Although it's standard practice to put a word or phrase that modifies a verb *before* the verb, there are, of course, exceptions. [给](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%BB%99) (gěi) is one of those exceptions; it sometimes comes before the verb and sometimes after. This article is about when it comes after. Basic Pattern ----------------------------------------------------------------- ### Structure Note that the verbs that fit into this pattern are normally single-syllable verbs. or ### Examples Advanced Pattern ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Structure Additionally, you can add [把](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%8A%8A) into this structure. This does not change the meaning of the sentence and when used in context can even add emphasis to what's being done and given. ### Examples Note that the verb 嫁 (jià) cannot fit into the 把 pattern above; it's an exception. If you really want to make a 把 sentence, though, you can do this: Academic Debate --------------------------------------------------------------------- Although 给 phrases should normally precede a verb like any other prepositional phrase, they sometimes come after. Why have it both ways? There is some academic debate over whether this 给 is actually a [preposition](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Preposition), a type of verb (often called a "co-verb"), or even a type of [complement](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Complement). This type of discussion is outside the scope of this article, however. See also ------------------------------------------------------- - [Expressing "for" with "gei"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22for%22_with_%22gei%22) - [Verbs preceded by "gei"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Verbs_preceded_by_%22gei%22) - [Advanced uses of "ba"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Advanced_uses_of_%22ba%22) - [Expressing "for" with "wei"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22for%22_with_%22wei%22) - [Expressing passive voice with "gei"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_passive_voice_with_%22gei%22) Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Books - [现代汉语虚词例释](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%99%9A%E8%AF%8D%E4%BE%8B%E9%87%8A) (pp. 196) [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B004323J90/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1) ### Dictionaries - [现代汉语词典（第5版）](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8%EF%BC%88%E7%AC%AC5%E7%89%88%EF%BC%89) (pp. 464) [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1)