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Using "ba" sentences
====================
[](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/ASG2UB2B)
-
Level
[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)
-
Similar to
- [Direction
complement](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Direction_complement) (B1)
- [Using "bei"
sentences](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Using_%22bei%22_sentences) (B1)
- [Advanced uses of
"ba"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Advanced_uses_of_%22ba%22) (B2)
- [Using "jiang" as a formal
"ba"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Using_%22jiang%22_as_a_formal_%22ba%22) (B2)
-
Used for
[Expressing passive
voice](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_passive_voice)
-
Keywords
[把](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%8A%8A)
[{width="300"
height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-ba3.jpg)
Contents
--------
[hide]([# "wikilink")\]
- [1 What is a 把
sentence?](#What_is_a_.E6.8A.8A_sentence.3F "wikilink")
- [2 Notes about
把](#Notes_about_.E6.8A.8A "wikilink")
- [3 把 Sentences
with Two
Objects](#.E6.8A.8A_Sentences_with_Two_Objects "wikilink")
- [4 把 Sentences
with
Complements](#.E6.8A.8A_Sentences_with_Complements "wikilink")
- [5 Forming 把
Sentences](#Forming_.E6.8A.8A_Sentences "wikilink")
- [5.1
Negating 把
Sentences](#Negating_.E6.8A.8A_Sentences "wikilink")
- [5.2
Question Forms of 把
Sentences](#Question_Forms_of_.E6.8A.8A_Sentences "wikilink")
- [5.3
Adverbs in 把
Sentences](#Adverbs_in_.E6.8A.8A_Sentences "wikilink")
- [5.4 把
Sentences with Aspect
Particles](#.E6.8A.8A_Sentences_with_Aspect_Particles "wikilink")
- [5.5 把
Sentences and Quantity
Phrase](#.E6.8A.8A_Sentences_and_Quantity_Phrase "wikilink")
- [6 Verbs for 把
Sentences](#Verbs_for_.E6.8A.8A_Sentences "wikilink")
- [7 Other Use of
把](#Other_Use_of_.E6.8A.8A "wikilink")
- [8 See
also](#See_also "wikilink")
- [9 Sources and
further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink")
- [9.1
Books](#Books "wikilink")
- [9.2
Websites](#Websites "wikilink")
Subj. + \[Verb Phrase\] + Obj.
A 把 sentence shakes things up a bit, and you get this structure:
Subj. + 把 + Obj. + \[Verb Phrase\]
Note that the **object has moved**, and is preceded by 把. You now have
SOV word order.
This is all well and good, but most students of Chinese, on learning
about 把 sentences for the first time, have the same reaction: *"Why the
hell would I ever use this structure? The SVO word order always works
just fine, right?"* The answer is: well, no... not always. It's true
that 把 sentences are often used to achieve somewhat subtle differences
in emphasis, but there are also very good reasons to use 把 sentences
when a regular sentence just won't do. Take this sentence for example:
- *把* **书** 放 **在** 桌子 **上** 。"Put the book
on the table."*Bǎ* **shū** fàng **zài**
zhuōzi **shàng**.
How would you say this without the 把 construction? You might try this:
- 放 **书** 在 桌子 **上** 。Fàng **shū** **zài**
zhuōzi **shàng**.
The only problem is that the above sentence is not grammatical. You
can't put an object right after a verb, and then put other modifiers of
the verb after the object. Here are other examples of how to
successfully use 把 and 放 in the same sentence.
- 她 *把* **我 的 手机** 放 **在** 她 的 包 **里** 了
。Tā *bǎ* **wǒ de shǒujī** fàng **zài** tā de
bāo **lǐ** le.She put my phone in her
bag.
- 他 *把* **脏 衣服** 放 **在** 床 **下面** 了
。Tā *bǎ* **zāng yīfu** fàng **zài** chuáng
**xiàmiàn** le.He put his dirty laundry
under his bed.
- 你 是 不 是 *把* **护照** 放 **在** 行李箱 **里** 了
？Nǐ shì bu shì *bǎ* **hùzhào** fàng **zài**
xínglixiāng **lǐ** le?Did you put your
passport in your suitcase?
Notes about 把
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
- The object is known. (It's already been mentioned or
discussed previously.)
- 把字句 is often used to describe what happened to the object in some
detail (it's not just a "bare" verb; there's "more stuff" after
the verb).
- It's not necessarily used in past tense. You also use 把字句 for
making a request or asking for a favor.
把 Sentences with Two Objects
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The usual structure for 把 sentences, as described above, puts the
object right after 把 for certain verbs, however, you can have two
objects in a 把 sentence. Their use in a 把 sentence will also involve
[prepositions](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Prepositions).
They use the following structure:
Subj. + 把 + Obj. 1 + Verb + 给 + Obj. 2
Common verbs that take two objects include: 送 (sòng), 拿 (ná), 递 (dì),
卖 (mài), 借 (jiè), 还 (huán), 介绍 (jièshào).
