9B%85%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%88%9D%E7%BB%8F%E8%B5%B7%E6%AD%A5%E7%AF%87)) (pp. 182) [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301078617/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301078617) - [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition) (pp. 164-6) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2h67UYa) - [Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese_Grammar_-_Broken_down_into_100_items_-_Basic_and_Intermediate_Levels_(%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95%E7%99%BE%E9%A1%B9%E8%AE%B2%E7%BB%83_-_%E5%88%9D%E4%B8%AD%E7%BA%A7)) (pp. 362-4) \[ →buy\] - [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_2_(3rd_ed)) (pp. 243-4) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2femBuy) - [Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Mandarin_Chinese:_A_Functional_Reference_Grammar) (pp. 492-508) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2yOtlXc) - [Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Modern_Mandarin_Chinese_Grammar:_A_Practical_Guide) (pp. 100-7) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2xCpX2m) - [New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_2_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC2)) (pp. 239-40) [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297) - [Short-term Spoken Chinese: Threshold Vol. 2 (汉语口语入门篇下)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Short-term_Spoken_Chinese:_Threshold_Vol._2_(%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%8F%A3%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%A5%E9%97%A8%E7%AF%87%E4%B8%8B)) (pp. 168-70) \[ →buy\] - [40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册）](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(%E5%9F%BA%E7%A1%80%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD40%E8%AF%BE%E4%B8%8B%E5%86%8C%EF%BC%89) (pp. 428-9) [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20) ### Websites - ChinesePod (free content): [Qing Wen - Passive Verbs and 被](http://chinesepod.com/lessons/passive-verbs-and-%E8%A2%AB) - East Asia Student: [Mandarin passive voice: grammar and usage](http://eastasiastudent.net/2090/china/mandarin/cmn-grammar/passive-voice/)