Grammar of 把 bǎ 2

Grammar Point:
There are 3 functions of 把 bǎ in Chinese. Determination, command, and doing a movement on something that makes a change to it. And since 把 bǎ cannot be translated into English, many English speakers feel awkward using it. But it is a piece of grammar that Chinese native speakers use a lot in daily conversation.

Why do we need 把?

The short answer is to emphasize the object. Unlike in English, in Chinese, the most important information is usually provided at the beginning of a sentence. Therefore, we tend to place time and people at the beginning. But what if we want to emphasize a particular object that is very important? Easy! Just move it to the beginning. This will change “an object” to “the object.” Then, we can keep the verb at the end of the sentence, which makes it easy to add more explanations or further information to support it. And these explanations and information are called complements.

When Do We Use It

1. Determination (usually with “I” as the subject): This is used to express one’s determination or resolve to do something.

2. Command (usually with “you” as the subject): This is used to give a command, requirement, or instruction. It can also be used when talking about moving something or decorating.

3. Action that produces a change in something (usually with a known object): This is the most common sentence pattern. We use this pattern when referring to something that has happened to ‘the known object‘.

Before We Start

1. It is only used for something that both the listener and the speaker know.
2. We cannot use it for feelings: love, feel, hate, like, loss, etc.
3. It always needs something after the verb.
4. All negation words and adverbs should be put in front of 把 bǎ.

What Can Be That ‘Something After the Verb’

There are 5 kinds of something that can go with 把 bǎ.

1. Result Complements: 了 le, 完 wán, 開开 kāi, 關关 guān, 得 de, etc.
2. Directional Complements: 進进去 jìnqù, 出來来 chūlái, 上去 shàngqù, 下去 xiàqù, etc.
3. Quantity Complements: 一次 yícì, 十遍 shíbiàn, etc.
4. Special Verbs: 在 zài、到 dào、給 gěi、成 chéng
5. Showing Short Time: V了V, V一V, V一下

We are not going to talk about all the

Structure

First, you need to know about 把 bǎ, which changes the order of Chinese sentences. We have learned Chinese sentence’s structure is subject + verb + object, but with this 把 bǎ, it becomes subject + 把 bǎ + object + verb + something. (That something is necessary and very important in the 把 bǎ structure.)

S + 把 + O + Verb + Quantity Complements

我wǒ要yào把bǎ這zhè本běn課本kèběn讀dú3 遍biàn我wǒ要yào把bǎ这zhè本běn课本kèběn读dú3 遍biàn
I want to read this textbook 3 times.
(Determination)

老師lǎoshī要yào我wǒ把bǎ這個zhège字zì寫xiě10 次cì老师lǎoshī要yào我wǒ把bǎ这个zhège字zì写xiě10 次cì
The teacher asked me to write this character 10 times.
(Command)

請qǐng你nǐ把bǎ剛剛gānggāng的de話huà再zài說shuō一次yícì请qǐng你nǐ把bǎ刚刚gānggāng的de话huà再zài说shuō一次yícì
Please say what you just said again.
(Command)

S + 把 + O + Verb + (一)Verb/ Verb 一下

All of these structures indicate a brief or “a little bit” action. Please note that this structure cannot be used with negation.

你nǐ先xiān去qù把bǎ廚房chúfáng的de碗wǎn洗一洗xǐyìxǐ你nǐ先xiān去qù把bǎ厨房chúfáng的de碗wǎn洗一洗xǐyìxǐ
You go wash the kitchen dishes first.
(Command)

等děng我wǒ一下yìxià， 我wǒ把bǎ頭髮tóufǎ梳梳shūshū就jiù去qù等děng我wǒ一下yìxià， 我wǒ把bǎ头发tóufa梳梳shūshū就jiù去qù
Give me a second. I’ll brush my hair and go.
(Determination)

同學tóngxué們men再zài把bǎ試卷shìjuàn檢查jiǎnchá一下yíxià吧ba同学tóngxué们men再zài把bǎ试卷shìjuàn检查jiǎnchá一下yíxià吧ba
Classmeats, please check your papers again.
(Command)

S + 把 + O + (給/给) + Verb + 了or 著/着

In spoken Chinese, we use 給给 gěi to emphasize the verb. It’s okay to drop it, but Chinese native speakers prefer to keep it. This is also true for the 被 bèi structures.

他tā把bǎ學xué過guò的de生詞shēngcí都dōu給gěi忘wàng了le他tā把bǎ学xué过guò的de生词shēngcí都dōu给gěi忘wàng了le
He forgot all the vocabulary he had learned.
(Doing a movement “forgot” on vocabulary that makes all gone.)

你nǐ別bié忘wàng了le把bǎ護照hùzhào帶dài著zhe你nǐ别bié忘wàng了le把bǎ护照hùzhào带dài着zhe
Don’t forget to take your passport with you.
(Command)

Exception 都

都 dōu is one of the adverbs that can be put either in front of 把 bǎ or after it. Depending on where you put it, the meaning will be different.

學生xuéshēng們men都dōu把bǎ書shū帶dài來lái了le学生xuéshēng们men都dōu把bǎ书shū带dài来lái了le
All students brought their books.

學生xuéshēng們men把bǎ書shū都dōu帶dài來lái了le学生xuéshēng们men把bǎ书shū都dōu带dài来lái了le
The students brought all their books.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ I’ve read this article 5 times, but I still can’t understand it.

我wǒ把bǎ這zhè篇piān文章wénzhāng看kàn了le5 次cì， 可是kěshì我wǒ還是háishì看不懂kànbùdǒng我wǒ把bǎ这zhè篇piān文章wénzhāng看kàn了le5 次cì， 可是kěshì我wǒ还是háishì看不懂kànbùdǒng

✔️ Could you please keep your mouth shut for a moment?

可以kěyǐ請qǐng你nǐ把bǎ嘴巴zuǐbā閉bì起來qǐlái一下yíxià嗎ma? 可以kěyǐ请qǐng你nǐ把bǎ嘴巴zuǐbā闭bì起来qǐlái一下yíxià吗ma?

✔️ Remember to turn off the lights before going out.

出門chūmén前qián記得jìdé把bǎ燈dēng給gěi關guān了le出门chūmén前qián记得jìdé把bǎ灯dēng给gěi关guān了le

• 把 bǎ Part 1 (HSK 3)

• 把 bǎ Part 3 (HSK 5)

• 把 bǎ Part 4 (HSK 6)

• Advanced 把 bǎ Part 5 (HSK 7-9)

• Use 把 bǎ or not Practice