Subject 把 *Object 1* Verb Preposition *Object 2*
--------- ---- ------------ ------ ------------- ------------ ---- ----
我们 把 *礼物* 送 给 *客人* 了 。
把 *盐* 递 给 *我* 。
他 把 *房子* 卖 给 *谁* 了 ？
我 把 *他* 介绍 给 *我 老板* 了 。
: Some examples:
把 Sentences with Complements
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because 把 sentences are all about disposal, and
[complements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Complements)
in Mandarin often handle this issue, it's good to be aware of how these
two grammar features interact.
[Result
complements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Result_complement)
work particularly well in 把 sentences. When you consider that both
structures deal with the result or outcome of an action, this makes
sense. The majority of result complements (except for perception verbs)
fit in very well in a 把 construction. For example:
- 我 *把* 作业 做 **完** 了 。Wǒ *bǎ* zuòyè zuò
**wán** le.I finished doing my
homework.
- 老师 *把* 我 的 名字 读 **错** 了 。Lǎoshī *bǎ*
wǒ de míngzì dú **cuò** le.The teacher
read my name wrong.
[Direction
complements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Direction_complement)
also work well in 把 constructions, for similar reasons. For example:
- 请 *把* 客人 带 **进去** 。Qǐng *bǎ* kèrén dài
**jìnqù**.Please take the guests
inside.
- *把* 我 的 眼镜 拿 **过来** 。*Bǎ* wǒ de
yǎnjìng ná **guòlái**.Please bring my
glasses over here.
Note that [potential
complements](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Potential_complement)
do not appear in 把 sentences. This is because they are hypothetical,
whereas a 把 sentence must describe what actually happens.
Forming 把 Sentences
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
### Negating 把 Sentences
To negate a 把 sentence, insert 不要 or 别 (present or future) or 没有
(past) directly in front of 把. You can't put it after 把, 'inside' the
把 construction, as this would break the rule about describing what
happened to the object. It would be like saying "What happened to ...
was nothing." It doesn't sound natural.
Subject *Negative* 把 Object Verb Phrase
--------- ------------ ---- ---------- ------------- ----
阿姨 *没有* 把 房间 打扫 干净 。
我 *没* 把 钱 借给 他 。
你们 *不要* 把 这 件 事 告诉 她 。
: A few examples:
### Question Forms of 把 Sentences
You can make 把 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:
- 你们 *把* **那个 问题** 解决 了 吗 ？Nǐmen *bǎ*
**nàge wèntí** jiějué le ma?Did you solve
that problem?
- 你 *把* **我 手机** 放 在哪儿 了 ？Nǐ *bǎ* **wǒ
shǒujī** fàng zài nǎr le?Where did you
put my cell phone?
- 他 *把* **钱** 借 给 谁 了 ？Tā *bǎ* **qián**
jiè gěi shéi le?Who did he lend the money
to?
- 你 能不能 *把* **你 房间** 打扫 干净 ？Nǐ néng
bu néng *bǎ* **nǐ fángjiān** dǎsǎo
gānjìng?Can you clean your room or
not?
Be careful how you form questions with 把 sentences though. Remember
that you have to have a definite object, and you have to describe the
disposal of that object. A question form could easily get in the way of
one of these conditions.
### Adverbs in 把 Sentences
Adverbs can usually be placed before 把 or before the verb (the
exception is negative adverbs, as described above). Adverbs in each of
these positions can change the meaning in slightly different ways, as
demonstrated with 都 in the examples below. In the first sentence,
我们都把作业做完了, 都 modifies 我们 to make "We all finished the
homework." In the second sentence, 都 modifies 咖啡 to make "He finished
all the coffee".
Subj. Adv. *把* Object Adv. Verb Phrase
------- ---------- ------ -------- -------- ------------------ ----
我们 **都** *把* 作业 '''' 做 完 了 。
他 *把* 咖啡 **都** 喝 完 了 。
他 **已经** 把 钱 还给 我 了 。
我 **可能** 把 手机 忘 在 朋友 家 了 。
: Some examples:
(Note the subtle difference in meaning between the first two sentences.)
### 把 Sentences with Aspect Particles
The particles 了 and 着 can both be used with 把 constructions, while 过
cannot. This is because the object of a 把 construction must be obvious,
or 'present' in some way in the context. 过 indicates some kind of
action in the past, which suggests that the object is no longer present
in the context, so it's not suitable for a 把 construction.
了 and 着, though, can be used to indicate that the disposal of the
object is complete or ongoing, respectively.
Subject 把 Object Verb *Aspect particle*
--------- ---- ------------ ------ ------------------- ----
把 你 的 电脑 带 *着* 。
把 门 开 *着* 。
我 把 这件事 忘 *了* 。
她 把 垃圾 扔 *了* 。
: Some examples:
### 把 Sentences and Quantity Phrase
As mentioned above, the object of a 把 sentence must be something
specific and definite. This might involve noun [measure
words](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Measure_word),
which will come after the 把 and before the object.
Subject 把 *Quantity Phrase* Noun Verb Phrase
--------- ---- ------------------- --------- ------------- ----
我 把 那 *两 件* 脏 衣服 洗 干净 了 。
他 把 最后 *三 块* 蛋糕 吃 完 了 。
你 把 这 *几 句* 话 读 一下 。
: Some examples:
[Verb measure
words](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Verb_measure_words)
are frequently used in 把 sentences and come at the end of a 把
sentence.
Subject 把 Object Verb *Quantity Phrase*
--------- ---- --------- --------- ------------------- ----
把 课文 读 *一 遍* 。
她 把 这个 字 写 了 *十 遍* 。
他 把 手机 摔坏 过 *两 三 次* 。
: Some examples:
Note that in all of these sentences, the object is something specific
and definite.
Verbs for 把 Sentences
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some verbs generally can't indicate what happened *to* the object. They
only describe what the subject did. Here are some examples of verbs that
do not generally work in 把 sentences:
- Psychological verbs
- 爱 (ài) to love
- 喜欢 (xǐhuan) to like
- 想 (xiǎng) to miss
- 了解 (liǎojiě) to know
- 害怕 (hàipà) to fear
- 恨 (hèn ) to hate
- Perception verbs
- 看 (kàn)
- 听 (tīng)
- 闻 (wén)
- 像 (xiàng)
Other Use of 把
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's important to note that 把 has other uses. The most common is as a
[measure
word](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Measure_word)
for things with handles, or things that you hold. Examples include
一把伞, 一把枪, and 一把椅子. So, you've got to look at how 把 is being
used in a sentence before you can understand its meaning.
To demonstrate the difference, here's a sentence with both kinds of 把
in:
- 请 你 *把* 那 **把** 伞 拿 给 我 。Qǐng nǐ *bǎ*
nà **bǎ** sǎn ná gěi wǒ.Please give me
that umbrella.
See also
-------------------------------------------------------
- [Result
complement](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Result_complement)
- [Direction
complement](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Direction_complement)
- [Bei
sentence](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Bei_sentence)
- [Aspect
particles](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Aspect_particles)
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.
461-70)
[→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.
53-4) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2ykU1OD)
- [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
Edition](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition) (pp.
159-64) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2h67UYa)
- [Chinese Grammar Without
Tears (简明汉语语法学习手册)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese_Grammar_Without_Tears_(%E7%AE%80%E6%98%8E%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95%E5%AD%A6%E4%B9%A0%E6%89%8B%E5%86%8C)) (pp.
167-81) \[ →buy\]
- [Common Chinese Patterns
330 (汉语常用格式330例)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Common_Chinese_Patterns_330_(%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%B8%B8%E7%94%A8%E6%A0%BC%E5%BC%8F330%E4%BE%8B)) (pp.
3-5) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2zBMfhl)
- [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2
(3rd ed)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_2_(3rd_ed)) (pp.
142-4) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2femBuy)
- [Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part
2](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_2) (pp.
225-7, 321-3) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2ftpILV)
- [Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference
Grammar](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Mandarin_Chinese:_A_Functional_Reference_Grammar) (pp.
463-92) [→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.
354-5) [→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.
41-2, 88)
[→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)
- [New Practical Chinese Reader
3 (新实用汉语课本3)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_3_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC3)) (pp.
15, 51, 101-2)
[→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X)
- [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.
369-70, 384, 398-9)
[→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
- Mandarin Essential Grammar (Yale): [把
Construction](http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/ba/grammar/ba.htm)
- CTCFL (Oxford): [The 把
Construction](http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Grammar%20exercises/Ba.htm)
- ChinesePod: [Qing Wen - The Magic Word
把](http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-magic-word-%E6%8A%8A) (free
podcast content)
- ChinesePod: [Qing Wen - 把
Humbug](http://chinesepod.com/lessons/%E6%8A%8A-humbug) (free
podcast content)
- FluentU: [The Definite Guide to the Chinese Ba
Construction](http://www.fluentu.com/chinese/blog/2015/04/01/mandarin-chinese-ba/)
- Mandarin Online:
[把字句](http://xmmandarinonline.com/2010/10/grammar-the-ba3-sentence/)
- Just Learn Chinese (blog): [Lesson 10 How to understand and use
Chinese sentence pattern
“…把…”?](http://justlearnchinese.com/lesson-10-how-to-understand-and-use-pattern-%E2%80%9C-%E6%8A%8A-%E2%80%9D-in-chinese/)
[Categories](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories):
- [Structures](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:Structures)
- [Prepositions](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Category:Prepositions&action=edit&redlink=1)
- [Particles](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:Particles)
- [B1 grammar
points](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:B1_grammar_points)
[](http://amzn.to/2iioVRP)
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